What are the reasons for the motorcycle ABS light staying on?
2 Answers
Motorcycle ABS light staying on may be caused by the ABS speed sensor sensing part being covered; poor signal due to loose connections between system lines, poor contact of ABS relay, etc., leading to system failure. When the ABS speed sensor sensing part is covered by dirt, mud, or other contaminants, it affects the sensor's ability to detect the corresponding speed signal. This prevents the ABS computer from determining the vehicle speed and the wheel slip rate, thus failing to issue appropriate commands to adjust braking. The solution is to clean the dirt on the speed sensor and adjust the gap between the speed sensor and the signal ring to restore normal function. Poor signal caused by loose connections between system lines or poor contact of the ABS relay can lead to system failure. The most common issue is a loose speed sensor wire connection, which will also show as a poor speed sensor signal in the ABS computer's fault memory. The solution is to check the line connections and reconnect any loose parts.
Last time I went mountain driving, I also encountered the ABS warning light staying on. After some troubleshooting, I found it was a wheel speed sensor issue. These little components are particularly vulnerable to mud and water. If you don't clean them after driving in the rain, dried mud around the sensor probe can interfere with the electromagnetic signals used for non-contact wheel speed detection. Cleaning them with a toothbrush dipped in gasoline usually solves the problem. Also, be extra careful with wheel modifications - the gap between the magnetic ring and probe is as precise as a hair's width. Even a half-millimeter misalignment can trigger false alarms. If all else fails, you'll need an OBD scanner to read the trouble codes - last time my friend's car turned out to have chewed power supply wiring to the ABS module by rats, who would've thought of that!
