Should I Get My Car Repaired When the ABS Light Comes On?
2 Answers
You should get your car repaired when the ABS light comes on. The reasons for the ABS warning light illuminating are as follows: Reason 1: The ABS wheel speed sensor's sensing part is covered by mud, sludge, or other contaminants, affecting the sensor's ability to detect the corresponding vehicle speed signal. This prevents the ABS control unit from determining the vehicle speed and the wheel slip rate, thus failing to issue appropriate commands to adjust braking. Solution: Clean the dirt from the wheel speed sensor and adjust the gap between the sensor and the tone ring to restore normal function. Reason 2: Poor signal transmission due to loose connections between system lines or poor contact in the ABS relay can cause system failure. The most common issue is a loose connection in the wheel speed sensor wiring, which will also show up as a wheel speed sensor signal malfunction in the ABS control unit's fault memory. Solution: Check the wiring connections and reconnect any loose parts.
Having driven for decades, I know that an illuminated ABS light is not something to be taken lightly. It indicates a fault in the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS). In an emergency requiring sudden braking, the wheels may lock up, causing the vehicle to skid uncontrollably and significantly increasing the risk of an accident. Common causes include dirt or dust on the wheel sensors, loose wiring connections, blown fuses, or a faulty ABS control module. Once, my car's ABS light came on, and simply cleaning the wheel sensors resolved the issue. However, another time, the ABS pump was faulty and needed replacement. It's best to drive to a repair shop and use a diagnostic scanner to read the trouble codes and pinpoint the exact problem. Ignoring it could lead to bigger issues, such as brake failure and rear-end collisions. Spending a few hundred dollars on repairs is far better than dealing with accident compensation. Regularly checking the dashboard warning lights helps maintain vehicle safety.
