What is an ABS system in a car?

Question

In a CHRYSLER NEON 1999, How much would it cost to fix the ABS, please could someone help as I am not sure on what this does and the ABS light is on, on my dashboard. I just need an estimation on how much it will cost as I have no idea. Please could you also tell me what ABS is and if it is vital in driving the car. If your clever enougth to know where the problem is and how to fix it I will also really appreaciate it.

Thank you very much, Have a good day :)

Rob

Answer 1

Anti Lock Braking System (ABS) is Vital to a car that it is fitted to, so Yes it is worth doing.

It works by sensing the amount of grip each brake pad is applying and when the disc locks tight, so does the wheel and then you start to skid. ABS kicks in when the wheel begins to lock and then release's the pressure very slightly, so the wheel can still turn and give better braking performance. Most people are under the influence that it means you can brake later and harder and stop quicker but thats a myth, it just makes braking efficiant so in Ice and wet, you can actually stop shorter and safer, but in the dry, if you know how to drive properly, it should not make your stopping distance any less.

Cost wise, it could be simply a bottle of brake fluid (see owners handbook on how to check) Or your pads are wearing thin (Remove wheel, use soapy water and wash the brake disc, if uneven in slightest way, change the pads) But if it is a sensor, you could be looking into triple/quadruple figures.

Unsure where you live, but rough guide for the UK...

Brake Fluid £12.99 per 500ml bottle (Halfords etc...)
Brake Discs £110 For front set, (Chrysler)
Brake Pads £60 for front set (Chrysler)
Brake Service/Fluids check £49 (Kwik Fit)
Add on Labour... Probably in the region of total cost £300-£500 Tops.

Is that expensive when it comes to your safety?

Good luck & I hope it's not to serious.

Answer 2

ABS is the anti lock brakes. There is a pump that cycles the brakes when you press on the pedal very hard. The idea is to keep you from breaking your tires loose on less than ideal surfaces, ice, snow, gravel etc. Your nearest mechanic can place a diagnostic computer on your car to find out why the light is coming on. The diagnosis is usually from $80 to $150 depending on where you live. Ordinarily the ABS light will come on when there is some type of problem preventing the ABS from operating the way it should. It could be you need brake rotors/pads (or) drums/pads depending on whether you have disc brakes. It could be something as simple as a faulty sending unit (that's the part that tells the light to come on). I'd recommend you pay the diagnostic fee and repair whatever part of the brake system is causing the problem. Good Luck

Answer 3

Anti Lock Brakes keep the wheels from locking in a panic stop. Sensors on the wheels send signals to a let it know if the wheel is still turning. Ever seen black marks on a road where an accident occurred? That's what ABS keeps from happening. When a wheel locks up its much harder to steer and stopping distance increase. Your brakes will still work fine under normal conditions. Most cars with ABS will never use them so do not worry to much. If you live some place that has snow and ice you want it fixed before winter as the do help you control the car better in those conditions.
As for cost that depends on what is wrong. The wheel speed sensor may just need to be cleaned. If it need to be replaced it could cost $200 to $300 or so. Good luck.

Answer 4

As most of the others have said, ABS means "Anti-Lock Brake System. And it keeps your brakes from "Locking up" in a panic stop situation, so you have better overall control of the vehicle. When the ABS light is on, the ABS computer has detected a fault in the electrical part of the brake system, and disabled the Anti-lock part of your brakes. YOU WILL STILL HAVE NORMAL BRAKING!! Just as if your car were not equipped with ABS! (so it IS safe to drive the vehicle). As far as cost to repair, without knowing what the fault code is, it's impossible to estimate. You'll have to take the vehicle to a garage that has a scan tool capable of reading the ABS computer, have the system checked for codes, do the corresponding diagnostic tests, then get an estimate for repair. And although brake wear rarely has anything to do with the ABS system (unless you're vehicle is low on brake fluid due to a leak), it's a good time to have your mechanical brakes inspected (brake pads and shoes, rotors and drums, leaks, etc.)

Answer 5

ABS stands for Anti-Lock Braking system. It is a standard safety measure on new cars, that prevents your car 's tires from locking up when you hit the brakes. If the light is on it could be a sensor that is reading incorrectly. It could mean that you've slammed on the brakes, and activated the ABS. It could aslo be something wrong with the modulator. Your ABS will run a self- test everytime you start the car, and should go fof after a few minutes. If the car is running badly you need to get it to a repairman. I would have it checked out anyway.

Answer 6

The ABS (anti-lock brake system) on your car is a computer with servos tied in with your hydraulic brake system. It is hooked to sensors at your wheels, and when it senses a wheel slipping, it uses the servos to apply and dump pressure to the brake on that wheel, preventing it from locking up (in case you're skidding or coming to a hard stop).

Basically, it pumps your brakes to prevent your wheels from locking. ABS was designed to help drivers stop more safely, but it you have experience with pre-1980 cars, you've driven without it before. So, no, it's not a vital system.

If the ABS light is on in your car, it means the ABS computer has sensed something wrong with your brakes and has de-activated the ABS system. So while you no longer have ABS, odds are you still have your regular brakes, and you'll still be able to stop safely.

Your problem could be as little as low brake fluid or a loose wheel speed sensor, or it could be major.

I would advise going to a Chrysler mechanic who is ASE-certified in brakes for a full brake inspection. The "code" in the ABS computer that caused the dash light to turn on can only be diagnosed and cleared with a special scan tool that hooks up to the computer...and the mechanic will be able to find any problems with your car.

Answer 7

Anti-Lock Brake System. Like the name implies, it prevents your brakes from locking up during hard braking. It is done by a computer brain that controls your braking system and sends out a signal to make the brakes "pulsate," something to the rate of about 200 times/second, depending on the car.

This really helps when you drive in the rain. It won't completely eliminate lock-ups, but it helps a great deal.

Answer 8

ABS stands for Anti-Lock Brake System, and it can be vital in a quick stop situation. So get it checked out now! It could be anything from a burnt fuse to a failure somewhere in your brake line, so giving an estimate is impossible. Get it checked out now!

Answer 9

This might just be an indication light that maybe you need to change your break pads... ABS stands for Automatic Brakeing System... It is vital... You should have it looked at, at leaset... Might cost you 30 for some pads... or more depending on the amount of dammage that might have been done... dont wait long... it could get worse. I hope this helps.

Answer 10

Lugnutz59 is spot on with the safety aspect. The ABS system its self is usually pretty reliable. A quick home check that I'd do (after checking fluid level) is check the sensor and wiring for corrosion. Not sure on Neon but normally it can be pulled free from its hole. If its completely chuffed you should be able to buy this section of the loom and replace. you may be able to get away with cleaning it up with a suede wire brush but be gentle with it