What causes the ABS light to illuminate in the new Santana?

[RyleeFitz]

There are multiple states of the ABS light being on, and the causes and solutions vary depending on the state, as detailed below: State 1: ABS warning light stays on (most common). Cause 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 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. Solution: Clean the dirt from the wheel speed sensor and adjust the gap between the sensor and the signal ring to restore normal function. Cause 2: Poor signal due to loose connections between system wires or poor contact of the ABS relay, leading to system failure. Solution: Check the wire connections and reconnect any loose parts. State 2: ABS warning light intermittently illuminates but turns off during acceleration. Cause: When multiple vehicle electrical devices are in use, the battery voltage drops below 10.5V. As the engine speed increases, the voltage rises, and the ABS light turns off. The ABS system power supply voltage is too low, possibly due to poor terminal contact or grounding issues. Solution: Check the battery's specific gravity, inspect the charging system, and verify the power supply (e.g., voltage relay or poor power contact). State 3: ABS warning light stays on after engine start and only turns off when the engine is turned off (IGFF). Cause: Poor grounding contact of the ABS hydraulic valve body; poor electrical connector contact of the ABS hydraulic valve body; ABS computer malfunction. Solution: Loosen and then retighten the grounding screw of the hydraulic valve body, cleaning the contact surface if necessary. Check if the connector gap has widened. Replace the ABS or ABS/ASR computer if needed. State 4: ABS warning light illuminates during high-speed driving. Cause: During high-speed driving, the ABS computer detects a significant discrepancy between the rear and front wheel speed signals. Incorrect tire or wheel rim specifications may also be a factor. Solution: Refer to the vehicle's tire and wheel rim specifications, as indicated on the label near the fuel tank cap. State 5: ABS warning light intermittently illuminates. Cause: Improper adjustment of the brake light switch; poor internal contact of the brake light. Solution: With the engine running, press the brake pedal and push the brake switch linkage down fully with your fingers. Release the brake pedal to complete the self-setting position. Replace the brake light switch if necessary. If the ABS warning light is on, it is advisable not to continue driving. An illuminated ABS light indicates a fault in the vehicle's anti-lock braking system. During emergency braking, if the wheels lock up, the vehicle may skid uncontrollably, making it difficult for the driver to slow down or adjust the vehicle's trajectory, posing significant safety risks.

[MacBrandon]

Last time when I was driving my new Santana on the highway, the ABS light suddenly came on. I panicked and immediately pulled over. After having a mechanic check it, we found that the wheel speed sensor was clogged with mud - I'd been driving on rough roads a lot back then. Actually, the most common reason for the ABS light coming on is exactly this: either the sensor gets dirty or gets knocked out of alignment, causing the wheel speed signal to fail to transmit back to the computer, which then triggers the warning. It could also be a blown fuse - remember to check the small fuse box under the driver's seat. My advice is, never keep driving when the light's on. Without the ABS system working, hard braking could easily cause skidding. In my case, I just removed the wheel myself and cleaned the sensor, which fixed the problem. A repair shop would only charge about 50 yuan for this service. Better to deal with it early than let it develop into major damage to the ABS pump.