'97 GT ABS freakin out

[mrpectate]

Hello everyone, I'm new here and glad I found this forum. I hope we never have all the problems dealt with here, but it's nice to know about this place in case we do.

The symptoms are when braking, there is a strange repeating sound
(kind like when you spring a ruler that's hanging off the edge of a desk) coming from behind the steering wheel in the engine compartment. While this is going on, the car feels like it's skidding on ice, trying to stop, but not really. Pretty scary. After awhile, whatever is trying to work just quits and all the lights come on. The car is more tolerable when this happens.

I guess what I'm going to do, for now, is to pull the fuse out and disable the ABS ala minichopper6hp's reply to here to make it possible to drive the car until it can be fixed properly.

I hope this works for now, cuz it came at a bad time :th_eyesrolling:

 

[Swash]

First - welcome aboard! Second - thanks for doing some research before posting!
On to your issue...
Prior to this, did you notice any noise from any of the wheel bearings? Sounds like excessive road noise, or a growling type sound. The reason I ask is that if you have a bad hub/bearing - it can play fits with the ABS speed sensors (also called wheel speed sensors, etc). Have you pulled the code(s) after this happens? If you don't have a scanner or code reader - any Advance Auto, O'Reilly, Autozone or Napa can pull these for you for free. I'd bet you're setting one of these:

DTC C0035 LF Wheel Speed Circuit Malfunction
DTC C0036 LF Wheel Speed Circuit Range/Performance
DTC C0040 RF Wheel Speed Circuit Malfunction
DTC C0041 RF Wheel Speed Circuit Range/Performance
DTC C0045 LR Wheel Speed Circuit Malfunction
DTC C0046 LR Wheel Speed Circuit Range/Performance
DTC C0050 RR Wheel Speed Circuit Malfunction
DTC C0051 RR Wheel Speed Circuit Range/Performance

Or maybe:

DTC C0060 LF ABS Solenoid #1 Circuit Malfunction
DTC C0065 LF ABS Solenoid #2 Circuit Malfunction
DTC C0070 RF ABS Solenoid #1 Circuit Malfunction
DTC C0075 RF ABS Solenoid #2 Circuit Malfunction
DTC C0080 LR ABS Solenoid #1 Circuit Malfunction
DTC C0085 LR ABS Solenoid #2 Circuit Malfunction
DTC C0090 RR ABS Solenoid #1 Circuit Malfunction
DTC C0095 RR ABS Solenoid #2 Circuit Malfunction

Either way - you will want to inspect the ABS sensor wire for any damage, but most likely if you can narrow it down to a specific sensor (LF, RF, LR, RR) - you just need to replace the hub assembly - which includes the sensor.

HTH

-Swash

 

[mrpectate]

Hey thanks alot Swash!

We replaced all four hubs within the past year cuz the bearings were shot. (Maybe a faulty one?) The LR wire was giving me trouble at the connector, coming loose once in awhile, but I got it on OK. I'll definitely check them all again though.

I'll take it on over to a couple of those places to have it scanned tomorrow(?).
I'll post the results.

I was just looking for the fuse for the ABS and it wasn't listed in the inside of the block cover. I pulled the TCC thinking it was the traction control/ ABS. Nope. I'm guessing it was probably throttle related cuz a tumble weed passed me.

Thanks again Swash.

 

[Swash]

No problem at all. The TCC fuse actually controls the torque converter lock up solenoid - if you pull it - it will NOT lock up, so be careful, especially at stops. But yes, when it's pulled it will have no power. If you remember, shoot me a PM with the scan info - I may not check back in here - but if not, I'm sure someone else will be willing and able to help!

- Swash

 

[tquinn]

This information is probably way too late to help you, but it might help someone else.

I've had failures of the wiring harness on three out of the four corners (both front and left rear). It sets a code like described a couple of messages above as a "wheel speed circuit malfunction." The problem on mine is that water gets up into the harness, and maybe road salt, and it degrades the harness insulation and eventually the wires inside. Most auto parts stores sell a short replacement harness for this that you can splice in, which in my case solved the problem each time. Even though everyone talks about the wheel speed senders failing, I've not seen that. I did have one wheel bearing fail, and of course replacing that also replaced its sensor.

Terry