I have a 99 Forester with ABS. This past winter I noticed while driving in snow that the brakes locked up on slick roads. My local garage, not a subaru dealer, ran the codes and found nothing. The abs light is not coming on. The subaru dealer wants $85 dollars to diagnose the problem. I figure I have all summer to try and fix it myself. Any suggestions as to where to start????

 

Murphsubaru

This last winter, here in the northeast at least, the snow mix we saw was very slippery compared to most years, and the tires on mine were slipping plenty trying to stop. You could feel the system try to react, but engineering cannot manufacture traction where there isn't any. The wheels will appear to be sliding when braking, the true advantage of the system, is that you should still be able to steer while braking hard, as the system will let the wheels rotate a little bit. Your system may be acting normally, it cannot perform miracles.

My system is not acting normally, I have had this car for a number of winters I know how it reacts. The system is not working at all!!!

 

 

This last winter, here in the northeast at least, the snow mix we saw was very slippery compared to most years, and the tires on mine were slipping plenty trying to stop. You could feel the system try to react, but engineering cannot manufacture traction where there isn't any. The wheels will appear to be sliding when braking, the true advantage of the system, is that you should still be able to steer while braking hard, as the system will let the wheels rotate a little bit. Your system may be acting normally, it cannot perform miracles.

I have a 99 Forester with ABS.[...]Any suggestions as to where to start????

Has it worked since this?: http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=50811

Has it worked since this?: http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=50811

 

 

NO!

NO!

Well then, let's start there. Whether the ABS light illuminates or not under certain conditions can help with diagnosis.

 

1) Does the ABS light come on if you turn the ignition switch to the "ON" position (without starting the engine)?

 

2) Does the ABS light remain on for about two seconds after starting the engine, and then go off?

The abs light does not come on with the iginition on or when the car is started. What does this mean????

The abs light does not come on with the iginition on or when the car is started. What does this mean????

Let me! Me! Me answer! The ABS light bulb is burned out.

 

"Idjit" lights burn out on these cars. My CEL light was burnt out at one point.

 

Back to your original problem. Yes, replacing the rear bearings requires dissassembly of much of the rear brake and indeed, something could easily have been missed there during reassembly. The other thread just sort of died without report of resolution. That was from January. I would still return the car to the service guys and see if they could check out their work. After you replace the faulty light.

Let me! Me! Me answer! The ABS light bulb is burned out.

 

 

 

nipper

I have a 99 Forester with ABS. This past winter I noticed while driving in snow that the brakes locked up on slick roads. My local garage, not a subaru dealer, ran the codes and found nothing. The abs light is not coming on. The subaru dealer wants $85 dollars to diagnose the problem. I figure I have all summer to try and fix it myself. Any suggestions as to where to start????

 

Murphsubaru

 

What speed are we talking about? Also pumping the braake pedal does the same thing. What kind of tires are you running?

 

nipper

The abs light does not come on with the iginition on or when the car is started. What does this mean????

Let me! Me! Me answer! The ABS light bulb is burned out.

 

"Idjit" lights burn out on these cars. My CEL light was burnt out at one point.

I'll give that answer partial credit. An unfortunate other possibility is that the bulb was intentionally removed or otherwise disabled to cover up a problem.

 

 

Back to your original problem. Yes, replacing the rear bearings requires dissassembly of much of the rear brake and indeed, something could easily have been missed there during reassembly. The other thread just sort of died without report of resolution. That was from January. I would still return the car to the service guys and see if they could check out their work. After you replace the faulty light.

Well, the other thread was from January of 2006, so going back to the shop that did the previous work might not lead to satisfaction.

 

Murphsubaru, at this point I'd first concentrate on getting the ABS light to come on during the "ignition on" test. If you're able to get into your dash (and feel confident in doing the work), first see if the ABS bulb is in place and intact.

 

You could also verify that the ABS fuses (there are usually two) aren't blown or removed; however, even without the fuses, the ABS light should come on.

 

Once the ABS light functions, we can discuss what might have gone wrong with the previous work and how to diagnose it.