What to Do When the ABS Light is On?
2 Answers
ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) is designed to prevent the wheels from locking up during braking. Sensors installed on the wheels detect when a wheel is about to lock, and the controller commands the regulator to reduce the hydraulic pressure in the wheel's brake cylinder, decreasing the braking torque. After a certain period, the original hydraulic pressure is restored. This cycle repeats continuously (up to 5~10 times per second), ensuring the wheels remain rotating while maintaining maximum braking torque. Here are the steps to address an illuminated ABS light: 1. Carefully inspect the wiring and connectors to check for poor contact or damage. 2. Examine the installation gap and position of the wheel speed sensor and the toothed ring, and check for contamination by dust or debris. Also, inspect if the wheel bearing gap is too large and adjust it to the normal value. 3. Avoid high-speed driving and sudden braking, and take the vehicle to a 4S shop for inspection and repair as soon as possible.
Last time my car's ABS light suddenly came on and really gave me a scare. I first pulled over to a safe spot to check if the brakes still worked, and found that while the brakes seemed normal, the ABS function was definitely not working. I thought maybe the wheel sensors were clogged with mud, so I used a water hose to clean the inside of the tires myself, but the light stayed on after washing. This suggested to me that there might be an electrical issue - possibly a blown fuse or broken sensor wire. Now I'm extra careful to maintain a safe following distance when driving in rainy weather, since without ABS, hard braking can easily cause skidding. I've already scheduled an appointment for this weekend at the repair shop to run a computer diagnostic for specific trouble codes - this isn't something that should be delayed. By the way, I'd like to remind all fellow drivers that for ABS system repairs, it's best not to go to roadside stalls - shops with professional diagnostic equipment are much more reliable.
