Nissan Primera - ABS

Just_Passing_Bi

I have a 2005 Nissan Primera 1.8, I'm getting an ABS warning sign coming up on the dashboard, advising me to take to car to a dealership.

Is this something only a dealership can deal with?

Foxy-Stoat_3

Any reasonable garage should be able to diagnose the fault for a minimal fee if they have the correct fault reader.

jase1

Common fault with these cars for the ABS rings on the CV joints to degrade/crack, causing problems with the sensors reporting errors.

Cheap fix -- third-party joints are available for £25.

Strider590

jase1 wrote: »

Common fault with these cars for the ABS rings on the CV joints to degrade/crack, causing problems with the sensors reporting errors.

Cheap fix -- third-party joints are available for £25.

Or weld the ring back together as I did on my Peugeot 306 (had it tied together with steel wire for 3 month before that)

red_eye

Just_Passing_Bi wrote: »

I have a 2005 Nissan Primera 1.8, I'm getting an ABS warning sign coming up on the dashboard, advising me to take to car to a dealership.

Is this something only a dealership can deal with?

around for an independent garage
( http://ata.theimi.org.uk/motorists ) £35 to hook it up to the scanner.

most likely a faulty sensor

Just_Passing_Bi

OK, I've had all the brake pads replaced.

Still not happy with the brakes, when I press the brake pedal, I have to press right down, the sound I'm hearing from the brakes is like they are not locking.

I've no idea about cars, so, is the ABS supposed to kick in when I touch the brakes?, if so, does this explain why it feels like the brakes are not locking?

muddyl

Just_Passing_Bi wrote: »

OK, I've had all the brake pads replaced.

Still not happy with the brakes, when I press the brake pedal, I have to press right down, the sound I'm hearing from the brakes is like they are not locking.

I've no idea about cars, so, is the ABS supposed to kick in when I touch the brakes?, if so, does this explain why it feels like the brakes are not locking?

The ABS only comes in when the tyres lose traction I.e. heavy braking.
You know when it works as you will feel your brake pedal pulsing.

New pads take a little while to bed in and often require more effort at first.

muddyl

Just though id add this is the case on my 04 Primera too.

Ultrasonic

Just_Passing_Bi wrote: »

I've no idea about cars, so, is the ABS supposed to kick in when I touch the brakes?

No, the ABS kicks in when the wheels lock (i.e. stop turning), at which point a car without ABS will skid. The ABS releases the brake pads so the wheel starts turning again, and then reaplies the brakes. It does this VERY fast, multiple times, so you feel a sort of juddering as the car comes to a stop. When braking normally none of this happens, it is only if you brake hard enough for the wheels to lock that the ABS does anything.

Just_Passing_Bi wrote: »

Still not happy with the brakes, when I press the brake pedal, I have to press right down, the sound I'm hearing from the brakes is like they are not locking.

When you say you have to press 'right down' do you mean you have to push the peddle a long way, or that you have to press very hard?

Ultimately, if you are unsure about the brakes, take the car back to the garage where you got them changed so that they can check them. Nobody here will know exactly what you're experiencing, and I would suggest it's not worth the risk.