RE: "ABS off" appears, + Joke

["Paul C. Waterloo" <74543.407@compuserve.com>]

>I have been trying to get the ABS working on my 87 5kcstq, and
>can't even get a mechanic to schedule time to troubleshoot it.
>Phil and Kurt have made suggestions that I tried.Checked the
>fuse, relay, and if the mechanic used ablative caps to install
>the sensors (yes).

>When I start the car, no warning lights appear on the dash. When
>I run up to road speed and put on the brakes, the car dives
>slightly to the right and almost simultaneously the antilock
>braking system cuts out and the notice appears on the dash:
>"Antilock braking system off."

Your problem is that your ABS sensor isn't properly aligned to the toothed
wheel (or whatever is used for the sensor to run against). For whatever
reason, it's very close to being aligned, and until after you run up to
speed and put the brakes on, it can still get the sensing of the toothed
wheel. Then after you put on the brakes, it doesn't have enough magnetic
coupling from sensor to wheel to sense it. Then by default, it turns it
off.

>The right dive only lasts a part of a second, followed by even
>braking. Feels like the left front brake isn't engaging in sync
>with the others.

I would start looking at the left front wheel, it is sensing that it is
locked up (so it takes the brake off via ABS, therefore it pulls to the
right) and then it can't sense it at all, so it turns off the system.

>If I start the car the ABS light shows no warning. If I then
>apply steady pressure to the brake pedal before moving, the
>pedal starts down, hardens, collapses gently by about a half
>inch, and firms up again. This does not trigger the "ABS off" 
>event. The car must be moving to trigger the event. 

You're feeling the left front brake caliper being pulsed.

Try taking the left wheel off, then making sure it is in close proximity to
the sensor and bend the bracket until it is. It needs to be aligned both
radially and axially. I'm sure you'll see that one of your left side
sensors is not aligned. Which wheel did you just do work on? That's the one
that needs adjustment. BTDT a couple of times with different types of cars.
Easy fix.

Paul

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Paul Waterloo
Oak Park, IL

91 200q

EMAIL: 74543.407@compuserve.com
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