#abs light

You’re driving through a Canadian winter morning, roads slick from an overnight snowfall, when a small amber symbol suddenly glows on your dashboard. It reads “ABS”. Your first instinct might be to panic, wonder if your vehicle is safe, or simply hope the light goes away on its own. You are not alone. The ABS warning light is one of the most commonly misunderstood dashboard indicators, and yet it is one of the most important.

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about the ABS light: what it is, what causes it to turn on, whether your vehicle is safe to drive, and exactly what steps to take – whether you drive a compact car, an SUV, or a pickup truck. If you have ever typed “why is my ABS light on” into a search engine at 7 a.m. in a Tim Hortons parking lot, this article is for you.

What Is the ABS Warning Light?

The ABS warning light is a dashboard indicator that alerts you when something is wrong with your vehicle’s Anti-lock Braking System. Depending on your vehicle, it may appear as the letters “ABS” in amber, yellow, orange, or red, or as a circle with “ABS” inside it. On some vehicles, particularly older models, it can also appear in red.

The light is part of your car’s onboard self-diagnostic system. Every time you start your engine, the ABS control module runs a quick self-check. If everything is functioning correctly, the light turns on briefly and then goes off after a few seconds. This brief illumination is completely normal and is known as a bulb check. If the light stays on after startup, or turns on while you are driving, it is telling you that the system has detected a fault.

It is important to distinguish the ABS light from the standard brake warning light. The brake warning light (often a red “!” inside a circle with parentheses) typically signals issues with your main braking system, such as the parking brake being engaged or critically low brake fluid. The ABS light, on the other hand, specifically refers to the anti-lock function. Both are serious, but they do not mean the same thing.

One of the ABS sensors on a Land Rover is broken.

We will need to replace it and recheck the anti-lock braking system (ABS).

Is there a light on your car’s dashboard that says “ABS” with a circle around it? This is your ABS light and if it turns on, there could be a problem with your anti-lock braking system (ABS).

The ABS runs as drivers step on the gas, press the brake pedal, and turn. There are wheel sensors that determine how quickly it’s moving by monitoring the high points of tone rings.

Information is collected by a computer and goes to the power control module (PCM) or engine control module (ECM).

Whether you’re turning, stopping or accelerating, a vehicle’s anti-lock braking system (ABS) is operating, unnoticed.

It makes sure that the tires are moving at the same relative speed, based on the vehicle’s actions. For example, if you’re turning left to drive around a corner, the right wheels are going faster than the left ones. 

A Dodge Ram needs a new wheel bearing. 

This week, we performed diagnostic testing on the truck, which was towed in. Its anti-lock braking system (ABS) light and traction light are on.

The hub bearing is shifting when the wheel and rotor move from side to side. This movement caused damage to components, like an axle and brake caliper.

This week, we looked into why a Volkswagen Jetta’s anti-lock braking system (ABS) light turned on.

While inspecting the vehicle, one of our technicians noticed play in the rear left. To address the problem, we started by replacing a wheel bearing. 

After the part was installed, the ABS light, brake light, and traction control light came back on. We looked up the codes and saw a possible recall with this model.