anti-lock brake light

122838B · May 16th, 2006

Took my 90 coupe to state inspection station for tag renewal and they noticed (which I hadn't before) that the anti-lock brake light warning pops up. Would appreciate any suggestions.

F14CRAZY · May 16th, 2006

Run these tests at Reatta.net. Report ba...e on the system

padgett · May 17th, 2006

When does thelight turn on ? It it supposed to turn on when you turn the ignition on. Does the red light also turn on ?

122838B · May 17th, 2006

This is not the light that flashes on briefly when you turn on the ignition. This light comes on at the bottom center of the instrument panel and remains on. It is a yellow lighted "anti-lock brake" signal located between the speedometer and the tackometer. There is no red light. Appreciate your interest and advice.

wally888 · May 17th, 2006

As suggested earlier, you shoud use the Brake Tests at site below. The failed anti lock system will set a code at the ALDL. How to retrieve the codes is also at the site!

122838B · May 18th, 2006

I tried the stop test. The brakes did not chatter and the left rear wheel locked up. The car swerved briefly to the right. I am now leaning toward a failed main relay as the cause of the yellow light. What do you think?

padgett · May 18th, 2006

If you never get the red light, something more is wrong. You should get both when you start in the morning and they should be on for 20-40 seconds. The red light goes out first, then the yellow. If the main relay failed, the pedal would be very hard to push and the red light would be on.

See the brake page for how to pull the brake codes (will need a jumper wire). Of course this assumes that you have an ABS controller in the trunk and it is connected.

BTW 88-89 has both read and yellow lights, not sure about 90-91.

F14CRAZY · May 18th, 2006

Did you do the tests where you count the numbers of seconds/pumps?

122838B · May 19th, 2006

I have not yet done the series of tests. I do not have a garage and the weather here has been rainy. Sure could use a sunny day. But even with the yellow light on, the brakes are functioning normally and pressure pedal is normal. When I stopped from 35 mph, the brakes did not chatter. Perhaps I did not put my foot in the brake hard enough? The right wheel did lock up a little, then released. The car swerved a little to the right but stayed on track. I just bought this 90. It has been garaged all its life and has only 55K on the clock. Visually it is in great condition but the state safey inspector (who also wants to repair the car for $400), says the front sway bars and end links are loose and need replacing and that the left front wheel hub and bearing assembly need replacing. I cannot feel the looseness in the front wheel that he describes. The cars does not handle like the sway bars are bad. These guys have you over a barrel because they have to sign off on the car before you can title and tag it. Its a license to steal.

manikmekanik · May 19th, 2006

Try going to a different inspection shop-and see if you get the same report/results.
Or, try a good-old repair shop to double-check the findings.

Don't say a word about what you were told by the 1st shop, 'till they are done.

You may have recourse, if the 1st shop was feeding you a line of BULL.

P.S. RUN the BRAKE tests!!!