Table of Contents

Introduction

Modern automobile models are equipped with extra safety features to decrease the chances of accidents, and ABS is one such feature.

A skidding wheel always has less traction than a non-skidding wheel.

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So, ABS prevents the tires from breaking traction or sliding on the road when you hit the brakes. As a result, the vehicle slows down sooner, and the driver can enjoy better car control.
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In addition, ABS(1) also increases the lifespan of the tires, brake calipers, brake pads, wheels, and other braking components. The ABS light blinks on your car’s cluster meter when you start your car. But if it keeps blinking for a longer time, it can be a sign of malfunction in the ABS. This article will highlight some key causes of ABS light blinking on your vehicle’s cluster meter.
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How does ABS work?

Four components of ABS(1) work in coordination to increase the vehicle’s traction, preventing skidding. ABS sensors are mounted on each wheel, detecting each wheel’s speed and rate. These sensors then relay this information to the computer controller, and the ABS module analyzes whether a wheel is locking up to stop skidding.

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If the ABS module detects that the wheel is locking up, it sends a signal to the actuators that cause the brake calipers to squeeze and release the brake pads for that particular wheel. As a result, the wheel does not skid.

This increases the traction of the tires, preventing them from skidding.

Causes of ABS Light and Its Solutions

Less Amount of Brake Fluid

The brake system operates on the hydraulic mechanism and works on the power generated by the cylinder pushing the brake fluid. Thus, maintaining a constant brake fluid level is necessary for better and smoother brake system performance. Brake fluid plays a vital role in balancing the brake pressure in an Anti-Brake System. There is a reservoir known as a “brake fluid reservoir,” which stores the brake fluid. Sometimes there might be different issues with the brake fluid reservoir.

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There needs to be more than power generation to operate the brake system effectively. The reservoir sensors detect the amount of brake fluid in the reservoir and turn the ABS light on if the brake fluid is less than the required amount.

Defective Speed Sensor and Low Pressure on Tires

As discussed above, wheel speed sensors are present in each wheel and help in independently computing each wheel’s speed and wheel rate. The speed information of each vehicle wheel is then sent to the ABS module. In addition, the module checks whether each wheel is working accurately or if there is a possibility of locking the wheels.

There can be many reasons for inaccurate sensor results. The most common sense for defective sensor results is the dirt accumulated around it. In addition to this, the sensors can also malfunction due to long term.

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Because of this fault in speed sensors, the wheel turning speed is not detected accurately, and the warning light of the anti-lock brake system will appear on the vehicle’s dashboard.

The vehicle operates on different sensors that observe the functionality of other parts. For example, the car sensors monitor the vehicle’s speeds and send the information to the ABS and traction system.

The ABS sensor is usually located behind the brake caliper(3), so unbolt the brake caliper and clean the sensor with a mild soapy solution.

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If the ABS light remains on, it is better to take the car to a professional mechanic to get the sensor checked and replaced if necessary.

In addition, maintain optimum tire pressure according to the size and temperature conditions for the proper functioning of ABS.

Defective ABS Module/Traction Control

The ABS module is usually connected to important vehicle parts, such as the steering wheels and TCS cars. The Traction control system of the vehicles helps protect the wheels from spinning. If the TCS detects the wheel’s poor function or spinning issues, it immediately breaks the connection with the engine system. The anti-brake and traction systems(3) work on a “control and self-diagnostic module” and sometimes interfere with each other.

The corrosion on the ABS module breaks its connection with the wheel sensors, and the speed of the wheels is not measured accurately; thus, the ABS light is turned on.

Taking the car to a professional mechanic in any of the scenarios mentioned above is recommended.

A professional mechanic will analyze the traction control sensors and their readings and give a better overview and solution to the problem in this case.

Defective Steering Sensors and Steering Rack

A steering angle sensor is present in the steering column, which helps in effectively calculating the steering wheel’s angle, position, and turn rate. Sometimes, the ABS light turns on due to the malfunction of the steering sensors.

The steering rack is an integral part of the car that operates on the pressure generated by the hydraulic fluid(4) or the car battery. This results in an accurate movement of the steering wheel. But if the fault occurs in the power steering, it would be difficult for the drivers to drive the car on rough surfaces causing the ABS light to turn on. Thus, an error in the steering rack also causes the ABS light to go on.

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In that case, it is again recommended to visit a professional mechanic who can resolve the issue to establish a proper connection between the ABS module and the wheels of your vehicle.

Defect in Hydraulic Compressor

As discussed above, the vehicle’s wheels might move at a different speed than the required speed. The speed sensor analyses the wheel rate, and the information is then transmitted to the ABS. The ABS forces the hydraulic pump(2) to increase the pressure on the brake fluid system to resolve the speed issue. This helps in normalizing the turning speed of the wheels. But the hydraulic pump has a specific lifetime and gets defective, impacting performance. Due to the poor performance of the hydraulic pump, the ABS light starts blinking.

Bulb Check

There is a chance that the ABS light(2) becomes on automatically after a certain period. Moreover, sometimes a glitch might occur in the bulb, and the ABS light starts blinking. Finally, if the ABS light turns on repeatedly, the bulb’s fuse is broken, or there is a weak connection between the ABS and the sensors.

At this point, the PCM of the car immediately sends the signal, and the ABS light starts blinking.

This issue can be resolved by changing the defective fuse or ABS bulb on the cluster meter.
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Personal Experience

In my experience, ABS light in new car models mostly appears due to a sensor failure. It can be the wheel rate sensor or the steering angle sensor. Both these sensors can fail due to excessive vehicle usage or some other technical fault. In some other cases, the sensors can also get dirty with mud that, causes the ABS light to blink on the vehicle’s dashboard. Thus, new vehicle owners should always go for a sensor check before replacing the components of the ABS module.

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However, if your car model is ten or more years old, then there is a chance that the ABS light is blinking due to some key component issue.
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After a long countryside trip, I experienced the same issue in my 2019 Ford Focus. However, the light disappeared when I cleaned the wheel sensors of all tires by removing the brake calipers. Thus, clean your sensors before taking the car to a professional mechanic.
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Cost Estimation to Resolve the ABS Light Issue

The following table gives a cost estimation to resolve the ABS light issue:

IssuesCost Estimation
Less amount of brake fluid$5-30 for brake fluid, $80-130 for replacement of fluid brake sensor
Defective speed sensor$5-10 for sensor cleaning, $200-400 for individual wheel sensors on each wheel
Defective ABS Module/traction control$320-1000 for ABS module replacement, $80-90 for replacing the traction control switch
Defective steering sensor and rack$80-200 for replacing the steering angle sensor, $300-400 to resolve other power steering issues
Defect in the hydraulic compressor$145-400 for the replacement of the hydraulic sensor
Bulb Check$5-20 for bulb replacement
Labor Cost$10-$500, depending upon the extent of the issue and the level of expertise required

Key Takeaways

In short, ABS helps you stop sooner and more safely during panic braking and other driving conditions. And even though there is a possibility that ABS increases the braking distance, it also allows you to have better steering control of your vehicle. Finally, ABS can also give you peace of mind that your car has a modern safety feature that will help you panic braking and steer effectively in difficult driving conditions. The ABS light blinks once when you start up the vehicle. However, if the light blinks afterward, it can be a sign of malfunction in any of the ABS components or the entire module. The ABS module may have stopped working when the light started blinking, so it is recommended to figure out the exact reason behind this warning light. The article analyzed some key reasons along with their solutions.

FAQs

It depends upon the nature of the error causing this light to blink. In case of significant problems such as malfunctioning ABS module, traction control, steering angle sensor, etc., the ABS module can stop working. But suppose the bulb of your cluster meter has fused, and the ABS module will keep working. It will be just a false warning in that case due to the fused bulb.

Yes, it would help if you considered changing your driving style, especially using the brake when the ABS light blinks. It is because the ABS warning light can signal that the ABS module has stopped working, and applying the brakes might not result in the same efficient braking as before. In this case, you should consider changing your braking style to avoid accidents.

Yes, you can clean the sensors by yourself. The ABS sensors are located behind brake calipers in some standard vehicle models. Just unmount the calipers and clean the sensors using a mild soapy solution. If you are still looking for a sensor, consider visiting a mechanic who will charge a minimal fee for sensor service.

Yes, traction control and other safety feature greatly depend upon the signal sent from the ABS module. So, a faulty ABS module may hinder your vehicle’s performance of traction control and other similar safety features.

References

About Author

Andrew Ray

Andrew is an automotive technician with 10 years of experience mainly in American and Japanese cars, covering everything from routine vehicle maintenance and engine inspections to tire rotation.