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Jim
Grant has been working in the automotive industry for over twenty
years. In addition, Jim is an ASE Master Technician with advanced
L/1 certification. He works as manager and technician in his
family's automotive business in New Hampshire. He writes weekly
automotive consumer columns and is editor of an automotive newsletter
that is circulated throughout North America. |
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Jim Grant's Tech Tips
'99 Ford Taurus, ABS Brake Flickers
Q:
I have
a '99 Ford Taurus SE that I've had serviced at the same dealership that
it was purchased from. I am the only owner. The 3yr warranty has run out.
Background: The ABS light on the dash flickered on and off. The garage
removed the dash and supposedly found a chaffed wire, $500 later the ABS
light still flickers. Problem: Now when applying the brakes, the brake
pedal pulsates and the brakes are very slow to grab. I've almost rear-ended
a few cars. Garage says it is a brake pump (master cylinder, maybe??)
that may be the problem. They said they ordered one for a Ford Explorer
recently and the owners cost was $1300!! I still owe $3100 and fuel costs
are only going higher. Does this $1300 repair sound right? What are my
options? Should I not repair the car and trade it in for a new vehicle
(not Ford)?
A:
Repair
or trade? Good question and I don’t have that answer. But I do have
some questions regarding your problem. Under normal braking conditions,
the ABS system on your vehicle should not be active. From what you’re
describing it sounds like it is. Have your technician temporary disable
the ABS brake system and test drive the vehicle. If my hunch is right,
the braking/stopping of the vehicle should improve. If that is the case
then you’re vehicle’s ABS system is receiving some bad information.
When you step on the brake an electrical signal is sent to the ABS unit
as a heads-up (we’re going to stop this vehicle). The ABS unit in
response monitors the signal from the wheel speed sensors and watches
for a sudden drop in wheel speed. We’ve seen loose or broken toner
rings (that’s the part the sensor watches) cause faults wheel speed
information. The ABS computer doesn’t know the toner ring is jumping
and bouncing around, it just thinks the wheel is locking-up. The ABS computer
responds by activating and trying to control the wheel it thinks is locking
up. The end result? Extended braking distance and an ABS system that seems
to run on high alert at all times. A different diagnostic approach might
save you new car payments.
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