Why and what does it mean when the Anti-Lock (ABS) light comes on?

Question

I have a 95' Buick Skylark, Friday I got gas, nothing was wrong. Sunday though after I washed the car and all I started it up and I noticed that the Anti-lock ABS light came on and wouldn't go off. What does it mean when this light comes on and what can be wrong?

Answer 1

I have the same problem on my chevy truck. With my truck when the light remains on it means that there is a problem with the anti-lock brake motor. Mine is dead so the light remains on. You WILL still have brakes but you will not have anti-lock brakes. I do not know the price of a new ABS motor for a buick but I know from the manufacturer on the chevy it is close to 1000 if not more, so I would suggest going to a dealer and seeing if they can give you a free diagnostic. That should answer all your questions and might notify you of other issues that you might not have been aware of.

Answer 2

The ABS light comes on when the ABS computer senses a fault of some sort related to your anti-lock system. It could be a bad wheel speed sensor or wiring or even the controller itself. You will have to take it to a shop and have the system scanned to find out what trouble code is in the system that is causing the light to illuminate.

Answer 3

I have found most British people to be quite polite and rather fun. I am an American, the son of a Scotsman, and if there was ever a people to dislike the Brits, it should either be a Scot or an Irishman. Growing up, I spent at least one day per week playing soccer with foreigners, as it was not a well known game back then. The differences in our cultures explain much of how we perceive them as such, but when you get to know the people, you will find they are truly a fun loving bunch and make as much fun of themselves as the do others. It is almost a British comical cultural thing. They make fun of each others' favorite teams, much as we do, but their style of humor comes across a little "off" by our standards. So, just try to realize our cultural differences are what makes us see them as the "high and mighty, self-righteous assholes", (that and the fact that we beat them for our independence and many are still bitter about that.)

Answer 4

This is copy-paste from another forum with the same question
It means that there is a malfunction in your anti-lock brake system. your abs is shutoff by your computer until the repair is made. you have regular brakes until the repair is made. usually it is metal shavings from your brakes that covers the sensors which in a lot of cases are magnetic and attract the metal shavings. go to a shop have the code pulled and an estimate given to you for repair.

Answer 5

You should take it to a qualified technician. They should be able to run a scan on the OBD2 and get an error code for it. Some shops will do this for free. Could be a part failure or even something as simple as somehow getting water into the sensors when you washed it. Good luck.

Answer 6

your sensors that go to your wheels may be dirty or may have a few bad ones this a noted thing with alot of cars if the is braking ok then disregaurd it if it bothers you that bad then take it to your local repair shop and have it check most places offer free estimates

Answer 7

Time to get your brakes serviced!

Answer 8

Low on fluid

Answer 9

"BRAKES" automatic braking system don't play around get a good mechanic to check em not your primo venie

Answer 10

Could be the ground--clean it and the connection to it.