Abs Problem?

[troll]

Hi chaps

I think I might have a problem with my XR6T (12/03) ABS. If so, then I've found out by having a minor crash today.

In recent past I've noticed that while sitting at a set of lights the brake pedal will suddenly feed back to me a like "crunch" feeling and the pedal sinks about 2 cm. It's the strangest thing.

Then today, I was in peak hour traffic, travelling about 2 car lengths behind a small 4WD when it braked really suddenly. I hit my brakes hard and the brakes just shuddered (not the famous brake shudder issue though) - like that ABS I can't help you at low speed business - and I just cruised straight into the 4WD. Honestly, this thing should have pulled up easily. And I was doing like 30K's when I hit the brakes and about 5kmh when I hit the car.

sh*t.

Luckily, all I hit was the rubber of the rear spare tyre and if flattened the nose of my bonnet, broke the perspex bonnet guard and cracked the plastic grille. Absolutely no damage to the 4WD to the point the woman didn't want my details and was really upset for me.

Also - my traction control light has been coming on a fair bit with ordinary driving.

So. Any ideas guys?

The car has just had its 30k service and no mention of brake pads etc. But funny enough since the service I have been saying to myself that the car's braking has been very inadequate and thought to myself it was time to go for some decent pads. I don't drive hard (mostly peak hour Syd traffic) so unfortunately, if there is a problem, I've found out the hard way.

Is there anything I can look for myself before I take it back to the dealer? And before you ask - no I'm not mechanically minded like a lot of you.

[Blonk]

Probably why insurance in Sydney is so high.. Stuff happens.. Everything you have described sounds normal to me, the pedal dropping at the lights, low speed activation etc... Brake shudedededder got the lot, but in a crisis stop from 100 down yesterday, brake pedal stood on, got excellent straight line braking with no shudder no directional pulling, just smooth as silk, not even 1 wheel locking momentarily at all.

I was wondering about my ABS till yesterday, it saved a catastrophe.

Hope this helps..

[vibe ute]

Hi Troll,

I'm not to familiar with the BA ABS system, but generally with ABS if something has gone wrong it should have logged a fault code which the dealer service guys should be able to retrieve, although this would generally cause your ABS warning light to stay on. Best to take to the dealer asap.

Cheers, Steve.

[troll]

  vibe ute said:

Hi Troll,

I'm not to familiar with the BA ABS system, but generally with ABS if something has gone wrong it should have logged a fault code which the dealer service guys should be able to retrieve, although this would generally cause your ABS warning light to stay on. Best to take to the dealer asap.

Cheers, Steve.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Ahhh fault codes, yes. Good point. And no, I haven't seen the ABS light come on.

Blonk - thanks for the tip about the pedal dipping happening to you. Glad it's a feature not a bug.

Look... it's probably nothing and just bad luck. My car has been spotless from day one so as you guys say, living in Sydney, it's gonna happen. And it did. I was a bit miffed but got over it quickly and figure there's more in life to worry about. At least a lick of paint will take away the stone chips.

But as usual having the opinions of everyone here is the best info I can get. because even the dealers sometimes don't know what's common and what isn;t when it comes to problems on these cars.

[God666]

Never had any change in the feel of the brake pedal on my T. I can't imagine that the pedal dropping is normal. I can think of no reason why it should do that!

Dealer time.

[dingah2]

I have had both the traction control light and the ABS light giving intermittent warnings which was traced to ABS sensors left off/dangling/not fitted correctly when P****rs fitted coil-overs to the front. However I could not sense any difference in the brakes under normal braking effort when this was happening.

Dingah