So I think my ABS died or something.

Left tonight, was slippery and ABS was doing it's job. Got a bit stuck leaving the parking lot after choir practice (parked in a snow bank ). But everything was fine. When I got on my back road it was unplowed and fun. Sliding around and all. Getting towards my driveway I slammed on the brakes, but missed my driveway (ABS still doing it's thing). When I stopped I did a power circle in the middle of the road to turn around, and after that my ABS light came on, and now ABS doesn't work anymore. WTF?

Chances are you have snow packed up inside your wheels that is not allowing the ABS to read the tone ring. Once the snow melts or gets cleared out it should start working again.

Thanks for that.

I have never heard of that problem before, and last year I went through some pretty serious snow drifts, and banks, and drifting. Never an issue. But I'll see if it clears up!

If it does, I may have to just disconnect ABS. haha.

I'm mostly worried about if someone else drives the car.

Did you try restarting the car?

Did you try restarting the car?

 

I closed all my windows, and restarted. Didn't fix it.

Tomorrow when it is light out I'll check what the code is, check fuses and stuff ...

Did the light come back as soon as the engine started or did it come back after the car started moving?

It came like always before starting, and just didn't go back off. I didn't even try to drive it because it was tired. I figure I'll put some more trouble shooting into it when it isn't dark and snowing.

Do you hear the pump still running after you shut off the car? Check your battery voltage too!

Check the wires to the wheel sensors. Especially the ones in the back. They're not exactly protected, and you'd be surprised how sharp snow can be.

I wish I could listen for the pump. I have a bad ear infection now and am having a hard time hearing

I have heard about the pump running when the car is off issue though. We'll see if the battery is head tomorrow morning. should answer the question

Battery voltage is fine, right around 14v idling. Just replaced the alternator a few months ago.

 

And yea, I've always wondered about those wires. I've always thought how vulnerable they look ... maybe I've finally done what I've been surprised I haven't done ... haha. That doesn't make any sense... I should go to sleep.

Edited December 8, 200916 yr by 987687

So after about a mile of driving ABS started working as quickly as it stopped. Then I was in town and it quit again ... I'm just gonna pull the fuse. Eff it.

You could pull each wheel and do a visual inspection of each ABS sensor and its wire. That is how I found my front left one that was throwing the code. The fronts are pretty easy to replace.