Archived Anti-lock & Parking Brake Light Wont Go Off

[Homicide]

My Anti-lock light and Parking Brake light on my dash will not go off when engine is running and parking brake disengaged.



I'm stuck 400 miles from home base with a minimal tool kit.



1) Anyone have suggestions on whether I can continue to drive w/o worry?

2) Anyone have suggestions of possible fixes?

3) Any quick easy way to check out the rear drums (I've been launching my boat in salt water and I'm sure the drums and such are getting wet, especially after I try and flush with fresh water).



Tks



Steve:{

 

[ROADWARRIOR]

My light did this for about 15 minutes after I flushed the brakes and put in new fluid. Not sure why, but it went away after driving.

Not sure, but I would think it is safe to drive.



Dan

 

[NC_Mog]

Check your manual for conditions where those lights will come on. I don't have my manual with me, but for some trucks the ABS light will come on telling you that there is a problem but its just with the ABS portion. Regular braking may not be effected.



Now with the parking brake light, not sure on this one. For some vehicles, this same light may come on indicating a problem with the brake system. Here are some things to check:



- Has the brake fluid level dropped? (If not, then no leaks and the hydraulic portion is probably fine)

- Is your parking brake off? (Completely manual system)

- Is the truck braking as normal?

- Are the rear brake shoes retracting? (On some Dodge products, there are one or two oval rubber plugs on the rear brake drum backing plates. You can pull one of these and inspect the clearance between the drum and the shoes.



Brake drums will dry out with use, so don't worry about them getting wet. Not dunking in salt water is not so good for anything on a truck. A good rinsing is always in order.

 

[Homicide]

Road Warrior, NC_MOG, DI5treez: TKS! FOR REPLIES

HEY GUYS!!!!!



tks for the replies and your insights and thoughts on my predicament.



I think DI5treez may have something as I'm always dipping parts of my rear wheels in salt water (acid) for launching my boat and trying to flush the heck out of it.



If you guys ever make it out to the West Coast, give a holler and if you fish, the Salmon trip will be on me.



Tks again,



Steve



ps: are you guys kind of nuts like me and stay up late (2:50 am here) or are you just early risers? Oo.

 

[JohnMcIntyre]

DC does this to keep us on our toes!!

My own 2001 1 ton has also demonstrated this condition a couple of occasions in the past three years and 50k+ miles.



This (undocumented ) feature of the 2nd Gen is definitely not confined to modified vehicles - I've seen earlier correspondence on the TDR, citing this exact same glitch on stock, mild and wild trucks.



As Dl5treez/Dan has already stated earlier in this thread, it is not a major problem. The rear wheel ABS sensor is just having a "senior" moment. I personally have found that turning the ignition off and waiting a few minutes, gives the system time to recycle, reset and stabilize - then after you fire up once more, these idiot lights on the dash will go out.



This error condition is right up there with the oil pressure sender failing, giving you the erroneous condition of "zero oil pressure" , but a quick check will (hopefully) often show plenty of oil and pressure.



This is what DC does to keep us on our toes I guess!!

 

[Ladders]

Also, on my 3g the light came on at 75 and stayed for a day and nite. Of course when I got to a dealer it was out. No codes for it but they found the speed sensor(s) were not in "sync". Shut it off 4-5 times (started/stopped) and everything been fine since. Us 3g persons have more 'puter glitches than Microsoft.



You didnt post what year yours is, sew... .....



SOTSU!!

\\BF//

 

[Prairie Dog]

My 93 did the exact same thing. Turned out the trailer I was pulling shorted one of the brake/turn lights and blew 2 fuses. I cant remember which two but when you find them it will make sense.

 

[Lurch]

Since you didn't post a year I'll take 1 more shot in the dark. If it's a 2nd gen it could be your clockspring. Cruise work?



Lurch

 

[Homicide]

ABS/Brake Light Prob: Need more help!

ABS & Brake light still constantly on.



ABS does not work -- brakes lock up.



Cruise Control Works just fine.



The control that directs direction of air does not work: Vent stuck in defrost mode.



1) Will check vacuum line @ first light. I don't have any manuals, so where should I start looking?



2) if Vacuum leak, will Cruise still work, ABS not?



tks in advance



STEVE



Oh, its a 99 4x4 quad with 4 wheel ABS.

 

[JNeiman]

It happened to me before too. It was one of my rear wheel abs sensors. Check what everyone else said, but I wouldnt be too worried

 

[JoeBioDiesel]

That happens to me on occasion when towing a trailer, if my brake light fuse blows. I get both the Anti-lock light and the red Brake light, but I have no brake lights in back. I replace the fuse with another 15 amp one and problem is cured.

Joe

 

[chughes]

I have the same problem that just came up a couple of days ago (2500 now with about 155k miles), I checked everything and all looked to be in order, but the rear anti-locks do not work.



Will someone please confirm that the rear speed sensor is mounted on the top of the rear diff. I have nothing directly to the wheels like they are on the front right wheel.



Thanks

 

[LHartman]

Yes, the sensor is on top of the rear differential. When my went, cruise control wouldn't work and the abs and brake light stayed on all the time.



Loren

 

[Andy Redmond]

ABS SENSOR

56028188AB +$45 @ your friendly DC dealer.



Cruise control:

You may have the dreaded oil contamination in your vacuum lines.



If so, its killed the acuator/diaphram on the blower box (it anchors to the driver's side over the "hump" and faces the accelator pedal.



The acuator is about $30 at DC, don't have the part no handy. You will want to get the updated ck. valve on the vacuum pump and flush the vac. lines with some electrical contact clr.



The TSB's and the dodgeram.org site for more details. Trucks are affected that are not "covered" under the tsb's.



Good luck

 

[BreaksEverything]

look in your fuse box under hood for your 40 amp ABS circuit this may have gone on you since you dip the axle , I pulled mine out , I hate abs , w/o the fuse I cut my stopping distance down by 50 + ft depending on load

g/l

 

[msmithac]

Funny my truck did the same thing the day i read the post... ... I also noted that the speedo didn't move untill i reached 15 - 20mph I replaced the speedo pickup and ABS sensor ( same unit ) on the top of the rear differental and all is fine..... costed $43. 00 for *******. dont suggest you buy it anywhere else due to calibration. Need a 13mm and a 14mm to change ... took about 15mins to replace..... good luck

 

[easychat]

I replaced a brake light switch yesterday on my 94 2500. When I adjusted the switch, like the manual said. My brake light and ABS lights were on. Went back to the manual and it said to be sure to check all the fuses before doing anything else.

I replaced the small fuse in the side panel fuse block. Waaaala... ... . no more ABS and Brake light.

Don't know what happened. Just know it fixed the problem.

I guess, the moral is: Check them fuses and connections first.

Cordially,

Frank

 

[RDHamill]

My '01 did this same thing, in my case I was decending a steep driveway, with a 24" gooseneck , on ice, in 4x4.

when I got to the bottom the lights were on. ABS and service brake continued to work.



About 2 miles up the road they went out and have not been on since ( 2 years)

Sensors must have had a brain fart, or just a disagreement with themselves.

 

[CTLindsey]

ABS & Brake light still constantly on.



ABS does not work -- brakes lock up.



Cruise Control Works just fine.



The control that directs direction of air does not work: Vent stuck in defrost mode.



1) Will check vacuum line @ first light. I don't have any manuals, so where should I start looking?



2) if Vacuum leak, will Cruise still work, ABS not?



Hey I have the same thing. What did you find was the problem? Thanks,