The sensor that controls ABS is the Wheel Speed Sensor also known as the ABS sensor.
An ABS sensor also known as a wheel speed sensor will look like a small tube shaped module that is located near the wheel bearing or mounted to the wheel bearing itself.
The causes of a wheel sensor going bad are corrosion, wear and tear, road debris blocking the wheel sensor, or particles of metallic debris that is attached to the wheel speed sensor magnetic encoder ring.
A bad speed sensor will cause an ABS light as a speed sensor is connected to the ABS system.
Disconnecting the battery does reset the ABS light but you also need to press the brake pedal as well.
To reset your ABS light first disconnect the positive cable from the battery.
Then hold down the brake pedal which drains the vehicle's electrical system.
This then resets the vehicles computer and then connect the battery cable back on and the ABS light should go off.
If the issue has been fixed then the ABS light will reset itself once the ABS controller runs and passes all of it's self tests.
It does not really need to be reset any other way as most times the ABS light will reset itself and turn on once the fault is cleared.
You can get your ABS light checked at a dealership, auto repair shop or even AutoZone or some other auto parts stores.
You can drive with a bad ABS sensor as your brakes will still work but it could affect the braking and handing of the vehicle in emergency situations.
You can drive your car with the ABS light on for thousands of miles as long as the brakes are working properly and as long as the red brake warning light is not on as well.
However it's best to get the ABS issue checked out as soon as possible as it can affect the stability and handling of the car when the ABS is acting up.
If the ABS light stays on and the issue is not fixed then it can eventually lead to handling problems, stability problems etc.
An ABS light being on can signal an issue with several components such as wheel speed sensors, ABS pump, low brake fluid or other brake issues or an ABS module that is bad.
An ABS light coming on and off can be caused by a faulty ABS module, low brake fluid or broken wheel speed sensors.
Another cause of an ABS light to come on and off or come on is a broken or damaged ABS speed sensor wire or loose connection.
A dirty sensor can cause an ABS light to come on as the dirt or grime on the speed sensor can interfere with it's ability to sense properly and send the signals to the computer.
The cost to fix ABS in your vehicle ranges from $300.00 to $1,000.00 for parts and labor depending on what is causing the ABS issues.
In some cases you may be able to fix the ABS yourself for $200.00 or less depending on the cause.
The fixes of an ABS light can range from replacing a faulty ABS module, Faulty ABS pump, Faulty ABS Module or a loose or broken wire.
A mechanic can fix an ABS light when they fix the issue causing the ABS light to come on which could be a bad ABS pump or even a broken or faulty ABS sensor or bad ABS module.
The mechanic can also reset the ABS light and turn the ABS light off if they have the proper OBD reader to do so.
The causes of ABS to malfunction are broken or loose wires to the ABS sensors, blown ABS fuse, dirty ABS sensors, broken ABS sensors or even the ABS module itself failing.
The ABS sensor is located in each wheel hub or rotor on a 4 channel ABS system.
Your ABS sensor can also be mounted or located in the rear differential in certain rear wheel drive vehicles.
ABS can shut off a car when it detects that one wheel starts to spin irregularly then it will cut the engine off until it establishes traction.
The ABS cutting off power to the engine is designed to prevent skidding out of control by accidentally applying too much power.
When your ABS light is on but your brakes are fine the most common reason for the ABS light being on but brakes are good is a bad or malfunctioning ABS wheel speed sensor.
Other causes of the ABS light being on are low brake fluid, faulty bulb check, worn hydraulic pump or bad ABS module.
The four reasons your ABS light is on include a malfunctioning ABS module, low levels of brake fluid in the brake fluid reservoir, broken wheel speed sensors, or the system is turned off.
If you ignore the ABS light it could cause the ABS system to completely malfunction and make cause the tires to get locked under heavy braking which limits the vehicles maneuverability in emergencies when you need to stop.
The most common cause of the ABS light to come on is a malfunctioning ABS module or even low levels of brake fluid and bad wheel speed sensors.
ABS light being on can mean you need new brake pads or it could mean you're low on brake fluid or something else is wrong with your ABS system.
When the ABS light comes on it's a sign that something is wrong with the ABS system which could also be a bad wheel sensor.
Worn brake pads can cause the ABS light to come on as worn brake pads can make the fluid in the brake reservoir seem lower which can trigger the ABS light and even the brake light.
If your ABS light comes on it's best to check the brake pads and the brake fluid levels first and if that does not fix the issue then you have something wrong with the ABS system or even a wheel speed sensor could be bad.
Bad wheel speed sensors can also cause the ABS light to come on.
It is OK to drive with the ABS light on.
Even when the ABS light is on your brakes on your vehicle are still working as usual and you'll be able to stop the vehicle..
However when you drive with the ABS light on the vehicle's tires are at a risk of getting locked under heavy braking which limits your ability to maneuver properly in emergencies.
The ABS light should be taken seriously though and be checked out because it's a sign that the ABS system needs checked out and the ABS system could be malfunctioning.
The most common reasons that typically cause the ABS light to turn on include a malfunctioning ABS module, low levels of brake fluid in the brake fluid reservoir, broken wheel speed sensors, or the system is turned off.
The vehicles ABS actually shares some important components with another system in your vehicle: your traction control system.
The ABS light is yellow for a reason – it indicates that caution should be taken while driving the vehicle, but there is no imminent need to stop.
It is wise to get the system checked out sooner than later.
Worn brake pads deplete your brake fluid.
By doing this, they can trigger your car's ABS light.
Anti-lock brake systems, or ABS, are an essential safety feature for any car. When the system is damaged or needs a part to replace, it can cost anywhere from $320.00 to $1,000.00
The exact cost really depends on your car and the components of its given ABS system.
Firstly, you should check your brake fluid reservoir to ensure that the levels aren't too low, as the ABS warning light can be activated if the levels of brake fluid have dropped.
If this is clearly an issue, you can top the brake fluid up yourself, which should cause the ABS light to go off.
When a car's ABS starts to fail, the brake pedal may gradually stop working.
As this happens, you'll need to increasingly press down harder on the brake pedal over time to get your car to stop.
Eventually, you won't be able to press down on your brake pedal to safely stop your car, which means your ABS no longer works.
If the TCS and the ABS warning lights both come on, along with the red main brake warning light, you should not drive the car until the problem has been fixed.
Your entire braking system is affected, and may not be able to stop your vehicle when you need it to.