The dash light isn't there to tell you that it's engaged. If it's on, something is wrong. The ABS shouldn't turn on the light just form having to be used.

 

If the light is on while you are driving around, the system has been disabled because of a problem. Retrieve the code and go from there.

 

thanks for the responses, but just to confuse things... I have another 95 v6 that the ABS light never shuts off. I took it to the local Toyota dealership and they said that the abs computer told their diagnosis machine that there is no error. what's that about?

In addition, in the first mentioned problem(abs light comes on when applied), I recently had both my front axles replaced. Could that have anything to do with it?

 

from what i understand the ABS light comes on when the rear wheels arent turning and the front are, becasue when i DYNO'd thats what actually happened until i turned the car off adn the liht went away. ABS kicks in when the car is having a difficulty in braking so it lets go of the brakes and then reapply brakes to slow the vehicle down without locking up the brakes. SO in other words your ABS light wont turn on if your slam on your brakes hard enough, the front may shreech (dont know if its spelled correctly) because your also applying brakes to the rear drums ( if you have drums ). and vise versa. Hope this helps, but not totally sure if its correct

 

If the light never came on before the axle replacement there could be something with encoder rings on the new axles, or the sensors need cleaning, were not installed properly, etc.

Was the ABS light on when you had the codes read, or had it reset?

 

I just bought the Camry so I don't know if the abs had an issue before hand. Although i drove it from Pennsylvannia to Maryland without any problems at all. If the axles were not installed properly (which is something that I am starting to suspect myself), specifically do you know what part may be the culprit? I am starting not to trust the mechanic I took it to and rather him not touch my cars anymore.

 

If the axles were not installed properly (which is something that I am starting to suspect myself), specifically do you know what part may be the culprit? I am starting not to trust the mechanic I took it to and rather him not touch my cars anymore.

There are different CV axles for Camrys with and w/o ABS, so your mechanic might have installed the wrong ones. My guess is the non-ABS axles don't have the toothed ring for the ABS wheel speed sensor to read. The teeth cannot be seen without partially removing the axle, so it's not easy to check.

The ABS wheel speed sensors do not need to be removed when replacing the axles, so there's no reason your mechanic should've touched them. I suppose it's possible he damaged them, if he's a klutz or an idiot.

On the other hand, if the wrong axles are installed, I don't think the ABS light would ever turn off. Bottom line: get your ABS error codes pulled and go from there. If both your front sensors come up as bad, then wrong axles might be the problem.