Abs Light

[saltyhair81]

Hi all I have a 1994 V6 Camry that I bought as a run about a few weeks ago. Been a cracking car so far however in the last few days the ABS light has appeared on.

I went to IKEA to pick up some boxes (very heavy) and put the back seats down. On the way back the light came on but when I got home and turned the car off and on it went out. It was doing this on and off for two days however now is just on. The ABS does not work at all when the light is on as I have checked and it just slid and locked.

Before I start taking the car apart, has anyone got any ideas on what to check first? I'm going to disconnect the Battery and see if it clears the fault although I doubt it will. I think I read somewhere the ABS wires are known to break on these although would they be that intermittent?

Any advice you can give will be great.

Joe

[pavlos35]

Hi all I have a 1994 V6 Camry that I bought as a run about a few weeks ago. Been a cracking car so far however in the last few days the ABS light has appeared on.

I went to IKEA to pick up some boxes (very heavy) and put the back seats down. On the way back the light came on but when I got home and turned the car off and on it went out. It was doing this on and off for two days however now is just on. The ABS does not work at all when the light is on as I have checked and it just slid and locked.

Before I start taking the car apart, has anyone got any ideas on what to check first? I'm going to disconnect the battery and see if it clears the fault although I doubt it will. I think I read somewhere the ABS wires are known to break on these although would they be that intermittent?

Any advice you can give will be great.

Joe

You could try looking at the ABS speed sensors on each wheel. First check to see if the connection to the sensor is OK, if OK then check each of the sensors. I'm not sure how to test them except you get a new one and try it one by one, if the ABS dashboard light goes off, then you know which sensor is faulty. At least this will eliminate the sensors. If that doesn't work, then take it to a specialist for them to plug in a diagnostic tool. Sorry I can't be of more help.

Regards

Pavlos

[saltyhair81]

Cheers Pavlos, looks like I won't have much option but to do this. I think this is the problem as when I disconnected the Battery the light went off. When I drove round my car park it came back on. I might take them off and clean terminals etc first and go from there.

[ADI Paul]

I don't know about a '94 model, but my 98 has connectors to the rear abs wheel sensors somewhere under the rear seat.

You said you put heavy boxes on there... they may have broken/pulled apart one of the connectors. To test a sensor, put a digital test meter on the sensor connector pins and with the meter set on the 20k ohms position, you should get a reading... something like 1.66.

Also, my Camry has different readings between the front and rear sensors, so buying just any sensor probably will not do.

Before buying a new sensor (£117 for my dead front nearside), check there is no accumulation of iron "shrapnel" on the tip of the sensors. This means unbolting them one-by-one and inspecting/wiping them clean. Also, check the toothed ring that activates the sensor is clean and undamaged. You really need something like a Haynes repair manual for something like this job.

Search this site for "ABS codes" retrieval for your car. If you can get the code, it will tell you which wheel sensor is the problem.

[saltyhair81]

I don't know about a '94 model, but my 98 has connectors to the rear abs wheel sensors somewhere under the rear seat.

You said you put heavy boxes on there... they may have broken/pulled apart one of the connectors. To test a sensor, put a digital test meter on the sensor connector pins and with the meter set on the 20k ohms position, you should get a reading... something like 1.66.

Also, my Camry has different readings between the front and rear sensors, so buying just any sensor probably will not do.

Before buying a new sensor (£117 for my dead front nearside), check there is no accumulation of iron "shrapnel" on the tip of the sensors. This means unbolting them one-by-one and inspecting/wiping them clean. Also, check the toothed ring that activates the sensor is clean and undamaged. You really need something like a Haynes repair manual for something like this job.

Search this site for "ABS codes" retrieval for your car. If you can get the code, it will tell you which wheel sensor is the problem.

Do you have any ideas where under the seat as that seems very sus considering it all started after those boxes! They were very heavy too, in the region of maybe 15+ stones.

[ADI Paul]

All I have is diagrams of my '98. They seem to be under the seat squab, but as the leads come in from the rear arches, they could be behind the side panels of the seat back (mine has centre panels that lower for long loads in the boot).

Of course, putting that sort of weight in the back is going to put quite a deflection on the rear suspension - I don't know if you've carried 3 adults in the back before without problems. I mean for example, if you've got wide wheels/tyres, they could've caught the abs leads near the suspension struts - especially if one of the lead retaining clips/clamps has broken.

[saltyhair81]

Well I personally suspect the rear passenger side, I just get a feeling there is a problem with it as the weight moved when driving. Does a haynes manual show the ABS wires etc? I assume it does but before I buy one and trace things back would be handy to know?

Thanks for your help so far.

Joe

[ADI Paul]

My Haynes is for the American market Camry from 1997 to 2001 (no British Haynes for my 1998). I can't find a diagram in there.

I also have one of those CDRoms that can be bought off eBay for a few pounds and that says to remove the rear seat cushion and side seatback to get at the abs connectors. Again, can't find the diagram, so I can't exactly say where I saw it.

Either way, get the diagnostic codes first.

[saltyhair81]

Cheers for all that, i'll have a crack with it on Saturday