Saturn Vue ABS light intermittent

renovation · Post by **renovation** » Mon Jan 09, 2012 12:24 am

wifes 2008 Vue 6cyl auto. ABS dash light keeps jumping on.
she drives 13 miles each way to work.and one time it come on. then she turn the car off work her shift and it be off .when she come home and no light will come on. then the next time she can be fine the whole trip.and out of the blue it pop back on . not taken the wheels off to check it out yet will be doing that tomorrow night . any ideas what i should be looking for ?

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Mon Jan 09, 2012 9:42 am

Not a mechanic, but you really need someone to read the diagnostic codes. ABS light may have nothing to do physically with the brakes. Could be an electronic problem with ABS control system.

EvilHorace · Post by **EvilHorace** » Mon Jan 09, 2012 1:28 pm

It's probably a dirty of defective ABS wheel speed sensor. You won't see anything by taking the wheels off so get the code(s) scanned first.
If the ABS light's on, the system won't work but ABS being inop doesn't effect normal braking, it'll just skid like an older car on slippery surfaces.

renovation · Post by **renovation** » Mon Jan 09, 2012 1:50 pm

thanks evil i do that on my way back from the shipping store -sending a load of tools down to florida. hope im not over the 70 lb limit !

renovation · Post by **renovation** » Mon Jan 09, 2012 2:34 pm

just stop at auto zone -they scan the car left rear wheel showed a intermit circuit on the ABS ! could be just crud build up (not my luck im sure )

EvilHorace · Post by **EvilHorace** » Mon Jan 09, 2012 7:22 pm

Could easily be just "crud" on the sensor, especially if there's any metal debris from your brake rotors. Fix might be as easy as removing the sensor and cleaning it off.

Koo Koo Mouse · Post by **Koo Koo Mouse** » Mon Jan 09, 2012 8:21 pm

Mines on and off every witch way the wind blows! I Had it diagnosed and was told the pump was out. Don't fix it I told them. Ya its on one day off the next. When its off the ABS works fine. I'm gonna check wheel speed senors myself next sping. I don't really like ABS at all but would be nice to have to working if I sell it and the light is annoying! I think the mechanic is wrong.. Might be a relay really or a sensor..

EvilHorace · Post by **EvilHorace** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 7:29 am

What type car Mouse? Older Volvos would have pump codes and it'd be a bad ABS ECU (costly new) but you could get them repaired by a guy found online for cheap. Saab had similar ECU problems.
If you know the codes, google the car with your codes and see what turns up. You might get lucky.

Another common problem around here is that rust can get under one of the ABS sensor rings, what the sensor reads (pressed onto an axle) and cause it to crack or spin. That then requires a new axle but you can get a reman axle from a local parts store for $75 with a lifetime warranty.