What Does the ABS Light Indicate and What Causes It to Appear?

The dashboard lights are supposed to alert you when anything is wrong with your car. When the ABS light illuminates, you may be concerned that the car is no longer safe to drive. The only way to know for sure is to figure out what's wrong with the vehicle that's creating the problem in the first place. You need answers before you get back in your vehicle.

The ABS light's meaning is explained in this guide. We also look at what's causing. Finally, you'll be able to determine if it's safe to drive with this light on.

Any warning dashboard lights that are illuminated might result in a failed MOT, so double-check your MOT status and the issues repaired.

The ABS Light's Causes

The ABS light is illuminated as a result of the following six issues:

1.      Bad Speed Sensor - The wheel speed sensor measures the pace at which the wheels move and transmits that information to the ECU. The ECU can utilise this information to determine how to employ the ABS. If the ECU detects that one of the wheels is travelling faster than the others, it will release more brake fluid, allowing the wheel to slow down and boost traction on the road. A failed MOT will be caused by a defective wheel speed sensor, therefore check MOT status of your car, and get the damaged wheel speed sensors replaced by a trained mechanic.The ECU will not have reliable data if the speed sensor fails. Not only will the ABS light illuminate, but you should also be aware that slamming on the brakes might cause the car to lose traction. The traction control light may also illuminate. The speed sensor is situated quite close to the wheels in order to measure their speed. It suffers a great deal of damage as a result of its proximity to the brakes and exposure to the extreme heat. It can also be harmed by metal shavings or debris ejected by the brakes.

2.      Faulty ABS tone Ring - The ABS sensor requires something to read the wheel speed from, and the ABS tone ring is that something. The ABS ring can get rusted and break, causing the ABS sensor to produce an inaccurate measurement and the ABS light on your dashboard to illuminate. If check MOT history of your car and it shows that a prior failure was caused by the ABS light being on, it's possible that the problem was caused by a malfunctioning ABS ring.If certain ABS rings are inserted inside the wheel bearing, the complete wheel bearing must be replaced. If it's on the driveshafts, though, you can usually check it visually to see if there are any fractures or other damage.

3.      Faulty ABS Module or Damaged Wirings – The ABS module might fail. The wiring, on the other hand, may be to blame. These cables are prone to corrosion, which can cause communication delays or failure between the ABS module and the speed sensor. It would be preferable if the vehicle only required some new wiring. If you're unlucky, you may need to replace the ABS module, which is far more expensive. You should notice a lack of responsiveness from the brakes with either condition. You may barely notice it on occasion at first, but it should continue to worsen. It's also conceivable that the brakes could lock up or those clicking noises will be heard.

4.      Hydraulic Pump Failure - The ABS system is responsible for controlling the braking fluid that passes via the hydraulic pump. When the brake pedal is depressed, this pump pushes brake fluid into the cylinder so that it may be supplied to the brakes. Based on the speed sensor data, the ABS system regulates the braking pressure to each wheel. With this knowledge, the proper quantity of fluid may be delivered to the brakes where it is most needed.In the vast majority of circumstances, this system performs as expected. However, the hydraulic pump might fail, or the hydraulic system could have a defective valve. Neither of these scenarios are ideal. The pump might wear out due to dirt and metal shavings from polluted braking fluid. However, changing the fluid on a regular basis can assist prevent this from happening. An illuminated ABS warning light is a common reason for failure on a MOT history check.When there are problems with the pump, braking performance suffers. It will begin gently and gradually worsen as you let it go. If the master cylinder fails, the brakes may feel wonderful for a minute but then lose all power a split second later, making driving extremely risky. A fluid leak might also occur as a result of the flaw. If fluid is leaking out, the pedal may initially seem hard, but it will become spongy as it lowers to the floor.

5.      Blown Fuse - The ABS is activated by the electrical components of your vehicle. The ABS, in fact, has its own fuse. These fuses aren't impervious to failure. A fuse might blow at any time for no apparent cause. It's not difficult to check the fuse, thankfully. In fact, if you haven't seen any symptoms other than the dashboard light, it might be the first step in diagnosing the problem.

6.      Low Brake Fluid - For the ABS pump to function properly, it requires brake fluid. To feed the braking system, this fluid is pumped through the cylinder. You'll have problems if you don't have enough brake fluid, which might include an activated ABS light. It's critical to determine why the fluid level is low. A leaking fluid reservoir, air in the braking system, or a cracked seal are all possibilities. It can also occur if the brakes are worn out. If you let the system to drop too low, the ABS module won't be able to equalise the pressure between each tyre, resulting in skidding and slippage. As the brake fluid level drops, you may notice that stopping gets more difficult. When you brake, there's also a potential that you'll make more noise.