Brake Light - ABS Light

[JHylton]

Last night I was driving back home from vacation in Whistler, BC. . (lots of mountain and curvy = quite a bit of brake use). Freeway cruising at around 75 or so, heard a quick little bell ding, and the brake light flashed once. A couple miles down the road, and it repeated. Hmmm, test brakes, they work fine. About 20 - 25 miles further and both the brake warning and the ABS warning lights came on and stayed on for the rest of the trip. OM says that when the ABS light comes on that system is in-op, but that normal brakes still work. Is this a DIY thing I can troubleshoot and repair, or is this a trip to my repair folks? Truck is an '06 Big Horn Edition, 54,000 miles. I have owned this truck since mid March, bought it used of course, and don't know its' repair history. There is no brake squeal or hint of warped rotors, so not sure if full brake job is in order or ?

 

[Prairie Dog]

It's not going to be a brake job - the issue is elect. Check for codes by turning the key on-off-on-off-on within 5 seconds. Read codes at odo.
Were you towing at the time?

 

[JHylton]

Not towing... We came right past Bothell on I-5... .

 

[JHylton]

Just did the codes check twice. No error codes report. I did have to make a really hard stop on the way up... just north of Everett where I did feel the pulsating brake pedal which meant the ABS kicked in. It was fine the rest of the trip.

 

[Prairie Dog]

Not towing... We came right past Bothell on I-5... .

Well that's it you know, your truck wanted to stop here! :-laf

Your answers are killing the hypothesis I was working on but are all you brake lights still functioning?

 

[JHylton]

Well some better news... . both the warning lights went out... . stopped by my mechanic's shop... . he pulled 3 codes out of the computer... all point to either a rear wheel speed sensor, or possibly wiring/or connection to the sensor. They are going to look at it this Thursday... He is a Cummins owner as well, and has worked on my First Gen through the years. I'll let you know how it turns out!

 

[Hnick16]

Same here. I have followed all wires, replace rear diff sensor and still don't see any problem. I even topped off brake fluid. No codes are displayed on the odometer after testing either. Please help me when your done with your cummins guy. Thanks a lot

 

[Bob4x4]

Same here. I have followed all wires, replace rear diff sensor and still don't see any problem. I even topped off brake fluid. No codes are displayed on the odometer after testing either. Please help me when your done with your cummins guy. Thanks a lot

abs codes will not show up in the odo window. A scanner must be used to read the dtc's

 

[rscurtis]

You can ohm out the three ABS circuits from the connectors on the ABS unit. That won't show that they're operational, but it will find a damaged or broken sensor.

 

[JHylton]

Nick - My mechanic couldn't find anything wrong... Everything checked out OK... has been fine since... Brakes work great... .

 

[DZink24]

i too, would like to know. mine have been on for over a year, i have changed out the DS ABS sensor, to no avail. . i really don't want to spend more on another sensor for the other side if it is something more serious, which i am sure it most likely is. .

 

[TBusclas]

Just a quick thought, I don't recall the ABS coming on but my brake light would periodically flash for going on several months usually after hard acceleration or hard stop. Always just did a quick look over and never saw anything real obvious. One day it came on and stayed on so started really looking and found the brake reservoir low. Filled it and light fixed for several more months until came on again, fluid low and this time I found leaking rear wheel cylinder, new pads and rebuilt cylinders both wheels and all is good. Good luck!

 

[JNixon]

You can ohm out the three ABS circuits from the connectors on the ABS unit. That won't show that they're operational, but it will find a damaged or broken sensor.

My ABS and Break lamp came on this last week on a 5200 mile cross country trip. It would reset when you shut off the truck however within 30 miles it was on again. . Turns out I had a front hub (wheel Bearing) going out. .

Replaced the hub assembly and added an additional 2500 miles no lights...