Is the ABS working?

roper1664

I recently bought a car from a garage. I noticed after a couple of days that the ABS light was illuminated on the dash while driving and also noticed a low pitched sound (maybe even grinding) from the brakes when the brakes were applied.

So I brought the car back to the garage. Now I've got it back and no more ABS light but I can still here the noise from the brakes.

So to test the ABS I applied the brakes sharply but did not feel the characteristic "shudder" from the brake pedal like I have in other cars. So, in short, I don't trust the garage at all and I'm afraid that they have used some other means to stop the ABS light from illuminating.

Any thoughts on what I should do? Thanks.

dekbhoy

simple way of checking is to go to an empty road (preferablly dry)and hit the brakes hard as if something is in front of you , if the car skids your ABS IS NOT WORKING if on the other hand the brakes feel like they are grinding and the car doesnt skid well they are working , this is the test i used for mine and it worked . it proved my abs was working.

mickdw

First thing to do though is start the car. The abs light should show for a few seconds then go out. If no light at all showing - Garage has pulled a fast one.
Also go to a quiet road with no cars around. Do an emergency stop in a straight line with plenty of room around you. If the car skids to a halt, the garage have pulled a fast one.
The ABS should not allow more than a very tiny skid and yes you should generally get a pulsing at the pedal.

Matt Simis

dekbhoy wrote: »

simple way of checking is to go to an empty road (preferablly dry)

You mean preferably wet surely? A car with good brakes and tyres may not skid on a good road.

Try brake hard in the wet or with half the car on gravel. The grinding noise if actually from the engine bay would be a dying ABS pump.

Big Nasty

Matt Simis wrote: »

You mean preferably wet surely? A car with good brakes and tyres may not skid on a good road.

Try brake hard in the wet or with half the car on gravel. The grinding noise if actually from the engine bay would be a dying ABS pump.

Don't matter how good your brakes and tyres are, if you travel in a straight line on a desrted road in safe conditions at say 30mph / 50 kmph and slam hard on the brakes you will know instantly whether your abs is working or not. If it is you should feel a crunching / judder through the pedal.

Atlantic Dawn

Best place to test them is on a beach or loose gravel, jam on and if you feel the feedback they are working, if there's none and you skid it has been disabled.

roper1664

Thanks for all the replies.

I've just checked, the ABS light does come on for a few seconds and also there is no skidding when I slam on the brakes so the ABS seems to be in order

My main concern now is the whining noise coming from the car. It's an automatic. When I put it into reverse everything is fine until I use the brakes. I hear a very loud whining noise. It appears to be coming from the back of the car. Surely the discs/pads couldn't cause this type of noise?

bazz26

The ABS light comes on for a few minutes when the car is started as the ABS system does a quick diagnostic of they system at start up. If the ABS light was disabled or fuse removed then I would think that the ABS light would not come on at all.

bazz26

bazz26 wrote: »

The ABS light comes on for a few minutes when the car is started as the ABS system does a quick diagnostic of they system at start up. If the ABS light was disabled or fuse removed then I would think that the ABS light would not come on at all.

Yep, sounds like ABS is 100% functional.
OP, have a look at the discs and pads, easy to do with a flashlight or if necessary remove one real wheel

keithclancy

bazz26 wrote: »

The ABS light comes on for a few minutes when the car is started as the ABS system does a quick diagnostic of they system at start up. If the ABS light was disabled or fuse removed then I would think that the ABS light would not come on at all.

A few seconds.. not a few minutes

roper1664

Thanks James.

I was going to drop it in to Fastfit or one of those to let them have a professional look but that might be cheeky. I'll jack the car up this evening and have a look.