ABS light on

Max_Damage

As the title says, the ABS light along with the handbrake light stay on in my parent's 2000 Mazda 626. It sometimes flickers on and off, which leads me to think it maybe a faulty handbrake switch (here's hoping). What other possible causes might it be?

This leads me to my next question,where abouts is the handbrake switch in the 626 does anyone know? In the centre console I assume?

alo1587

If it flickers on and off,chances are the brake fluid level is low.A faulty handbrake switch shouldn't bring on the abs light

Max_Damage

I checked the levels, and they are full

Delta Kilo

Probably a sensor gone somewhere. Did you test your ABS? Is it working? You will have to get the problem diagnosed.

Mr.David

Could be a wheel speed sensor that is mucked up?

Anan1

I'm thinking a damaged sensor wire, most likely at the front. AFAIK, when the light comes on the ABS is deactivated.

Max_Damage

Thanks for the tips.

Dirty_Diesel

The handbrake light is also sometimes used to indicate the brake pads are worn and I would think that the abs problem is seperate and unrelated.

vw4life

abs units are common fault on that model 626,get the flash code read from the warning lamp.easy to check the wheel speed sensors on them,get a mechanic to have a look at it is the best thing

rpmcs

i had colt once and hand brake light came on and i checked brake fluid and it seemed full, but when i went to garage the fellow put what looked like a few drops of brake fluid and funny enough light went off! do know how full yours is but just a thought!

vw4life

worn brake pads and low brake fluid level will not bring on the abs light,the abs light is flickering because it is giving a fault code,ie 3 flashes slow is 3,6 fast flashes is 6,so the code is 36.

not sayin 36 is a real fault code but thats the idea

Voodoomelon

Not sure if the same applies here, but on older BMWs, a faulty ABS sensor in any of the four wheels will cause the ABS light to come on. Its a quick 10 minute job to replace including getting the wheel off.

Otherwise, if the light comes on and off, the ABS module is faulty. Usually as the engine heats up, so does the ABS module, which causes cracked solder or an incomplete circuit within the ABS module to constantly make connection and break connection, causing the light to come on and off.