ABS not working but light working normally

Hi all,

I've recently bought a '99 Freelander partly as a bit of a project and partly to give my new dog a bit more boot space.

I've been lurking for a while and have got loads of tips on repairing some of the common faults from this website so thanks for all the great advice.

I'm certainly not mechanically minded but the one thing that I can't work out is that my ABS isn't working.
The light comes on and goes off as normal on startup but I can easily lock the wheels particularly in the wet. If it's a faulty sensor then I would have expected the warning light to stay on so any ideas what it could be?

My Freelander has been converted to 2 wheel drive (something I'm going to try and change back) so I'm wondering if this has anything to do with it.

Thanks in advance

gillly1709

gilly1709 said:

The light comes on and goes off as normal on startup

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The light should only go off when the vehicle is moving. Is that what you mean?

The ABS light should go out when you first reach 5MPH after starting the engine. If it is going out without having to move the car someone may have modified it to mask a faulty ABS system.

As for the abs lights going when you get to 5mph that is only on the earlier models. The later ones go out as part of the start up cycle, but i think is is from 2002 onwards so yes it looks like you have a problem.

Thanks all.

I'm sure it goes out before I start moving so looks like it's been fiddled with. I'm replacing the wheels at the weekend so will try and check the sensors then.

gilly1709 said:

Thanks all.

I'm sure it goes out before I start moving so looks like it's been fiddled with. I'm replacing the wheels at the weekend so will try and check the sensors then.

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doesn't necessarily mean it's been fiddled with. mine goes out after 5 secs after starting whether the vehicle moves or not.

mine usually stands for a minute with the engine runningto let the oil get round before moving off, while I sort out the daily records

What lights do you get if you select Hill Decent Control

No light comes on for hill decent if I press the button. I just assumed it was because it had been converted to 2wd and that the HD only works with 4wd.

The HD light and ABS light come on when I turn the ignition and go off before I get moving.

Thinking out loud - I'm guessing the lights are checking the sensors in which case the sensors are fine and the fuses are fine. I just can't work how, if I was going to disconnect the ABS and HD, I could do it without the lights staying on as a warning or not working at all.

Confused!

When you say press the button, is it an auto or do you mean the switch on the gear stick. If it is a manual then check the wiring to the switch as they are very prone to breaking, if so repair the wire and see if the hill decent comes on the dash, if it does then find a nice hill and try it at it uses the abs to control it, which would prove the abs pump out.
Running with out the rear prop shaft conected would not affect the abs/hdc, normally it has been removed to mask other problems with ird/rear diff.

gilly1709 said:

No light comes on for hill decent if I press the button. I just assumed it was because it had been converted to 2wd and that the HD only works with 4wd.

The HD light and ABS light come on when I turn the ignition and go off before I get moving.

Thinking out loud - I'm guessing the lights are checking the sensors in which case the sensors are fine and the fuses are fine. I just can't work how, if I was going to disconnect the ABS and HD, I could do it without the lights staying on as a warning or not working at all.

Confused!

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The lights at ignition on is a bulb check only. Your car has passive wheel sensors which means the sensors cannot be checked by the system until you move the car. I can't tell you what is wrong but there is definitely something odd going on, the abs light should not be extinguishing until you move off. Have a look at the abs ecu for signs of meddling. Also wondering if there is a possibility that the abs ecu is disconnected and someone has rewired the warning lights to something else as a fudge to fool the mot tester