1882

My ABS and brake light are on most of the time telling me perhaps it's the ABS sensor but every once in a while I lose braking for a moment. The pedal acts like when you stomp on the brakes while on ice, the pedal pulsates and I have what I would say is like 25% braking effectivenes. I'm going to get her in the shop soon but my question is does a bad ABS sensor make you lose braking like I am experiencing? Fluid is topped off. Thanks y'all

Lt.B

It can. The pulsating pedal you feel is the antilock engaging. If a sensor lies, the controller will activate the system thinking wheel slippage is occurring.

1882

I'll tell ya one thing, it sure sucks coming up to an intersection and just about ramming the stopped car in front of you as the ABS kicks in right at the last second or ya almost drive right through your own garage door as you're pulling into your driveway!

dodge24

I think there is a fuse you can pull for the ABS. It will cause the light to come on and the ABS won't work, but it sounds like that might be better than the alternative!

tractordan

Similar thing just happened to me. I removed the ABS sensor from the hub when I replaced the ball joints. After putting it all back together, went to pick up the wife at work. When I got there (after driving 8 or 9 miles), the brake pedal "locked", couldn't press it, ABS pulsating like crazy, almost went through the intersection! I pulled the ABS fuse to get home, and drove it that way for a month. Borrowed a Snap-On scanner from a friend, and found a bunch of codes for the ABS - No left wheel sensor speed, Intermittant left front wheel sensor speed, etc. Replaced the wheel speed sensor, and now its OK.