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Jim Grant's Tech Tips
92 Plymouth
Voyager, ABS Problems & Safety Recall
Q: The ABS warning light on my '94 Plymouth Voyager has come on. I
turned the ignition off and on three times to get the computer to flash
trouble codes. The only code I got was 55. According to my manual that
means nothing is wrong with the system, yet the light remains on. At times,
the brake pedal is hard to push, then it seems to work fine. From what
I'm told if the ABS light is on, the brakes will stop my car in the normal
manner. Why is my brake pedal hard to push on sometimes? Could the ABS
warning light be on for any other reason?
A:There
is a National Safety Recall on vehicles of your type and it's critical
that you take your vehicle to the dealer as soon as possible for inspection!
ALLDATA Information Systems shows Safety Recall No. 685 which pertains
to problems: Chrysler Corp. had with the Anti-lock Brake Systems (ABS)
on some front wheel drive vehicles manufactured from '91 through '93.
The cause of the problem was due to a failure in the ABS hydraulic control
unit. Because of internal wear the ABS function would fail and there would
be a major loss in braking "stopping" ability. The symptoms
of this failure include; A substantial increase in brake force necessary
to stop the vehicle. Either the Brake System Warning Light or the Anti-lock
Warning Light remains illuminated for more than two minutes after starting
the vehicle or if either light comes on at any other time during vehicle
operation.
If your vehicle
is identified as being equipped with this Anti-lock Brake System, repairs
will be at no cost to the owner even if you are not the original owner
of the vehicle. There is an "entire life of the vehicle warranty"
on the ABS hydraulic control unit. Chrysler has also extended the warranty
on the other ABS components to 10 years or 100,000 miles whichever occurs
first. In addition, Chrysler will reimburse the vehicle owner of any previous
ABS component expenses incurred within the limits of the warranty.
Don't wait!
One of my customers had a heart racing ride down a snowy Vermont hillside;
fortunately no one was injured. If you have any trouble getting your vehicle
inspected or repaired you can contact the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration at 1-800-424-9393.
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