Drivers need to know the main reasons why the ABS light on the car turns on. By knowing the function of the ABS, the causes of the ABS light on the car, how to fix the ABS light on the dashboard, the importance of remedying this problem, and the average ABS control module replacement costs, car owners can make smart decisions about keeping their car safe and running at a high-level.
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What is the Anti-Lock Brake System?
The anti-lock brake system, or the anti-lock brake system, is designed to keep every person in the car as safe as possible. The anti-lock braking system keeps the wheels in motion while driving at highway speeds and keeps the tire traction on the street while accelerating, turning, braking, and cornering on slippery or wet surfaces.
By taking note of the ABS light on the car, you can recognize an issue with your anti-lock brake system. Although your car may not have any trouble in dry conditions, wetness adds another element to driving. Even though you may think that you are in control, the weather is uncontrollable – and can add a wrench into the mix. Keeping an eye out for the ABS light on the car can help keep you safe and secure.
ABS Function
If you are wondering why you should pay attention to the ABS light on the car, you need to know its importance in your car and how it works. The anti-lock brake system prevents the brakes from skidding, stopping, and allowing your car to slip around in wet conditions.
- Replacing your ABS hydraulic pump is between $1,821 and $1855, with the labor between $129 and $162 for 1-2 hours of work.
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Faulty ABS Module
Breakdown of the ABS module, whether due to dirt build-up, debris accumulation, or corrosion, can prevent the necessary information and data from being sent between the wheel speed sensor and the ABS.
- Corrosion can commonly occur due to overheating or rusting the internal parts, preventing the wires’ resistance from working. If this is the case, drives will have to pay to turn off the ABS light on the car via diagnostic testing and electrical work on the module.
- Replacing the ABS control module is between $897 and $946, with the labor between $99 and $124 or between 1 and 1.5 hours of work.
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Low Brake Fluid
The brake fluid has a crucial role in controlling and monitoring the brake pressure within the anti-lock braking system, affecting the ABS light’s prevalence on your car. There is a brake fluid reservoir. These lights turn off automatically by themselves after they have been illuminated for a certain amount of time.
However, if you notice the ABS light on the car is on for an extreme period of time, this can be due to a faulty bulb check.
- The average price for a bulb replacement is between $113 and $138, with the labor costing between $45 and $57 for between 30 and 45 minutes of work.
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Worn Hydraulic Pump
The final cause of the ABS light on the car is a fault with the hydraulic pump. If one wheel of your car is moving at a higher speed or lower speed than the rest of the wheels, the wheel speed sensor is in charge of notifying the braking system of the discrepancy.
Once this occurs, the system then turns on the hydraulic pump to control and regulate the brake fluid pressure directly to the wheels. This process allows the wheels to maintain constant traction while driving straight or turning on the ground.
However, if the hydraulic pump is not working properly, the wheels will not maintain contact, and the ABS light will turn on in the car.
- Replacing the hydraulic pump in your car costs between $1821 and $1855, with the labor costs between $129 and $162 for between 1 and 2 hours of work.
How to Fix the ABS Light On The Car
Although an anti-lock warning light could occur for various reasons, you must find the root cause of the issue and remedy the problem before it harms any other internal components. In some cases, the ABS light on the car may also be accompanied by another red warning light, indicating a serious issue to the driver.
- The first step in diagnosing and fixing the ABS light on the car is to check the ABS fuse.
- Next, test the ABS wheel sensor.
- If necessary, you will have to add the ABS wheel speed sensor’s replacement price to the overall diagnostic price when finding the cause of the ABS on the car.
- Next, replace the ABS computer module.
- This ‘brain’ of the system is the most crucial part, so if you find it malfunctioning, it needs to be replaced in order to keep the anti-lock brake system working at a high level.
- Lastly, check the stator ring to see if this piece needs to be replaced as well.
How often does the ABS light on the car need a diagnosis?
You may be wondering how often you will have to check the ABS light on the car. The answer to his question depends on the conditions in which you drive day-in and day-out.
- Suppose you live in a climate that is susceptible to tough weather conditions, like flooding, icing, snowstorms, or other tough driving scenarios. In that case, this can lead to an increased diagnostic cost and frequency of checking the ABS light on the car.
- The wheel speed sensors, which monitor and analyze the wheel rotation speed, are prone to fail if they are kept near the road surface. This location makes the sensors more susceptible to wear and tear, dust contamination, debris, precipitation, salt, and other road hazards that can lead to a quicker deterioration of these parts.
Can you drive with the ABS light on your car?
As you know by now, the anti-lock brake system is crucial to keeping you and your passengers safe during inclement weather or road conditions. It is strongly advised against driving with an anti-lock brake system fault, as this can increase the risk of a crash and the frequency of the ABS light on the car appearing.
The vehicle can technically be driven with warning lights on and dashboard warning lights illuminated, but we do not recommend it. Since the anti-lock braking system or TCS failure does not disable the vehicle entirely from turning on or driving, you can still get from point A to point B with little to no issues – unless you hit a patch of ice.
If hard braking typically monitored by the anti-lock brake system control module is required during your drive, a collision could easily occur due to a lack of control over the car. If this is the case, the best step is to tow your vehicle to a repair facility or local mechanic shop. Getting a quote on the diagnostic process can give you an idea of how much you will have to spend to turn off the ABS light on your car.
What is the ABS modulator?
In your car, the ABS modulator analyzes the speed sensor’s speed data to apply the correct pressure amounts to each wheel. The ABS modulator works to turn off the ABS light on the car.
The anti-lock braking system uses various components to slow down the vehicle during instances of safety concerns, keep the passengers safe in the event of an accident, and stop a vehicle while driving on slippery roads to prevent sliding and loss of traction control.
The anti-lock braking system uses a specialized pump motor to pressurize brake fluid inside the ABS modulator. By changing the tire pressure based on the current conditions, the modulator can prevent your vehicle from skidding.
Along with the ABS modulator, the anti-lock braking system stores the pressurized brake fluid to keep the brake fluid pump from running every time the brakes are pressed. By preventing constant tension, you can refrain from excessive brake wear and tear. Any damage to the brake pads, brake pumps, and brake fluid can turn on the ABS light on the car’s instrument panel and dashboard.
Sample ABS Modulator Replacement Cost
When looking at the total replacement cost for the modulator, it is key that you know the sample prices from common shops and stores found in the world today. At your local mechanic, you can expect to pay between $289 and $442 for the total ABS accumulator replacement cost.
At Midas, a popular chain store, drivers will pay between $297 and $468, while Mr. Tire is slightly less expensive, ranging between $278 and $521. If you are interested in performing the labor yourself, you can pay solely for parts at Walmart for between $!87 and $306 or at Amazon for between $179 and $318, depending on your car’s make and model.
Sample ABS Control Module Replacement Cost Vehicles
The ABS control module is in charge of running diagnostic checks on the anti-lock braking system, helping to turn off the ABS light on the car.
For a further understanding of why you need to treat the ABS light on the car by replacing the anti-lock braking system control module, we have included some sample costs of popular cars on the road today. This will give drivers an understanding of how the price can fluctuate based on the make, model, and year of the vehicle you drive.
The total labor price for all of the following vehicles is between $88 and $111, with the hourly labor rate between $80 and $120 for most dealerships and mechanics to remedy the ABS light on the car.
- Nissan Altima – The cheapest ABS control module replacement cost is for the Nissan Altima, costing owners between just $328 and $589 for the entire procedure. The price of the parts for this make and model is between $240 and $478 to turn off the ABS light on the car.
- Ford F-Series and Fusion – The second least-expensive options are the F-Series and Fusion, costing between $399 and $755 total, with the parts ranging between $311 and $644.
- Ford Focus – The third Ford car comes in the middle of the pack, with the total procedure price costing owners $486-$792, with the parts ranging between $398 and $679.
- Chevrolet Silverado – The Silverado has a total ABS control module replacement cost of between $508 and $823, with the $315 discrepancy based on the severity of internal damage.
- Honda Cars – the Honda CR-V, Civic, and Accord all come in between $611 and $1052 for the total price, with the cost of the parts ranging between $523 and $941 total.
- Toyota Cars – Lastly, the most expensive options in terms of the ABS control module replacement cost are the Toyota vehicles – the Camry and Corolla. These car models have a total price of between $659 and $931, with the parts costing around $571 to $820 on average to turn off the ABS light on the car.
The Bottom Line
As you can see, it is crucial drivers know the main causes of why the ABS light on the car turns on during use. By figuring out the issues, like a faulty wheel speed sensor, worn hydraulic pump, low brake fluid, bulb check issues, or broken anti-lock braking system module, drivers can pay for the necessary fix to turn the light off on their dashboard.
Learning how to diagnose the ABS light on the car can help you prevent hefty repairs and replacements in the future. Paying for a transmission, safety, or engine replacement is one of the most expensive fixes in the entire vehicle. Repairing parts of your anti-lock braking system can range from as little as $100 to as much as $2,000!