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Have you ever been driving down the road and suddenly noticed that your ABS and brake light is on? It’s a quite common issue that can occur due to a myriad of reasons, ranging from both simple to complex. However, it’s necessary to address the issue as soon as possible to ensure your adequate safety on the road.
That being said, let us explore some of the potential causes of the ABS and brake light warning, and shed some light on how can you troubleshoot and fix the issue. Therefore, make sure you read on to understand what you’re supposed to do when your ABS and brake light are on and how you can make sure that your vehicle is safe on the road.
ABS, Brake System, and Warning Lights – The Basics
The anti-lock braking system, abbreviated as ABS, is a safety system designed to prevent your car’s wheels from locking up when you apply brakes. It works by monitoring the speed of your wheels and reducing the braking force as required.
Doing so allows the ABS system to help you maintain control over your vehicle and prevent it from sliding or skidding. It’s now a standard safety feature that’s required to be installed in all cars to help reduce the chances of accidents caused by sliding or skidding.
There’s an ABS warning light that appears on your dashboard, which you should never ignore. It comes in when there’s an issue with the ABS such as a faulty ABS sensor, a broken wiring connection, and more, and requires you to get it diagnosed by a professional mechanic.
The brake system light, on the other hand, is yet another warning light that comes on when there’s an issue with the braking system of your car. This can be triggered due to a variety of reasons, including low brake fluid levels, faulty brake system components, and more.
What Should You Know About the ABS System?
When it comes to the safety of your vehicle, there are certain things that you should know about the ABS system – perplexity and burstiness. Foremost, the system conducts a self-test the moment you turn on your vehicle to identify any potential issues and indicate them.
During the check, the light illuminates briefly and starts flickering, which is a completely normal and intended behavior. Additionally, when the ABS system engages, you may also notice a pulsating kind of sensation in your car’s brake pedals.
This occurs when the ABS system is working to prevent the mechanical components from locking up. Keep in mind that you should not release the brake pedal in this instance, otherwise it may indicate a false positive on the system.
Common Triggers for ABS and Brake Light
Both the ABS and brake light can be triggered due to a variety of reasons. For ABS light, one potential cause could be low battery voltage, which prevents the computer from receiving enough voltage to work properly.
Another possible trigger can be a broken wheel speed sensor wire causing the system to malfunction. Other issues such as a dirty tone ring, bad wheel bearing, or a malfunctioning ABS module can also cause the ABS light to turn on.
Talking about the brake light, it can be triggered due to issues like worn brake pads or low brake fluid. It may also illuminate when you’ve set the parking brake. Even an ABS fault can cause the brake light to illuminate in some cases.
Is It Normal for The ABS Light to Illuminate While Driving?
While it is considered normal for most dashboard lights to illuminate while driving, it can be quite concerning when your ABS light illuminates while you drive. It may indicate that there’s something wrong with the ABS system that needs to be addressed.
In that case, while the brakes would still work as intended, the ABS system may not be able to engage in case of an emergency. That’s why you should consider getting it inspected with an OBDII reader as soon as possible.
Is It Safe to Drive with The ABS Light On?
When you encounter an illuminated ABS light on your dashboard, you may still be able to operate your vehicle since it has no impact on your regular braking system. However, it is advised to prevent operating your vehicle as the ABS system directly regulates the braking.
Therefore, any failure to properly attend to it may cause serious consequences. You should always make sure that your car is equipped with a fully-functioning ABS system to be able to handle unexpected situations with ease.
What To Do When the ABS and Brake Light are Illuminated?
If you find yourself in a situation where the ABS and Brake lights are on, you should never tend to ignore them and continue driving as usual. It’s vital to know that the ABS light being on doesn’t necessarily mean that your brakes have stopped working altogether.
Instead, you should realize that the ABS system plays a crucial role in controlling the stopping ability of your car, especially when you’re driving in hazardous conditions. Continuing to drive with the ABS and brake light turned on can affect your car’s handling.
The best thing to do in that case is to take your vehicle to a mechanic as soon as possible. A professional should be able to help you diagnose the issue and provide you with the necessary repairs effectively and efficiently.
How Much Does It Cost to Fix Illuminated ABS and Brake Lights?
Getting the ABS and brake light fixed may cost you anywhere between $100-$1000, depending on the root cause of the issue. A professional mechanic may help you with a diagnosis of your ABS and braking system for as low as $50.
Bottom Line
All in all, driving with the ABS and brake light illuminated might not impact the braking ability of your vehicle immediately, but it is generally not recommended to do so. The ABS and brake systems play essential roles in controlling your car’s stopping power, so it is essential to get them checked by a professional mechanic when they’re illuminated.
