Brake Failure ABS problem?

I just posted a thread on this AFTER I had an accident!
Yes if you pull the 5amp fuse the abs is bypassed.
Then you have normal brakes

I pulled the 30amp ABS fuse out when I went bush last weekend and the brakes were great. They were much more predictable and I had complete control over what I wanted them to do. They worked just like a normal braking system. I put a blown 30Amp fuse in it's place to keep things legal, must have got a fault in the accident mister insurance man (or Woman).;)

I have the same problem. I better get it looked at soon. Assuming its a dodgy sensor???

Gents
If you pull a fuse, i take it the ABS warning light comes on ?. When the fuse is replaced will it go out or do you need to get it reset ? I would be checking this prior to inserting a switch as mentioned in some posts. Defeats the purpose of a switch if your worried about having a bingle and the light stays illuminated. Baz

You don't need it to be reset. The light just goes off again and your brakes become unpredictable again

Hmmm fuse pulling is it a wise move? don;t know.
I have just replaced both my front sensors ( and no they are not $ 300-700 ea if you get them from DLS in the Uk they are 51 pounds each, which at the current rate is $83 aus ea plus 11 pounds postage)

My was doing the same as yours eratic at times, but I had already checked the leads with a multimeter and one sensor was not working, on nanocom came up as air gap.
There was a break in the lead to the sensor between the connector next to the guard and the actual sensor itself. The wires are prone to breaking because of the turning of the front wheels. I put up with it for a couple of years, the abs light was always on, but the rego tester told me he would fail it next time I came in due to the rules on abs in nsw.

What mine was doing was similar to yours, but usually only when i hit a bump in the road when slowing down under breaks, whirring a spring sound and one wheel half locking.

Have replaced both of them, but can;t reset the system without plugging it in. Apparently there is a non computor way of doing it but I havne;t quite worked it out.
If you are not getting any vacuum, and its a TDI I would suggest you get the fix instructions for the vacuum pumpthat Simon (abbandonxi ) has put up or even aces old fix and regasket it, I did that as well on mine just to be sure.

hope this helps

john

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JohnE

Hmmm fuse pulling is it a wise move? don;t know.
I have just replaced both my front sensors ( and no they are not $ 300-700 ea if you get them from DLS in the Uk they are 51 pounds each, which at the current rate is $83 aus ea plus 11 pounds postage)
My was doing the same as yours eratic at times, but I had already checked the leads with a multimeter and one sensor was not working, on nanocom came up as air gap.
There was a break in the lead to the sensor between the connector next to the guard and the actual sensor itself. The wires are prone to breaking because of the turning of the front wheels. I put up with it for a couple of years, the abs light was always on, but the rego tester told me he would fail it next time I came in due to the rules on abs in nsw.

What mine was doing was similar to yours, but usually only when i hit a bump in the road when slowing down under breaks, whirring a spring sound and one wheel half locking.

Have replaced both of them, but can;t reset the system without plugging it in. Apparently there is a non computor way of doing it but I havne;t quite worked it out.
If you are not getting any vacuum, and its a TDI I would suggest you get the fix instructions for the vacuum pumpthat Simon (abbandonxi ) has put up or even aces old fix and regasket it, I did that as well on mine just to be sure.

hope this helps

john

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John, were these sensors plain packed with no WABCO packaging? If so, I have just had a pair supplied to me that were dangerously inferior, and the subject of much angst with supplier. DO NOT take chances with non WABCO sensors IMO.

JC

Surely this problem couldn't just be a dodgy fuse, could it? I'm going to change my ABS fuse for a new one tomorrow and see if that makes any difference.

I would of thought a fuse would either work or it wouldn't

Yeah, me too - I'd never even given the idea of a dodgy fuse a thought until today. Probably wrong, but its worth a try before putting it in for expensive sensors. Nothing to lose, I guess.