abs always on, pedals pumps like mad!

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p38owner2

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Hi, I just bought my first Landrover, a 1995 P38 2.5 diesel. (I searched the forums before posting, but couldnt find anything similar.) The guy I bought it from told me had the [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]ABS overhaul just done and a new accumulator fitted to the brake servo and new seals on the EAS pump. The ABS light goes off on the dash like it should once you start moving, but whenever you press the brake pedal, the pedal judders like mad as the abs kicks in. The ABS light never comes on when you press the pedal but it happens all the time, regardless of speed or road conditions. I took it to a local garage who plugged it onto his snapon machine and it said all 4 abs wheel speed sensors are to blame, but the mechanic said that will NOT be the case, it is rare for more than 1 sensor to be faulty. He was not a specialist, he was just giving his opinion, but if the abs wheel speed sensor was faulty, surely the abs light would stay on? So I am still struggling as I like the car but hate driving it with the brake pedal going crazy everytime I press it. Any help would be most appreciated. Thanks
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The p38 ABS system is overly sensitive and it does cut in even in slight conditions (there was a bump on a roundabout on my journey to work braking upto it hit the bump and the ABS goes mad!!)

I would check the sensors are pushed all the way in, they will self gap, and also ensure the brake system has been bled properly, as it only takes one calliper not to apply as much force as the others to set the ABS off.
 
thanks it is cutting in all the time, even without any bumps on a normal flat smooth tarmac! I will have to book it in, can any one recommend a decent place in Bradford, west yorkshie? Please not simmonites! Dont fancy their prices!
 
One of the speed sensors will be giving a significantly lower reading than the others. Could be a few things, high resistance connection (clean). Sensors not close enough to reluctor rings. Push in until in contact. Rust build up on reluctor ring. Time for a bit of work to find it.
 
I am not very mechnically minded, but these speed sensors seem to need a look at, is it difficuly to do?
 
Nope - if you can take a wheel off, you can externally check the Sensors and wiring....

They are pushed into the hub, pop a wheel off and you'll see a wire leading to the side or top of the hub behind the brake disc, push them all the way in as far as they will go....also trace the wiring up and check the plugs etc.
 
Thanks for all the replies, gives me something to be getting on with. I will take wheels off and check connections, any problems I will take Rangiedaz up on his offer!
 
Datatek said:
If the diagnostic said all for sensors were faulty I would bet on the ECU being duff or the connector is corroded.
Click to expand...

Some diagnostic kits just say wheel sensor fault, but don't say which one. If all four were dodgy on a P38 you would almost certainly have a ABS fault showing.
 
well unable to check the sensors this weekend, as I have had to park it up and wait for log book to arrive before I can buy road tax. Is there any way to test the abs ecu?
 
sorry this is opening an old post up again, but I have ruled out the abs ecu and the sensors are pushed in all the way but the problem is still there, the brake pedal pushes against my foot every time it is pressed, as the abs is kicking in, the abs pump runs on every brake press. Searching through this forum it seems to say the accumulator is faulty? but the previous owner said he changed it, but it could have been a 2nd hand faulty unit? or perhaps the brakes need bleeding? or it could be something different all together? Any help would be appreciated.
 
p38owner2 said:
sorry this is opening an old post up again, but I have ruled out the abs ecu and the sensors are pushed in all the way but the problem is still there, the brake pedal pushes against my foot every time it is pressed, as the abs is kicking in, the abs pump runs on every brake press. Searching through this forum it seems to say the accumulator is faulty? but the previous owner said he changed it, but it could have been a 2nd hand faulty unit? or perhaps the brakes need bleeding? or it could be something different all together? Any help would be appreciated.
Click to expand...

The pump running on every press is usually the accumulator or air in the system. I'd do the RAVE bleed proceedure first, the fluid should be changed every 2 years so it will not be a wasted effort. If that doesn't fix it, try the accumulator.
 
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