ABS Light

Hoof_Hearted

A bit of advice needed. Honda Jazz 2007 ABS light on continuously, Came on a few days after a full service and MoT. Can anyone advise the likely cause and whether it is fixable myself? Brakes are fine but I haven't checked whether the ABS cuts in yet.

Stooby2

You can certainly do some basic checks yourself - have a look under the car, behind the wheels. There should be at least one wire coming from the hub area on each wheel - check it's properly connected, isn't broken.

Have the bonnet up and from what you can see, make sure all connector blocks are clean and dry and pushed together properly.

There are diagnostic tools you can plug in that will give the error code and point you in the right direction - but if that gives a code that's not fixable by you, you may have wasted your money.

You may well need to book the car in and get it sorted. If the ABS isn't working, you're committing an offence if you continue to drive it. Sec 18 Con & Use Regs.

forgotmyname

If the ABS light is on the ABS will usually be fully deactivated.

Anything from a dirty sensor to a failed wheel bearing or timing ring where it count the pulses.

Cheap code readers wont read ABS faults. So unless you plan on doing work on other cars just take it to the garage to read the code.

Hoof_Hearted

Thanks for the advice. I think I will book it in. I use a local independent and they won't rip me off, I'm sure.

Paperbird

It will probably be a wheel sensor. The sensor normally has a lead about 1 metre long on it, the front ones connect to the system under the bonnet and the rears under the back seat.
The dealer will charge upwards of £50 to put it on the computer to tell you which sensor is faulty but there is a cheaper DIY method.
If you can get to where they connect and can fit one yourself visit a breakers and buy / borrow a sensor.
On yours unplug one sensor and plug in the one from the breakers then turn the ignition on, if the abs light goes out you have found the faulty one. If it stays on go on to the next one.
It doesn't matter whether you get a front or rear sensor the connector and sensor are the same and all you are using it for is to check which of your sensors is faulty.
It does not have to be fitted to the car just plugged in so that when the ignition is turned on and it does it's checks it sees 4 good sensors.

Stooby2

On yours unplug one sensor and plug in the one from the breakers then turn the ignition on, if the abs light goes out you have found the faulty one. If it stays on go on to the next one.

Not quite right - many ABS systems require the vehicle to move a few yards so that each wheel sensor provides the correct signal before switching the light out. Mine does on my Discovery. And for that to happen the sensor has to be correctly fitted, so the above method might not work.

tberry6686

could it be the battery. Many modern cars do not tolerate failing batteries well and often the first sign is an ABS warning light.

Hoof_Hearted

Thank you all -- had it checked today and it was indeed a faulty front wheel sensor. Just waiting for the part. Not cheap, are they?

forgotmyname

They are for some cars. Mondeo complete rear hub with wheel bearing
and a new sensor included under £40.

Or £13.99 for just the sensor.

Hoof_Hearted

I am a bit taken aback by these prices. I am being quoted a lot more. Do you know the price for a front nearside sensor for a '57 Jazz?

philbostavros

It may sound strange, but it's worth checking the connectors under the front seats (for the seatbelt pre-tentioners, where fitted).

My DIL's Rover 25 had the ABS light come on and I enquired at our local back-street garage (who's got a good reputation). He said that on many make/models, a loose or poor under-seat connection can cause issues and hey presto, problem solved.