I have a 98 chevy malibu with an ABS system on my car and need advice!!!!?

Question

My ABS light always comes on and I just got my rear wheel cylinders replaced because of a leak and my brake lines flushed. My petal was low and the brakes were going out sometimes. Well I had it worked on and was told that replacing the wheel cylinders and the brake flush should fix the problem. Well I spent over $400 and it is still happening. What else could be wrong? Please help me!!!! Plus there is nothing wrong with the master cylinder so what is going on?

Not only is the light still coming on but the brakes are still going out sometimes and it is scary. Im taking it back but want to have an idea of what is going on because Im a girl and don't want to be taken advantage of.

Answer 1

The ABS warning light on your car is for the antilock brake system only, and not for the hydraulic components. Most vehicles have a yellow ABS light as well as a red brake warning light. The red brake warning light is for the emergency brake (usually when it is on) and the hydraulic components. When the shop did the work on the hydraulic components (wheel cyclinders, brake flush) this will not affect the ABS problem as the ABS system does not monitor the hydraulic system. The ABS monitors all individual wheels with a wheel speed sensor and is programmed to release some brake pressure to the wheel that is showing some degree of lock-up (they have calculated this by knowing the maximum amount of deceleration on each wheel is and if it exceeds this - wheel slip is detected and activates the ABS system). To have your ABS repaired, you will need to take it to a shop that can scan your vehicle (hook up to the on-board computer) and it will relay where the problem lies with the ABS system. In my years of experience as a certified mechanic - the problem usually is a broken wire to the wheel speed sensor - a $50.00 part and .5 hr labour to repair plus the charge to scan it. This would be somewhere to start.

Answer 2

Did you get ripped. If you have wheel cylinders on the rear all that is required is a clean out job and a light touch with a cylinder hone to clean out the cylinder and REPLACE theCUPS that go in the cylinder. You can buy a wheel cylinder kit for , I would guess, $5.00. Flushing lines is a waste of money unless you have had moisture in your system or something to contaminate. I would almost bet you paid for a flush job, and not knowing what was up, I gather you are not a mechanic, paid for service not rendered.
For $400 bucks you should have new brake pads and shoes and the cylinders rebuilt, not replaced, on all 4 wheels.
As for abs brakes, the light being on can be a multitude of things. It is not worth the expense to find the problem. forget the lite, let it burn.
There are very few people that even understand how to use anti lock brakes. I would find a new mechanic if I was told a leaky wheel cylinder was the abs problem.
Talk to another shop about wheel cylinder overhaul, I bet a decent shop would do the job for $100 or less.
NEVER go to a dealer they are the biggest rip off there is.

Answer 3

I have a '99 Volvo S80 and I actually just went through a hell of a time with my ABS system as well. On mine, it's also linked to something called (S)tability(T)raction(C)ontrol, which is a system that manages the brakes and helps you out if you lose traction or lean too hard in a curve. Through it all, I learned a WHOLE LOT of things about ABS and what's involved.

As you may or may not know, everything on your car is controlled by a series of sensitive computers which are constantly monitoring the condition of all your systems. The ABS system is no different. It has its own dedicated system, which receives information about how hard you're braking, whether or not one wheel is spinning faster than another, etc. In my case, Volvo checked out all the components of the brake system, finding everything to be okay. Then they checked the ABS/STC computer, and found it to be faulty.

Back to you- As all of your brake system components are now new/deemed functional, it's possible that your ABS computer went out, or it could just be giving an error code. I'd suggest taking it somewhere where they can run an OBDII diagnostic check; they may very well find out that your ABS comp went bad. It happens.. Its life is roughly about 6 years or so. If it's not that, it could be a different conflict in another computer system. I'm not all that familiar with Chevy's systems layout being a volvo guy; I'm speaking generally, so I could be wrong. But I hope I helped!

Warning; If in fact it is your ABS comp, ABS computers CAN be expensive. On a 98 Chevy Malibu they're probably lighter on your pocketbook than mine was. Mine was about 300 dollars. But then it's also coupled with STC so that probably sent the price up a bit. Hope it's not that much for you!

Answer 4

Bleeding air out of a car with ABS brakes is not a simple job. Sometimes a scan tool has to be used to cycle the ABS motor and solenoids to completely rid system of air.hope this helps.

Answer 5

From what i'm able to collect sort your question and statements your brake mild comes on on occasion and on occasion your ABS and brake mild comes on. So, if that's the case, there's a topic which includes your braking equipment. once you brake mild comes on, this means a topic stumbled on in the braking sys. lots of the time its some thing little. yet whilst your ABS and Brake mild comes in this many times propose there is finished equipment failure between the ABS braking module and the pc. i'm able to in no way submit to in concepts the abbreviation yet its some thing like ETBM or some thing like that. the only way your going to ascertain whats incorrect is that in case you're taking it to a broker or a place that has a working laptop or pc to envision the ABS sys. It additionally could be a wheel velocity sensor undesirable. I even have considered airborne dirt and dirt around the sensor do this too. stable success.

Answer 6

GM/CHEVY has had problems with their ABS breaks. There most likely is a problem with the actual ABS system. A coworker has the same problem on his 1500 truck which is a 98. He dissconnected the ABS and the breaks now lock up. He was quoted $1500-$2000 to fix it.

Answer 7

Could be a number of problems, any of the ones they "fixed".
They may have not bleed the brakes or did it improperly.

I suggest you take it back to the place that fixed it. If they said all the repairs would fix the light and it didnt, they owe you an explanation.

Answer 8

I owned a 2000 and a 2001 Cavalier that both had this problem.
It was the sensor, and after we changed that out it was fixed.

Good luck!

Answer 9

could be the bad sensor of the light. its giving you false sign. just take it to electrician.