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Odd abs issues

m1sterb0b

New member
>my car<
97 Grand Prix GT stock

So, I got my tires rotated on saturday, and sunday I was driving and it was snowing pretty good, was being cautious, and was about half way home and my check tire pressure light came on. Now, on 97's the tire pressure is "sensed" by the ABS sensors, there isn't an actual pressure sensor in mine. So, I decide to pull over down the road a little bit and see whats going on, checked all 4 tires all around and they all looked fine (they topped the air off when I got them rotated). I tested the traction control, and I tested the abs, and they functioned normally, stopped straight on pure ice going 45, and I jammed the gas and the fuel got cut and the brakes got applied allowing me to take off just fine. So, yesterday on my way to work I decided to stop to a dealer and get it coded, see which wheel sensor was going a-wall. While at it I asked if he could code the check engine light (completely unrelated but it was the downstream o2 and the sensor that screws into the top of the intake cover). After he checked those codes, he tried checking the abs. Put an emphasis on 'tried'. His code reader could NOT contact the brain of the abs system! Communicated with the PCM just fine (hence being able to pull my check engine codes), but would NOT connect to the abs module! now, every time he tried, my traction control light, abs light and brake light would pop on, then all those lights plus the already on check tire pressure light would flicker then all except the check tire pressure light would go back off. He told me that he couldn't tell me the issue if it can't communicate with the abs module. And this got me to thinking, for a LONG time now, I've had issues with the traction control light (the one that turns on and off when you push the button to turn the traction control on or off) quite a bit! for a long time now sometimes when i turn on my car the traction control light will be on! now, before if there was a wheel sensor going out it was the other light that would pop on, the one that said that I wasn't getting traction. and something that happens even more often is if I turn off the traction control the light wont come on! Now, I thought it was not turning it off, but come to find out it IS turning it off but not lighting the lamp, and then I can be driving down the road and the light will pop on, usually dimmer than its supposed to be. It basically had 4 stages when I turn traction control off! The light will be off, super dim, dim, or all the way on, rarely ever all the way on, and usually completely off or super dim. Not sure if this issue is related to the tire pressure light coming on and them not being able to communicate with the abs module, but any suggestions?
 


Sounds like a bad wheel hub bearing since your speed sensors aren't in the wheel, it should be in the hub. At least that's the way it is with my 04. I have a bad bearing and every time I start my car the low tire light comes on my dic.
 
The 97 system is terrible, mine will turn off right when you need it, like in the rain or snow. The connections at the hubs are also notorious for coming lose and causing intermittent problems. It is common for the sensor to go bad and not the bearing, if the bearing is bad you'll usually hear a humming noise that increases with vehicle speed. But if it's just the sensor you're going to need to get it to communicate with the scanner to determine which hub(s) is bad. Check the connections first though, clean them if they're nasty.
 
I HIGHLY doubt that its a wheel sensor issue! thats why I included in my initial post that I tested the abs and the traction control and it worked JUST fine multiple times! just the check tire pressure light stays on! will check the connections on the module though because that makes sense as far as the thing the mechanic used to code it not being able to read the abs control module!
 
Just wondering even though they topped off your tire pressure. Did you check it?
 
I was standing right there when they topped off the pressure, and it was right where I was expecting it due to it being winter and on top of that I watched as he checked after he filled it up.

Not to revive this thread, but my issue still isn't solved, I was wondering if anyone knew where I could get a wire diagram for a 97 gp gt for the brakes/abs system! Since the scan tool couldn't even read the abs control module I want to check all the plugs and need to know what plugs to check!
 


As for the low tire warning light, there is a yellow reset button under the driver's hush panel on the right side, it would be right above your right knee with you sitting in the car. Here's how to reset it, turn the key to the on position and hold the button in for about 10 to 15 seconds and release that should reset that.

As for the abs/traction light, it's most likely an expensive BPMV or something. Try disconnecting all the wiring connectors that go to the master cylinder and BPMV and reconnecting them. Probably won't fix it but a cheap easy place to start.
 
reset the abs system, either Key off engine off, or key on engine off....pump the brake pedal 50 times then start the car
pretty sure its key off engine off though
 
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