200 check engine/ABS lamps

[Larry C Leung]

Well, my car has developed the same anti-lock light (and, as it turns out
the relay is triggered too) problem, HOWEVER, if you turn on the lights
(park or full, doesn't matter) AND the instrument lights are turned UP
far enough, the ABS lamp goes out and ABS works. I found this out trying
to determine the intermittent clock failure. My diagnosis, broken or bad
connections in the dash circuit board. I plan (one of these days, when I
have time) to attack it with DeOxit and a soldering iron, solder, solder
wick etc. If you have the time, check the traces on the board. I'm
willing to bet a bad ground, somewhere......

Anyone have a different opinion?

LL - NY

On Sat, 14 Apr 2001 19:50:04 -0500 Calvin Krug <ckrug at laf.cioe.com>
writes:
>Today, I decided to find out why my '89 200Q has been sometimes 
>unwilling to start.  So, I looked up the info, and went out to the 
>car.  The first thing I noticed was the fuel pump relay.  The fuse 
>that is supposed to be used to make the ECU flash the trouble codes, 
>well, it was already in there, and apparently had been since before I 
>
>bought the car last fall.  So, I took it out.  Next, the check engine 
>
>light wouldn't come on.  So, I pulled the cluster, and found the bulb 
>
>and socket loose behind the dash.  The tabs that hold it in place on 
>the board are broken.  Anyone got one of these on a junk harness? 
>But the light still doesn't come on. I checked the bulb with my 
>meter, and it had the same resistance as the other dash bulbs, so it 
>seems to be OK. So now what?
>While I was in there, I moved some of the dash lights around, as some 
>
>of them are blown.  I'll need to buy three of the larger ones with 
>the big square base to get everything on.  When I got it all together 
>
>and took it for a drive, it ran fine (still hard to start 2 out of 5 
>times I tried) But what's this?  The "antilock off" light is on.  Oh, 
>
>that was one of the bulbs I replaced.  So, I push the button on the 
>dash, and it goes out......for about 30 seconds. Then comes back on. 
>Now, unless I switch the ABS off and then on again every minute or 
>so, the light is on all the time. What's the deal with that?  Just a 
>loose connection somewhere?
>So, the Check Engine light doesn't come on when I want it to, the 
>Antilock one does when I don't, and I need a few bulbs and one socket 
>
>for the dash lights.  Someone give me a clue here.  Thanks.
>
>Calvin Krug
>'89 200Q having problems