What causes the ABS light to come on but then go away after restarting?
2 Answers
What causes the ABS light to come on but then go away after restarting may be due to front wheel slippage. Below are specific explanations for the reasons the ABS light comes on: 1. Front wheel slippage: For example, when driving on icy or snowy roads. Because the rotation conditions of the front and rear wheels are different, and the brake is applied at the same time, it is easy to cause a difference in braking between the front and rear wheels, and the ABS light will come on. In this case, pressing the brake a few more times will turn off the ABS light. 2. The sensor is covered by contaminants: The sensing part of the ABS speed sensor on the wheel is covered by mud, sludge, or other contaminants, affecting the sensor's ability to detect the corresponding speed signal. This makes the ABS computer unable to determine the speed, unable to determine the wheel's slip rate, and thus unable to issue corresponding commands to adjust the braking.
The ABS light comes on but returns to normal after restarting, which is common but requires attention to the cause. The ABS system relies on wheel speed sensors to detect wheel speed, and if the sensors are covered by dirt or oil, they may falsely report a fault. Loose or poor contact at wiring connection points due to vibration or moisture can also easily trigger the light. After restarting, the system's self-check reset may clear temporary codes, but this does not address the root issue. There may be other factors, such as minor software bugs in the ABS control unit or voltage fluctuations caused by low battery power, leading to intermittent warnings. I have personally handled similar cases; a frequent issue was the ABS light coming on and returning to normal after restarting, only to later find corroded sensor connectors. It is recommended to record the circumstances when the issue occurs, such as after rain or long trips, and then visit a professional shop to scan for fault codes to avoid potential brake safety hazards. Even if restarting resolves the issue temporarily, it should not be ignored long-term.
