2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission ABS & BRAKE lights on

[Gordon Maney]

In my 2001 2500 Ram,

A bit of history... . my clockspring is bad, reflected in the fact that I have no cruise or steering wheel radio controls.

Driving to work this morning in sub-zero temperatures, my ABS light came on. Then, a bit later, the BRAKE light came on. The brakes seem fine.

Is all of this a result of the clockspring problem?

Also, I seem to remember reading something once about clocksprings causing spontaneous deployment of the air bag. Is that true?

Thoughts?

Thank you... .

 

[sstefanini]

My ABS & Brake light problem was caused by a vaccuum leak on the line to the cruise actuator. You can check for a leak easily by unpluging the low vaccuum switch on the drivers' fenderwell, and see if the lights go out. I also just ordered a new clockspring from allchryslerparts.com for $139. 15 + shipping. That's the best price I've been able to find.

 

[georgej]

Isn't the clockspring warranteed for life since it's related to a safety device (air bag)? I know there was a recall on them back in '01.

 

[Gordon Maney]

My ABS & Brake light problem was caused by a vaccuum leak on the line to the cruise actuator. You can check for a leak easily by unpluging the low vaccuum switch on the drivers' fenderwell, and see if the lights go out. I also just ordered a new clockspring from allchryslerparts.com for $139. 15 + shipping. That's the best price I've been able to find.

Thank you, I will check that.

 

[csutton7]

on my 99 durango the same thing happened and it was a sensor at the rear diff, so it may be that sensor---not sure if your year truck has it or not, but I'd check and see--easy to change also----chris

 

[DavidC]

A sure sign of the rear sensor is no speedo until 15-20 mph is reached.



Dave

 

[Gordon Maney]

A new twist. I got in the truck after work and turned the key to on, to start the grid heaters. The ABS and BRAKE lights came in immediately. I thought this was a bad sign.

I started the truck, they remained on, I backed up, then braked, and the lights went off. They have not been on since.

What does that suggest?

 

[AKAMAC]

Gordon, there is a recall on the clock spring for the truck. As far as I know, the recall does not expire.

The failure of you cruise and the air bag light on is classsic of the symptoms. The fact that the brake light is on is, like stated above, something different. Mike

 

[Bob Cochran]

Gordon, there is a recall on the clock spring for the truck. As far as I know, the recall does not expire.

The failure of you cruise and the air bag light on is classsic of the symptoms. The fact that the brake light is on is, like stated above, something different. Mike

This is correct my clock spring was replaced with only 50 miles on truck. Though I did not have radio control on steering wheel I had the abs and brake lights come on. Sometimes they would go out then come on when I turned the steering wheel.

 

[JWaters]

I would say I would check the vaccum sensor, on my truck it stuck and stayed like that for 2 weeks while I replaced everything else until I found it and unpluged it. I spray some wd40 down the hole and hooked the line back up and tapped on it and it came unstuck and has not gave me any trouble since then.

 

[RSimmons]

ABS and Brake light are probably the rear differential sensor. You may also check the connector at the sensor as they commonly get water and corrosion inside. On a 4 wheel ABS, a loose front wheel bearing will cause the same problem. Your speedometer will continue to work because it comes from a sensor on either the transmission or transfer case output shaft ( I don't remember which one and it is 12 deg. out so I am not going to look )

 

[TMilliard]

My ABS and Brake lights were on for a few weeks, I figured it was just a sensor cause they worked fine, just no ABS, Then one day, my drivers front wheel locked up due to a bad wheel bearing, on my 02 the speed sensor is built into the unit bearing. The sensor had been fried because of the overheated bearing. After I replaced the bearing the lights went out. . Just a thought

 

[JWaters]

let us know what you find.

 

[RSimmons]

A good code scanner will indicate which sensor is the problem as long as the ABS light is lit also.

 

[coyote75]

I have the same deal happen in my truck. Over the last couple weeks it has been really cold, in the teens and single digits. The ABS and BRAKE light will come on and go back off. Seems to be no noticeable problems. On the warmer days no sign of the them coming on. Same thing was happening last winter on extreme cold days, So I'm not too much worried.

 

[super38]

Had the same thing happed to me a couple of years ago, the ABS computer mounted on top of the ABS valves failed. Check to see if you still have ABS by braking hard in a deserted parking lot. When I did it, it almost swapped ends. After changing out the computer the pinion ratio will need to be set by the dealer, if that's it anyways.





James

 

[SWolcott]

I have a 99 quad cab 24v cummins 4wd. My problems is that this morning my patking BRAKE light stuck on and my speedo quit working also completely. Any ideas? I though mabey it is the rear diff speed sensor but i dont know please help.

 

[csutton7]

that's the first thing that comes to mind and it would be what I would change out--good luck..... chris

 

[DavidC]

I have a 99 quad cab 24v cummins 4wd. My problems is that this morning my patking BRAKE light stuck on and my speedo quit working also completely. Any ideas? I though mabey it is the rear diff speed sensor but i dont know please help.

Get yourself an ohm meter. The rear sensor should read somewhere around 1800 ohms if good. You also have a speed sensor on the drivers side tail housing area on the trans (if it is an auto) and it should ohm at about 600.



Dave

 

[Ahopper]

Get yourself an ohm meter. The rear sensor should read somewhere around 1800 ohms if good. You also have a speed sensor on the drivers side tail housing area on the trans (if it is an auto) and it should ohm at about 600.



Dave

would this be the same as on the 12valve? is it the same tranmition?