ABS Light on

[mick883]

My ABS light is on. Any idea what it could be? According to the book, I need to get it checked out. It just started on Sat. night, and only twice. It would turn off and not be on after I would restart the truck. Sunday, it would reset each time I started the truck but turn on the minute I use the brakes.

ALSO, yesterday, just once, I turn on the truck and drove for three blocks and noticed that my "Overdrive OFF" light was blinking on my shift lever. It blinked for about 4 more blocks then shut off and has not done it since.

Are the two related (maybe batteries dying causing weird things to happen)??

Any help is appreciated.

[szyd]

Is the speedo acting up?

It seems it could be the VSS in the rear but that is just a guess. You should have the codes pulled

[SCUFFY828]

most comon is the rear speed sensor in the rear end but its best to get it diagnosed correctly

[njjeep]

yeah mine did the same thing and now the abs light is alwayson, when i got my codes pulled it came up as the sensor was bad. In srw trucks its on the diff so when i change my fluid i am goin to clean it(supposedly this works sometimes) it if that doesnt work i will get a new sensor

[mick883]

So the ABS might be a sensor on the rear diff.

Would that alos effect my overdrive flashing for 7 blocks or so?

Where can I get the codes pulled at? I REALLY DON'T LIKE MY LOCAL FORD DEALER.

[mick883]

I just was told I can get my codes pulled at Advanced Auto. Is that true? Anyone done that before with a diesel?

[SCUFFY828]

Originally Posted by mick883

I just was told I can get my codes pulled at Advanced Auto. Is that true? Anyone done that before with a diesel?

you can try that , but if any more info is need to diag other than a code ,you will still need to take it somewhere

[Highbeam]

Originally Posted by SCUFFY828

you can try that , but if any more info is need to diag other than a code ,you will still need to take it somewhere

There are no less than 3 sensors that can go "bad" to cause your ABS light to illuminate every time you drive and stay on until you shut the truck off. Each front wheel has its own, then the rear end has one. The one on the rear end can be contaminated with metal debris from the gear oil and go out, the most common, and you can maybe clean it to save it. New ones are only like 20$.

The front ones are way harder to replace and way more expensive. A new front wheel bearing assembly comes with a new sensor so you might consider replacing the whole bearing to lower the cost of doing these jobs seperately.

I just ignore it. I have no ABS but it is not a critical system.

Only the ford system scans can tell you which sensor is out. The cost of the scan exceeds the cost of the rear end sensor so you may as well try that.