Brake related warning lights

About a month ago I started up my 2012 Silverado and all the warning lights associated with my breaks went on.    The breaks work fine but the ABS, skid control, etc lights stay on.  The parking break light is not on.  Before I spend $m is there a simple fix?

This seems like a "general trouble" idiot light. I doubt it's a backyard fix -- it will take somebody with diagnostic equipment to isolate the problem. It could be one bad ABS unit, or even a broken wire or a bad connection. I hope you have an independent mechanic? Dealerships are evil. It's probably also possible to mask the issue through a software "hack" but that's sort of illegal and puts your mechanic's license on the line.

Hi John;
I'm not sure about your specific vehicle, but it can be as simple as low-brake fluid on a Subaru.
The fluid leaves the master cylinder as the brake calipers extend the more the pads wear down the less fluid remains in the Master.
It can also be as simple as a loose-ground wire.
A medium-grade scan tool should be able to narrow down the possibilities.
Take any diagnostic info from them as a generality rather than a sure thing.

Break fluid is pretty easy to check. I will start there.

Don't expose the brake fluid system to oxygen if you can help it -- it will last almost forever in a closed system. There's usually a little tank where you can check levels with a flashlight.

Start with a "code reader" that you plug into the car. Those lights are caused by electronic codes sent to the dash.
That will save you a lot of time and likely money. A code reader is a basic tool of all wanna be shade tree mechanics these days.

You can buy a good code reader at Harbor Freight at a good price, or pay more at NAPA but get their help.
It will pay for itself, and you can help out your friends in the future.
Don't rent one from the auto-parts store because it will not have the hardcopy of the code readouts or the capability to work with your home computer or cell phone.

I think that HF has some liquidation models on sale currently.

Different vehicle and much older,  but ours has that light go on when there are fluid level issues.  Break, steering, cooling.   Any one of them will do it, even oil.  All can be checked at home.

Ours is somehow connected with our cooling system in the '95.  If that's sprung a leak, the power breaks and steering will suddenly go when it gets too hot. Not fun.  Usually a summer problem. And, of course,  too intermittent for the guys at the shop to diagnose until the manifold finally bursts.

But fluids are always a solid place to start whenever a vehicle gets grumpy.

If that doesn't fix it, it wouldn't hurt to get the diagnostic thingy and that might give a clue.  We haven't had luck with ours, but at least it turns off the light as it can get stuck even if the error was temporary.   If it comes back on, might need more love.

Jeff Lindsey wrote:Start with a "code reader" that you plug into the car. Those lights are caused by electronic codes sent to the dash.
That will save you a lot of time and likely money. A code reader is a basic tool of all wanna be shade tree mechanics these days.

You can buy a good code reader at Harbor Freight at a good price, or pay more at NAPA but get their help.
It will pay for itself, and you can help out your friends in the future.
Don't rent one from the auto-parts store because it will not have the hardcopy of the code readouts or the capability to work with your home computer or cell phone.

I think that HF has some liquidation models on sale currently.

I second this. Even some of the cheap ones will read out just the code - then you can look up their meaning online. Often if you search that with your particular make, model, and year, you'll find some good starting points.

Brakes are both simple and difficult. Have you had the truck it's whole life? Have the brakes ever had issues in the past? Not sure when you last had your pads and/or rotors replaced/turned, but if it's been a while you could go ahead and replace them now. That is a definitely a DIY task, and with a truck like that I'm sure YouTube has plenty of tutorials. Taking them apart and putting them back together may lead you to discovering any bigger issues.

Have you noticed any fluids leaking? I'm sure a truck that age is starting to get some. Might be worth checking the color and seeing if any could be brake fluid.

Hi John,
I am not a vehicle expert in any way, but I did have a vehicle recently that had the ABS lights come on with several others. They would come and go sometimes, and seemed to change when turning. For this vehicle it was related to the tires and a sensor that reads them, and the fact that the summer tires were a different size than than the winter tires. Probably not the issue, but figured I would throw it out there in case you have had any tire work done recently.

I have that issue on a 2004 Silverado. It comes and goes, almost always comes after I turn all the way to lock like in a parking lot, and after driving in rain. Mine is definitely a loose connector and/or rubbed wire on the front wheel sensors, but I can’t track it down. The sensor wire is easy to find and check the main connector is easy to check, the rest of the wiring harness not so much.

Having all the brake lights on (red "brake" light, ABS light, traction control light, etc) indicates, essentially, a problem with the ABS system. If you have, for example, a failed ABS wheel speed sensor, then the ABS and traction control (which are both controlled by the same module, BTW) will both have problems, as they need to know wheel speeds to function, and the red "brake" light comes on as well, as it's a general brake problem.

You'll need a proper diag, by pulling codes and performing electrical tests as necessary. Don't throw parts at it. There's no need on a modern vehicle to guess at what's wrong and what needs to be replaced, at least from a tech's point of view. With the proper tools (including a good scan tool) and service info, the problem can be logically and systematically diaged. Without proper tools and service info, you can guess by pulling a codes with a code reader and looking up most likely causes, but that can get expensive in a hurry if the problem is more complicated than a simple parts replacement (wiring issues, for example).

We offer and most all parts stores offer the use of a code reader on site. Over the years the most common part we sell that corrects the symptoms you describe is a bad ABS sensor. Some vehicles have speed sensors that are located in the differential or rear fail shaft on the transmission that also share info for ABS/traction control but it is usually a wheel ABS sensor at fault. If the wife's Chevy pickup hits a hard bump on the right front wheel she gets the display you describe. On my list of things to repair. Might be as simple as a broken wire or loose connection but an eyes on thing that you wouldn't have to pay for.

Had something similar happen on my car ...turned out the "tone ring" (part of the hub assembly) was severely rusted and was throwing off the wheel speed sensor readings. I replaced the rear hubs and it's good as new.

Robert Ray wrote:We offer and most all parts stores offer the use of a code reader on site. Over the years the most common part we sell that corrects the symptoms you describe is a bad ABS sensor. Some vehicles have speed sensors that are located in the differential or rear fail shaft on the transmission that also share info for ABS/traction control but it is usually a wheel ABS sensor at fault. If the wife's Chevy pickup hits a hard bump on the right front wheel she gets the display you describe. On my list of things to repair. Might be as simple as a broken wire or loose connection but an eyes on thing that you wouldn't have to pay for.

Robert,
Parts store like yours that offer code readers on site, and those that rent/loan rarely used tools like fan clutch wrenches or ball joint presses are a treasure.  

Thank you for doing that.

Jeff

Yep. Just swing by any parts house and they should be able to read the code free of charge.

I drove for 8 years with the ABS light on in my truck (it was like that when I bought it). Brakes worked fine, just no ABS which is a stupid feature anyways. Anyways, I replaced a wheel hub and it has a new speed sensor in it. Presto! Lights out, have ABS.