ABS Problem?

[shuresh]

Hi everybody,


I have a Gen 4 Camry and recently I have been concerned about my ABS system. To make the story short, I have never gotten any type of pulsation when I applied the brake even on slippery surfaces. My concerns started when I rented a Nissan a few weeks ago and noticed the short pulsation under the brake pedal when I was passing a slippery road.

Is there any way to check the ABS system? Is it easy to repair? Thanks for your help


Shuresh

[tacosteelersman]

The ABS system monitors itself.. If you are not having any ABS light on, and you are stopping fine I would assume the ABS is functioning correctally..I would recomend you make sure the ABS light works.. When the key is turned on the ABS light should illuminate then go out, this shows normal electrical operation..Only a dealer can check the ABS system..

[shuresh]

Originally Posted by tacosteelersman

The ABS system monitors itself.. If you are not having any ABS light on, and you are stopping fine I would assume the ABS is functioning correctally..I would recomend you make sure the ABS light works.. When the key is turned on the ABS light should illuminate then go out, this shows normal electrical operation..Only a dealer can check the ABS system..

Thanks for reply. I think the ABS light comes on when I start the car. However, like I said, I have never felt any sense of short pulsations under my brake pedal. My take on your answer is that an individual mechanic can not check the ABS, why is that? Does it need a specialty tool that only dealers own?

Thanks.

[JohnGD]

Modern ABS systems do a lot more than "anti-lock". Like late model Bosch systems, they also do stability control, acceleration anti-slip, brake proportioning, brake boost assist, etc. (Yours may be an older system while the Nissan has a newer system maybe even based on Bosch 7 or 8).

It may be that your ABS is working perfectly given the circumstances. If the ABS light comes on and then goes off, then you should be fine. At least the system thinks everything is OK.

It's somewhat time consuming but not hard to check the basic components of the ABS system. For example, checking the magnetic wheel sensors, ABS module solenoids and pump motor. The dealer has the equipment and it's easier and faster for them to do it than rigging your own ABS actuator. And if not careful, you can burn out the pump and solenoids. (Well, even the dealer technicians can burn them out if they're not careful, like activating them for too long > 5-10 secs.).

Originally Posted by shuresh

Thanks for reply. I think the ABS light comes on when I start the car. However, like I said, I have never felt any sense of short pulsations under my brake pedal. My take on your answer is that an individual mechanic can not check the ABS, why is that? Does it need a specialty tool that only dealers own?

Thanks.

[shuresh]

Originally Posted by JohnGD

Modern ABS systems do a lot more than "anti-lock". Like late model Bosch systems, they also do stability control, acceleration anti-slip, brake proportioning, brake boost assist, etc. (Yours may be an older system while the Nissan has a newer system maybe even based on Bosch 7 or 8).

It may be that your ABS is working perfectly given the circumstances. If the ABS light comes on and then goes off, then you should be fine. At least the system thinks everything is OK.

It's somewhat time consuming but not hard to check the basic components of the ABS system. For example, checking the magnetic wheel sensors, ABS module solenoids and pump motor. The dealer has the equipment and it's easier and faster for them to do it than rigging your own ABS actuator. And if not careful, you can burn out the pump and solenoids. (Well, even the dealer technicians can burn them out if they're not careful, like activating them for too long > 5-10 secs.).

Thanks John for your feedback.

[Lightning Blue]

Find a gravel road somewhere and slam the brakes on, you should get some nice "grinding" or pulsing.

Can even do it on pavement but I think it's a bit harsh on the car unless you have to do it.

[fenixus]

Originally Posted by shuresh

Thanks John for your feedback.

i'm not sure if it calms you down but i've got almost same camry ('00 solara 2.2L is similar) and my ABS behaves same like yours (type 5 if i remember correctly). it has to be one of older models, no traction control, no stability, simply ABS only. i think JohnGD made a good point about newer ABS systems being better and behaving differently.

i do not feel brakes pulsating when braking down hard either even on slippery roads. still seems like system works normally (no codes, no trouble lights, brakes are good). i think that "pulsation" you referring to is rather a traction control than a brake anti-lock "feature".

[Lightning Blue]

My 01 camry with the 2.2 pulses all the time on slippery surfaces (ice, snow and gravel).

[fenixus]

you see, mine didn't pulse at all when i was trying to brake down on snow covered icy road last year ... it cost me $1,300 out of pocket....

today when (we have a blizzard here now) i was returning from work the car slid forwards when taking a sharp turn on snow. despite that i was braking (NOT hard though) there was no pulsing at all again, had to "pulse" myself and use the e-brake to stop before hitting the curb. you think such behavior of this ABS means something bad happened to it ? why no error codes or lights up then ?

[Lightning Blue]

Your ABS light could be burned out! Does it light up when you start the car?

[fenixus]

Originally Posted by Lightning Blue

Your ABS light could be burned out! Does it light up when you start the car?

it's off all times. just double checked in car. dang, so simple thing and i missed it ... i haven't seen that light coming up when starting car for some time now, like a year or so...
the only lights coming up before ignition are: "battery", "oil" pressure, "air bag" check and "check engine". then when cranking it, "brake" comes up for a short while and "(ABS)" is no more. it used to appear in the middle of dash.

i guess, now will have to replace the bulb and check voltage to the socket to make sure it works ... damn, perhaps i've got constant ABS warning that simply burned off the bulb and we no longer see it ...

[Lightning Blue]

Or whoever you bought the car from removed the bulb on purpose to hide the fact it was broken, tends to be a common thing.

Are you sure it has ABS in the first place? Look for the ABS pump on the left side of the engine bay!

Once you have the bulb fixed, there's a way to get the code for the error in one of the stickies, would need to dig it up.

[fenixus]

god man, you confusing me now haha! perhaps i'm going nuts, but i think this car had ABS listed in features last time i checked on web and i've seen that light myself in past (or maybe not lol!), perhaps i'm mixing up cars of other people with mine haha, not even sure.

hehe, until now i was convinced car had ABS, now i need to double check even that... i remember private seller i bought it from talking about ABS in this car (3 years ago), i never actually checked if he was right...

perhaps i should check first if i have the ABS pump haha! where exactly is it located on 5s-fe engine model ?

[Nervous]

Having crappy or worn tires increase the probability of ABS pulsing. So, OP, check your front tires.

[fenixus]

never mind, i am just dumb with cars still ... it seems the seller had to lie back then about ABS because:
1) i've got empty space in where i assume ABS actuator is supposed to be - left side of engine bay, above washer fluid reservoir
2) i scanned ECM in my car for CELs a week ago and it has zero trouble codes (zero pending as well), so if ABS was faulty there would be some code for it too, right ?

from this quick check it seems car was never equipped with ABS. i have no idea what let me thinking that it had it (besides seller-liar), but i think based on my VIN insurance company assumed car has it or something like that. i guess i have seen that (ABS) light on dash in a different car lol, sorry ... living in rush makes an idiot of me sometimes. bad day...

thanks for pointing it out the bulb and pump thing Lightning Blue, it seems i'm still an idiot when talking about cars lol, my bad, sorry to OP for unrelated comments above.