ABS Sensor Help
 

My ABS sensor light began to stay on about a month ago. It used to flicker on and off, but more often than not, it stay on while I'm driving. I also felt the ABS brakes kick on and off completed dry and at slow speeds. I assume they are failing, but more importantly, could they potentially lock up my wheels either in park or while I'm driving. I could care less if they work or not, I just don't want they to lock my wheels. If it's a good idea to disconnect them, what's the most basic way to do this? Maybe just pulling a fuse or cutting a power connection?

Another concern came on a few months back. I have a slow leak of oil from the engine block, but I just top it off every few weeks. I did notice some gunk in my coolant reservoir. It might be some oil or rust, but I'm wondering if it's a sign of a larger issue. I'm not picky at this point, the car has been more than I ever dreamed, and I will just run it until it dies. I just want to be safe if I should expect a major issue of the way.


This is an 86 300e. Any help is appreciated. Thanks in advance. -Joe

You can deactivate abs by unplugging one of the sensors.
On that chassis, there is one right in front of the battery.

Most likely just a dirty sensor magnet.

also those wires get pretty frayed at this age. I got a plastic bag wrapped around my driveshaft and it ripped one of my abs sensors apart.

One thing to remember/consider when the ABS light comes on it does not mean that you don't have brakes, just that the ABS is working.

..or in this case , not working as intended.

When the sensors get dirty [ they actually get full of filings, as a magnet will ], the computer sees a gap in the sine wave and falsely interprits this as a locked wheel. Pull the front ones off and clean them for starters.

Sounds like a plan. When I changed out the brake calipers and disks a couple summers ago, I'm pretty sure I messed up some of the sensor wiring. I'm surprised it kept working at all. I will take a look at the magnets and check with wires by the battery. Anyone have a wire diagram or should the wires be pretty obvious.

The cable [ wires] harness for the sensors has an in-line plug that kinda looks like an in-line fuse fixture . It is made like that so you can unplug them and put a scope or ohm meter across the plugs pins for diagnosis..if you can't find them, just follow the cable from the sensors up thru the inner fender well panel and you will come to the plugs...You only have to unplug one sensor for disable, or you can test each one at the plug w/meter...

Thanks, I think that will work.