ABS is a specially designed system that sits above the car's braking system and controls its operation. The main function of the ABS system is for the driver to perform optimal braking, without the vehicle going into a skid, despite any unfavorable factors. Therefore, all new cars are equipped with this system, and if there is any brake malfunction, their ABS immediately starts to light up. dashboard. What can cause problems in brake system, to which ABS reacts? Let's look at this issue.
When does the ABS light come on?
A working ABS indication is activated on any vehicle when the ignition is turned on. This is a normal situation, indicating that the electronic “brain” of the car is performing diagnostics, demonstrating to the car owner that the system is operational. Then, within a few seconds, the indicator should go off. If this does not happen, or the ABS light suddenly comes on while driving, it means that there are some problems with the brakes that require an immediate solution.
However, there are cases when the electronics themselves that control braking fail, so you need to look in this direction when looking for the reason for the indicator to turn on.
Specific reasons why the ABS light is on:
- Breaking ABS sensor. The number of such sensors is determined by the number of wheels of the car, that is, as a rule, passenger cars there are four of them, and they are all located near the wheel caliper. Failure of any of them causes the system indicator to light up.
- Loss of communication between the main ABS unit and its sensor system. This breakdown occurs due to short circuits, as well as poor contacts;
- Failure of the main ABS unit.
Eliminating other causes of the ABS light signal
Elimination of loose contacts is carried out by checking them one by one. In this case, the four ABS system connectors are located directly behind brake discs wheels, next to the system sensors. The fifth contact is located in the engine compartment, it will not be difficult to find it, focus on the vacuum brake booster.
Repair, in this case, consists of disconnecting and cleaning each of the contacts. After connecting the cleaned contacts, it is necessary to check the operation of the ABS system. If, while driving, the light does not light up, then the cause of the malfunction has been eliminated.
On cars equipped with on-board computers, all errors are not only highlighted on the indicators, but are also recorded by the computer itself, which displays them in the form of a code. You can find out why the ABS light is on in your car using this code by finding its meaning on the Internet.
So, let's summarize. If, while driving your car, the ABS light sometimes comes on or simply does not turn off, and you are unable to resolve this malfunction yourself using the recommendations given, then be sure to contact a car service center. Don't wait for your car's brakes to fail while driving on a busy highway.
Before the appearance of ABS systems in cars in the 70s of the 20th century, they were less safe when compared with today's modern cars. This was especially true when the driver had to move either on a wet or snowy icy road. In those years, old cars were usually equipped with not very high-quality wheels (tires), not very reliable rear wheel drive, as well as a conventional and simple braking system without any electronics. But today, as you know friends, everything has changed for the better. Nowadays, most drivers don’t even think about the modern brake systems on their cars. Today, each of us (drivers) feels confident and reliable behind the wheel of a car, even when driving or when it is icy. It's all about the following. Majority modern cars Nowadays, they are equipped with front-wheel drive, which gives drivers confidence when driving a car. And what’s more, these cars are also equipped with the latest modern electronic safety systems that control the car’s grip on the road surface, and excellent modern tires that demonstrate some miracles of grip on a slippery road. One of the most important systems Any modern car today has an anti-lock braking system (ABS), which significantly reduces braking distances car and prevents wheel locking, which can lead to loss of traction and, accordingly, further skidding.
The ABS system has already become standard equipment, these days it is installed on virtually every modern car produced by automobile companies. As we have written more than once, this system"ABS" consists of several parts, namely, speed sensors that are installed specifically on the wheels of the car, an electronic control unit for the anti-lock braking system and also hydraulic valves, which, based on a certain signal from the electronic unit, immediately regulate a certain braking force in each wheel without resorting to the help of the driver (without his participation).
Wheel ABS sensors monitor the speed of rotation of each wheel of the car and constantly transmit data to the car computer. As soon as system unit“ABS” begins to notice (see) that the wheel stops rotating, then it immediately activates the valves of the hydraulic brake system and it, in turn, immediately begins to reduce the brake pressure in this very wheel. As a result, the pressure brake fluid the wheel immediately drops and the braking force decreases, which further facilitates the unlocking of the wheel and the return of traction with the road. This process is repeated through the car’s computer several times per second until the car comes to a complete stop or the driver releases the brake pedal.
The ABS control unit and the car computer automatically perform a self-test of the anti-lock braking system every time the ignition is turned on. That is, every time you start the car, an automatic test of the ABS system immediately occurs. If, during self-testing, the car computer does not receive enough data from the sensors, from the ABS control unit and from the hydraulic valves of the brake system, then the warning light with the “ABS” icon lights up. For example, let’s say if the car’s computer or the same “ABS” control unit did not receive a return signal from the hydraulic pump of the brake system or from the same valve installed on each wheel, then the “ABS error” signal will immediately light up on the instrument panel (on the panel) - in the form of an icon (indicator).
Friends, draw your attention specifically to this, namely, despite the malfunction of the “ABS” system and the appearance of its burning “ABS signal-icon” on the dashboard in the car itself, as a rule, the mechanical braking system still continues to work and you can safely without fear of continuing to drive the car, but without this electronic system to help lock the wheels during braking. That is, in other words, we can say that if the ABS system breaks down, you can safely use your car. True, in this case you need to be extremely careful when braking on a wet, snowy or slippery road, since without this “ABS” system, your car’s wheels may periodically lock. Therefore, friends, we do not recommend that if the ABS system malfunctions, you operate your car without appropriate repairs for a long time. Thus, all drivers should understand that if the car computer issues an “ABS system error,” it is necessary to establish the cause of this malfunction as soon as possible and eliminate it as soon as possible.
ABS system malfunction.
And so let's say. In your car, there is a warning light or icon on the dashboard warning you that there is a problem with the anti-lock braking system. What should be done in this case?
Firstly, first you need to make sure that the icon indicator that lights up indicates a problem with the “ABS system”, and not a malfunction of the entire braking system of the car.
To do this, you need to carefully listen to your car when braking and pay attention to the brake pedal. If, when braking, you begin to hear extraneous noises (whistles, knocks, squeaks, etc. sounds) or the brake pedal in the car has become too soft (softer than usual), then your task is to go straight to the technical auto center, where specialists must conduct a thorough diagnosis of the entire brake system of the vehicle. Please remember that all these signs indicate a serious malfunction of the entire braking system of the car, which can lead you to an accident while driving. Therefore, friends, remember, if the brakes of your car have become very bad, soft and not quite normal, we do not recommend that you drive onto a public road with such brakes, as this can be very dangerous. In this case, you need to call a tow truck.
Also, in order to specifically find out that the faulty “ABS” icon that lit up was caused by the car’s anti-lock braking system, you also need to make sure that no air has entered the car’s braking system, that the brake pedal on the car is still hard and has not become too soft, and also make sure that there is no . To do this, you must first check the level of brake fluid in the reservoir, and then only all the brake pipes and hoses for depressurization or breakage.
Among other things, we must remember that when the ignition is turned on, when you see such an illuminated “ABS symbol” on the dashboard, you should never panic. Maybe this is just a common error in the car's electronics itself. Therefore, in such a situation, you need to turn off the ignition and remove the key from the lock, and then turn on the ignition again and check again whether the “ABS symbol icon” appears on the dashboard (panel). You need to repeat this process several times. It is quite possible that this is really a car computer error and after several such turns on and off of the ignition, this ABS system error will simply disappear.
If, however, after several attempts to turn the ignition on and off, this “ABS” system error on the dashboard does not disappear, that is, does not disappear, then you have two options:
First; - go to a car service center and conduct a thorough computer diagnostic of the entire car. main feature diagnostics of the ABS system consists of the following, that is, an electronic survey of the ABS unit using special equipment for all kinds of errors in its system.
With the help of such diagnostics, a specialist will be able to quickly determine the error code in the ABS system, which specifically led to the appearance of the ABS signal symbol on the dashboard.
Also, this very “error code” will give a specific hint where exactly you need to look for the cause of the malfunction of the entire ABS system.
The second option is needed only by those drivers who want to get to the bottom of this very truth independently and on their own. In order not to use (not use) expensive diagnostic equipment for testing the ABS system, you need a service manual for your car (a book on the repair and operation of your car model), also a simple car tool that is sold in any car store and, of course, a multimeter with high resistance (high impedance). If you cannot find the necessary book for repairing your car model on sale, then please look for it on the Internet or download it to your computer or smartphone.
Friends, we draw your attention to the following: in some cars you can get direct access to the diagnosis of the same “fault codes” that are stored in the car’s computer, and all this without using a special diagnostic scanner. To do this, you need to check each electronic unit of your car (including the ABS control unit) using the old proven method, namely, using two simple wires that you must connect to the appropriate connectors electronic systems cars. For example, you can connect these two wires to check the circuit in the same ABS control unit, for which you need to connect these two wires directly to the ABS control unit connector and short the wires with a pin or a regular paper clip. If after this procedure the “ABS symbol icon” error disappears from the dashboard, then the cause of such an error is located in the anti-lock braking system control unit itself. In exactly the same way, and in the same way, other specific and necessary contacts can be connected using a paper clip or pin and without the use of wires.
If, dear motorists, your car is equipped with a more modern computer, where error detection diagnostics are carried out only by connecting a scanner to the “OBD II” (On-Board Diagnostic) diagnostic port, then to establish the reason for the “appearance of the ABS symbol icon” on the dashboard you you only need electronic diagnostics, which you can do either at a technical center or yourself, but with the help of an inexpensive error scanner you purchased for the “OBD II” port.
Let’s assume the following: you do not yet have any information about errors in the car’s computer, which led to the appearance of the “ABS symbol” on the dashboard. Don't rush into computer diagnostics. First, check the ABS control unit fuse yourself. After all common cause A malfunction of the ABS system becomes a normal fuse for the anti-lock braking system control unit.
And so we proceed further, you checked the fuse of the ABS control unit, which turned out to be in working condition. What to do now? Now you should use a multimeter to check the voltage and resistance in all electronic parts of the ABS system. To do this, read the operating and repair manual for your car, namely, all the corresponding control values for voltage and the corresponding resistance in the ABS sensors and in the ABS electronic unit itself.
True, you must not forget to check the main wiring harness that is connected to the ABS control unit before doing this. Carefully inspect the entire wiring harness responsible for the operation of the entire ABS system for damage. Also, remove the connector of this wiring harness from the ABS control unit and carefully inspect all contacts in the connector for contamination or oxidation. All wire contacts in the harness must be clean. If the contacts need cleaning, then using a special aerosol spray for cleaning electrical contacts and connectors, take and clean the connector from this contamination.
Also, when inspecting the contacts of the ABS wiring harness connector, pay attention to the corrosion of the contacts. Please remember that even microscopic chemical substances Oxidation and corrosion can seriously affect the resistance in the electrical circuit of the ABS system. Wires, as many people know, transmit a small voltage of electricity (millivolts) and even the slightest increase resistance due to contamination of the connector contacts can lead to malfunction the entire electronic part of the ABS system, and also cause an error in this system, which leads to the ABS indicator lighting up on the dashboard.
If the ABS controller looks intact and is in working order, and disconnecting the ABS wiring harness connector from the anti-lock brake system unit did not help you solve the problem of the burning “ABS symbol icon” on the dashboard, then it is time to check the serviceability of the rotation speed sensors wheels, which transmit information to the ABS control unit. To do this, you must initially measure the resistance of these sensors, checking them with the control values specified in the repair manual for your car.
If this resistance is within acceptable limits, then proceed to visually inspect the wheel speed sensors themselves, the wires themselves that are suitable for them, and inspect (inspect) the condition of each gear axis (or on each wheel hub), which are installed in the car on each wheel . As a rule, similar sensors related to mechanical sensors were installed on old cars.
Also, many modern cars today currently use sensors that need to be powered by electricity. As a rule, "ABS sensors" are used based on the "Hall effect" (a semiconductor plate is installed inside the sensor), which, when interacting with a magnetic ring on the wheel hub, record the change in the magnetic field itself and the rate of electron formation on the plate inside " ABS sensors".
Unfortunately, not in all cars these “ABS sensors” and the wires through which the signal from the sensors is sent to the ABS system control unit are reliably protected from an aggressive external environment. They may eventually fail due to damage and dirt getting on them.
In order to check the condition of the wheel speed sensors and the wires of the ABS system, you must first remove the wheels from the car, namely, jack up the car one by one from the desired side and remove each wheel.
This way you will have free access to the sensors and wires.
If, when inspecting the ABS wiring harness and wheel speed sensors, you find any damage (or the wheel speed sensor is not securely fastened or it is loose), then you can assume that you have found the cause of the error on the dashboard, which informed you about a malfunction of the ABS system.
But if, when examining these wires and the “ABS sensors”, you do not find any external damage on them, then remove all the speed sensors of the “ABS” system from the hub (or from the axle) and check their resistance, as we have already said, using a multimeter ( if you haven't done so before). The control values of resistance in wheel speed sensors can be found in special books on the repair and operation of your car model.
We also advise all car owners to periodically inspect the wires of the wheel rotation sensors of the ABS system; do this even if the anti-lock braking system of the car is working properly and the “ABS symbol” does not light up on the dashboard. The point here is this: all the wires and wheel rotation sensors are located at the bottom of the car and they are constantly exposed to the aggressive influence of the external environment. Remember, friends, that the most important enemy for wires and sensors is salt, which is contained in road reagent, in water and in snow.
For what reasons does the “ABS” indicator light up on the dashboard if the sensors and control unit with the “ABS system” wires are working?
If after testing you find that all electronic parts of the ABS system are in good condition, and the ABS symbol icon on the dashboard is still lit, then most likely the problem itself is related to the hydraulic valve system of the ABS system, which Unfortunately, it cannot be partially repaired.
Vesta, Largus, Granta, Kalina, Priora, Niva 4×4) are without exception equipped with ABS (anti-lock braking system).
During the operation of the car, many owners notice that lights on the instrument panel light up. ABS lamps and ESC (if this system is available). Let's figure out how to solve this problem and improve the design.
WHY IS THE ABS AND ESC LIGHT ON LADA?
ABS malfunction may be caused by:
- failure of wheel rotation sensors;
- malfunction of the hydraulic valve block;
- damage to the wiring.
If the ABS malfunction indicator light comes on, you must contact a service station as soon as possible for diagnostics (read error codes) and repairs.
The most common reason for refusal is ABS operation There is damage to the wiring near the ABS sensor connector. It is located under the fender liner, but is still not well protected from moisture and dirt.
As a result, the wires oxidize and break, and the ABS lamp lights up.
HOW TO REPAIR LADA WIRING
Remove the wheel and then the locker (for front wheel, unscrewing the fastening screws) or a protective shield (for the rear, unscrewing two fastening nuts “10”). Press the latch and disconnect it from the sensor ABS pad with wires. We inspect the connector and make sure there is no corrosion or damage. In case of damage, we restore the integrity of the wires:
We treat it with a special means for cleaning electrical contacts (for example, graphite grease) and clean the contacts from oxides. We clean the wheel speed sensor and the surface around the sensor from dirt.
Attention! Keep ABS sensors away from magnets as this may cause damage.
Articles about Lada X Ray Cross
REPLACEMENT OF LADA ABS SENSORS
If the cause of the malfunction is not in the wiring, but in the ABS sensor itself, we replace it. To do this, first unscrew the fastening screw with a Torx T30 key, and then remove the sensor wiring harness from the bracket. The photo shows a Lada Vesta car, others Lada models the work is done in the same way.
Instructions for replacing the front wheel ABS sensor: 
Instructions for replacing the rear wheel ABS sensor: 
HOW TO IMPROVE THE LADA DESIGN
To protect the wiring harness from exposure environment You can use a D-shaped seal. We lay the wires in it and wrap it with electrical tape. We put everything in the corrugation. We glue the cover covering the ABS sensor connector around the perimeter with the same sealant. This will prevent moisture and dirt from entering the area where the sensor and connector are located. 
Attention! If the ABS fails, the brakes remain operational, but the braking efficiency is reduced, which is especially dangerous on some surfaces.
Some motorists shudder nervously when the ABS light comes on. They believe that in this case something bad happened to the brake system as a whole. The entire Internet begins to be scoured in search of explanations for the current unpleasant situation. Why did the ABS light come on and what should be done in this case? But panic is inappropriate in this case and hardly justified. The car's braking system must be in good condition; only the anti-lock braking system will be inoperative, which is not at all so critical. Of course, it helps out in some critical situations, but this is all fixable and we will talk about it in more detail in our article.
Reasons for the ABS light to come on
We list the main reasons for a constantly burning ABS light on the dashboard:
- the contact in the plug-in connector has disappeared;
Lost connection with one of the sensors, possibly due to a broken wire;
The anti-lock braking system sensor has failed; it should be checked and then replaced;
The crown on the hub has become unusable;
Faulty ABS control unit.
After you have completed the inspection and the cause has, at first glance, been eliminated, check the operation of the anti-lock braking system. This is very easy to do, just accelerate the car to 40 km/h and brake sharply. will vibrate and the flashing light will go out.
If visual inspection damage in the sensor circuit to the block did not give any results, then you will need computer diagnostics to determine a specific anti-lock brake system error code. On vehicles with installed on-board computer this task is greatly simplified. You will only need to correctly decipher the displayed code and determine the location of the problem.
How to independently check for malfunctions of the ABS light coming on?
We note the fact that the anti-lock braking system functions normally only if the ABS light comes on when the ignition is turned on and goes out after seconds. First of all, if the ABS light remains on, check the anti-lock brake system fuse and inspect the wheel sensors. It often happens that the sensor connector on the hub is oxidized or the wires are frayed, and if the icon remains on after replacing the hub or pads, then the first logical thought that comes to mind is that the sensor connector is not connected. If the sensor is covered with dirt, this can also cause the light bulb to light up.
Quite often, the appearance of an orange ABS indicator after a good slip can cause panic among motorists. But there is no need to worry at all in this case. Brake sharply a few times and everything will return to normal. This is a completely normal reaction of the control unit to this state of affairs. If the ABS light flashes periodically, then you should carefully examine all the contacts, and, most likely, you will find the reason for this behavior of the indicator and easily eliminate it.
Fixing the ABS light coming on
As mentioned earlier, there is no need to panic. Let's figure out what can be done to fix the problem without going to a car service center.
1. Open the hood and disconnect the battery.
2. The electronic unit ABS controls are easy to find, it is located under the hood, often in the same housing with a hydraulic modulator - an element that distributes braking forces. You will recognize him by his multiple brake pipes, which are connected to the block, as well as a bundle of wires with a connector.
3. Disconnect this connector and carefully inspect it for damage or moisture. If necessary, blow out the connector and dry it.
4. Check the fuses, which most likely should have been done first. But it's not scary.
5. If you have a car lift available, then look at it. If not, then use a jack and lift the car. Your task is to inspect the wires leading to the wheel sensors for damage. These wires often fly off the mounts and rub against the wheel.
6.
Wheel sensors are built in such a way that a wire comes out of them with a connector at the end. It can reach one meter. Your task is to find these connectors and check the presence of contact and its quality. Make sure there is no moisture or rust.
7. If everything is normal, but the ABS light continues to light, then definitely go to a car service center. An error in the anti-lock brake system is not always resolved by a “reboot” by removing the battery terminal.
Everything described here refers to troubleshooting and troubleshooting on your own. A specialized car service center will connect a scanner to your car, which will determine the breakdown.
For many drivers modern cars It will be useful to know what to do if the ABS light comes on. Some drivers are even afraid to continue driving when this signal is triggered. In this case, there is no need to be afraid, the brakes will work, but the anti-lock system will not turn on.
This device was specially designed to make it easier to drive a car in extreme situations, which occur quite often. Those motorists who only drive cars with such a device are at a loss when driving cars without it.
What to do if the ABS light comes on will also be useful for those who are faced with choosing a car before purchasing. Everyone who has been using machines with such a device for a long time emphasizes the effectiveness of its use in winter time. This helps make vehicle braking safe in road conditions. slippery roads. To use this tool correctly, you need to study its features, structure and application.
What is ABS?
This abbreviation stands for anti-lock braking system. Its main task is to prevent the wheels from blocking when braking the car. It is based on sensors that are required to monitor the speed of the car, as well as the speed of rotation of the wheels. For most modern cars, an additional unit is installed, this is a brake force distribution system.
The figure shows that the ABS consists of the following components:
- Sensor that reads wheel rotation speed (installed on all wheels);
- Hydraulic block;
- Hydraulic unit performance monitoring unit;
- ABS unit warning light.
Performance indication. The operating principle of the performance indicator is the same for all vehicles with ABS. The first signal from it appears immediately after turning on the ignition. The warning light indicates the operation of this device and should go out a few seconds after the engine is started.
If the light does not go out for some reason, it means that there are problems in this unit. If the signal of this lamp flashes while driving, then you need to check the functionality of the anti-lock braking system.
Reasons for turning on the warning light
The inclusion of a warning light on the instrument panel indicates to the driver that there is a problem with the anti-lock braking system. The brakes are in working order, but extreme situation You will need to rely only on your driving experience. So why does the ABS light come on:
- One of the most common reasons for this situation is the failure of one or more sensors of this system. They are installed near each wheel on its caliper. A failure of any of them is sufficient to alert the driver to a malfunction. This can be caused by changes in the gap between the sensor housing and the rim of the gear rotor;
- The same can happen if the control unit loses communication with the sensors caused by a break connecting cable or after oxidation of contacts. Sometimes during maintenance or repair they are disconnected and then forgotten to be connected;
- Strong discharge battery can also initiate the light bulb to turn on;
- Problems occurring in the hydraulic pump. They can be caused by a failure of the system's hydraulic valve or due to faults in the control unit itself. It can also result from inept intervention in the operation of the ABS.
How to solve such a problem?
Some may sigh and say that they have finally reached the goal of this article. If so, then I would like to offer some tips for solving such problems:
- Check that all device contacts are securely connected. There are only five of them in the system, one near each wheel and the fifth is located in the engine compartment of the car. The check is easy to do; you need to disconnect all contacts, clean off any dirt and oxidation. When all this is done, they are installed in their place;
- If the reason for the warning light to turn on is the ABS control unit, it is almost impossible to solve this problem on your own. In cars with an on-board computer, you can see the error code for this system. If you know how to decipher these errors, you can learn about the problem more specifically, but this does not mean that you can solve it yourself.