89 B2 RABS light lit

[Slammin Sam]

Its been months since the old B2 demanded a repair. Jumped in the other day and the ABS light stayed on as did the "brake" light. Fluid level is good. The emergency brake switch works. Brakes work fine. If it was just the ABS light I wouldn't be concerned. I pulled out the factory manual and looked up the ABS diagnosis page. Wow, that's some chart! Until I have time to analyze it, is there a common failure that my dash lights indicate? A search found many posts, but most on newer 4 wheel ABS. I did find one from 2010 that might help.

 

[Denisefwd93]

talked it up here http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=176788

 

[wildbill23c]

Black piece of electrical tape fixed mine. RABS never worked worth crap anyhow, and trying to fix it is far from worth the trouble...the brakes work fine without it.

 

[Slammin Sam]

Thanks for the replies. I pulled the battery cables. The posts needed cleaned anyway, fixed the slow leak in the left rear tire. Put it all back together, fired it up and the damn light still stayed on! If it was just the RABS light I wouldn't care, but the brake light being lit as well is a concern. I guess I'll get out the factory manual and go thru the diagnosis procedure.

 

[Denisefwd93]

Parking brake light comes on through the master cylinder fluid level switch. t
It goes bad, gets stuck, and or the wires break, I have mine disconnected and the light doesn't come on, as far as I know it's not part of the rabs

 

[Bgunner]

The reasons for the break light to come on are as follows:

1. sticky/bad switch. Either at the Parking break or fluid reservoir.
2. corroded/broken connection either at the reservoir or in the wires.
3. loss of fluid pressure due to a leak in the system. A small leak in a wheel cylinder or caliper can cause this along with a leaking line/connection.
4. Blown fuse

It is possible for a loss of fluid pressure to trigger the RABS light so I recommend going over your whole break system for leaks first before going into wiring and connections. If this is the case this could be the reason for both lights to be on. Be sure to pull the drums and pull the wheel cylinder rubbers to the side and look in to see if there is fluid in it. If so the wheel cylinder is leaking and is bad.

 

[Mightyfordranger]

My 89 b2 has the rabs light on all the time but idc stops ok ish