al-one-arm

al-one-arm

Well-Known Member
starting engine from cold, pull away, abs light stays on for about 100 yards,when hot abs light goes out nearly as soon as you pull away,
had brake fluid changed(was slightly black)for a few days abs light extinguished slightly quicker.is there anything that can be done?
 
It's normal for the lamp to stay on for a short while when first starting as the ECU has to do a check on the sensor functions and it can't do that unless the car is moving. It goes out in a short time so I would not worry about it. One of the reasons brake fluid changes are recommended is that there are small orifices in the ABS valve block which can be blocked by dirt etc. The other reason is that the fluid absorbs water and this reduces the boiling point which can cause vapour locks and loss of efficency or braking in extreme circumstances.
 
The ABS system needs a little time to "charge up" after it has not been used for a while. With the engine running, if you pump the breaks a few times you should here the pump start. This pressurises the reciever that sits ontop of the pump. These can loose presure over time. The light goes out quickly when the car is warm as the pump has been running and has charged up the reciever. What you describe is perfectly normal.:D
 
thanks for the replies,but my original statement was slightly wrong its actually the red light next to the abs that takes a long time to go out, as soon as that goes out the abs goes out as well
 
Irishrover said:
It's normal for the lamp to stay on for a short while when first starting as the ECU has to do a check on the sensor functions and it can't do that unless the car is moving. It goes out in a short time so I would not worry about it. One of the reasons brake fluid changes are recommended is that there are small orifices in the ABS valve block which can be blocked by dirt etc. The other reason is that the fluid absorbs water and this reduces the boiling point which can cause vapour locks and loss of efficency or braking in extreme circumstances.
Click to expand...

to sum up the above,brake fluid is hydroscopic+ absorbs water.
 
al-one-arm said:
thanks for the replies,but my original statement was slightly wrong its actually the red light next to the abs that takes a long time to go out, as soon as that goes out the abs goes out as well
Click to expand...

Assuming you have taken the handbrake off then it will most probably be staying on because there is not yet sufficient pressure within the braking system to properly operate the brakes. When starting from cold in the mornings the pump should run for no more than 45 secs, less ideally. If it does you could have a bad accumulator or a failing pump or a leaky seal somewhere.

Have a look over at the repair section of rangerovers.net for more info.

If you start the vehicle from cold and then immediately release the handbrake the light will probably still stay on. If you sit and wait and dont drive off, after a while, hopefully less than around 45 secs, it should then extinguish leaving the yellow ABS light, as soon as you then drive off and reach above 5mph it will then also go out.

-Wills :)
 
i know 45 seconds seems a long time whilst waiting but if left overnight, start the engine and the red light stays on(i never use the handbrake)timed it today and it took 2 mins 12 seconds to go out. stopped engine, restarted light goes out almost immediately, drive off and abs goes out straight away
 
I'd be more worried if it didn't go out at all.
After start up from cold and as previously mentioned a system check is carried out.This does take time .Also the light should extinguish on achieving 7kph
Get yourself an owners handbook.
There's plenty of them around and going cheap,and then you'll have the info at your finger tips.
 
Ok, see abs

Yes, on startup a system check is carried out, it is completed when you drive above 5mph. There is no 'taking time' to complete the system check - it IS completed when you drive above 5 mph.

You may have a failing accumulator as I had these same symptoms - have a look at the above page and do the test it suggests and see what results you get.

-Wills :)
 
hi all
just came back from a 4 x 4 garage. saw them drilling down into the pipe( of another car) that comes from the brake reservoir to the pump, coz they said that this gets restricted with age, and if left burns out the pump,
whats your verdict?
 
Never heard of that one before. Where does the sh*te finish up????
ABS valves are precision items with small orifices. One other reason for brake fluid changes apart from water absorbtion is to ensure that dust/dirt etc. is flushed out to prevent possible valve blockages and failure of the ABS system. If,as they say the pipe is restricted then the pipe should be replaced and not "Bodged". Actions like this make a tradesman cry. Remember, brakes and tyres are the only thing between you and the cemetary.
 
luckily it was not my car that they were drilling out the flexible pipe on.
from looking at it , the whole new pipe is not very long, although pretty toughened, cant be that dear to replace with genuine new one, and a damn site safer, i would have thought.
 
Sounds like Botchit & co. Surely replacing the pipe would be better than drilling it through. Think of where the swarf and gunge is likely to go!

If you want a definitive answer re your ABS light, in addition to what the handbook says, get a look at a chart on the wall of a testing station. There are numerous different systems fitted to all sorts of cars and each take differing times to go out. Thats what a tester goes on when you go for an MOT (although last year I experienced a tester who tried to issue an advisory notice for the light not going out while the car was sitting still. I pointed him in the direction of his wall chart - he passed it!!) That's what you are up against in some 'specialist garages'.
 
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