I just finished installing the Pinnacle brake system from Rick's and was greeted by the ABS Caution light. Everyting was done as per the instructions and there was no damage to the ABS sensors or lines. I installed both the brakes and an '04 diff with 4.57 gears during the same week-long marathon installation session.
I ran the car unsprung (as per Jeff @ Ganley Honda - for the diff) and that's when I first noticed the light. I haven't run the car on the wheels yet (still in the clean up phase) but was wondering if running the car unsprung may have pissed off the ABS computer?
I'm not sure if the rear wheels turning and the front ones not - may have caused an error in the computer - and whether or not this is self clearing.

 

The ABS light turns itself off when it wants to... The ABS system is pretty picky, as well - if the parameters aren't exact, it'll shut itself off. If one wheel is spinning ~5mph faster than the other on the same axle, it goes off; if your brake fluid is low (from a leak or worn pads), it'll shut itself off. ABS is just very, very picky.

Running the car with the front wheels stationary and the rear wheels in motion is most likely the cause. The rears were spinning much faster than the fronts, and the computer read it as front tire lockup. Did you feel any ABS pulsing in the brake pedal when you ran the car off the ground?

Either way, get the car back on the ground and the ABS system will shut off the light.

 

It only turned itself off because it couldn't figure out what the hell was going on.

 

Thanks for the info ... I kinda figured that was the deal, just wanted to check the forum to make sure.

Cheers

 

Apparently, it's something other than a confused ABS computer causing the problem (light is still there). I'm getting my dealer to pull the codes tomorrow morning.

 

I don't see how running the wheels in the back while the front is station would cause a CEL. It's done all the time on a dyno, I've done it for at least 30 passes and never had a problem.

 

There is a very precise amount of distance that must be held between the ABS wheel sensor and the wheel sensor ring. In changing the brakes, this calibration may have been altered. You should check them all and measure that gap and orientation to be sure.

 

ABS light my friend ... not a CEL.

 

My mechanic ran the code and the right rear sensor was bad (open). Luckily the complete rear JDM subframe that I bought to get a cheap diff core had both sensors attached. I had to splice it in (because they cut the sensor wires), but it works like a charm ... no more ABS light.

 

Either case, I've never had the light come on?