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painterbob62 · 06-28-2016, 05:38 PM

After a trip from Phoenix to Poulsbo WA in our 2000 Safari Serengeti 4006, I gave the rig a bath. Hosed out the wheels pretty well. Now when I start the RV up the ABS light won't go off. I will be taking it in for a check up to a truck fleet mechanic. Any thoughts would be appreciated as I don't want to be taken advantage of.

Thank you,

Bob

jelag · 06-28-2016, 05:47 PM

at each front wheel there is a ABS sensor that is connected to the hub... it usually has 2 wires and is tightly bound to the frame and its placement to keep it safe and undamaged... the wires are like 24 gauge wires... tiny... cheep might be a better phrase... if one of those comes unplugged, or is broken than the light comes on... they can be isolated and checked with an ohm meter if you have the skills... based in the ABS system (brand) the replacement cable will be somewhere between $25 and $300.... the cable includes the sensor... its all molded and usually held to the hub with an allen headed bolt... allen head cap screw is the correct term....

Hope this helps..

docj · 06-28-2016, 06:42 PM

I have a 2000 Beaver Patriot Thunder with essentially the same or similar SMC chassis and no doubt the same ABS system. Sensors can go bad because they overheat or because they aren't providing a signal to the system. There is a "blink code" that can be retrieved which will help you determine which one isn't working.

Quite honestly, after investing >$1k in trying to fix mine, I've simply resigned myself to driving without it. My brakes have been newly replaced and I'm confident that I can drive well without ABS. I drove safely >40 years before ABS was ever invented.

I've attached the relevant pages from the Wabco Merritor service manual for the ABS system which covers how to obtain the blink code and interpreting it after you record it.

dadshotrod · 06-28-2016, 06:45 PM

Not sure what is causing your ABS light to stay on. I was having same issue on my 02 Diplomat. Read on irv2 that there is a relay in front on drivers side compartment that has a relay with a reset on it. I reset it a few times & my ABS light went out. Hasn't come on again since. Hope that this helps & good luck.

jacwjames · 06-28-2016, 06:54 PM

I own a 2002 Monaco Windsor. I've had intermittent trouble with my ABS system since buying the coach in 2008. I've learned to use the blink codes ot help solve my problems. My module is in the front drivers side run bay.

The last problem I had showed that the drivers side steer wheel wasn't reading the sensor so I pulled it out cleaned it and shoved it back in.

Several years ago I had an ABS light on and read that a bad ground to the control module could wreck havoc to the system. I took the module out and cleaned the ground good and reinstalled. Kept getting on and off again ABS light. I installed a completely seperate ground wire to a chassis lug. This seemed to help.

I haven't had an ABS light come on for almost a year now.

Ray,IN · 06-28-2016, 07:12 PM

In my case, the ABS light stayed on most times, other times it would shut off after a few hours driving.
A mechanic friend told me to avoid throwing money at the problem until the simple things had been tried. He told me to first spray each backing plate with my high-pressure washer thoroughly.
I did, first time-no change; tried again, light began working normally and has ever since. My friend said road oils, dirt, and mud splash up on the sensor ring and fill the spaces that the sensor reads to detect wheel speed. The pressure washer knocked that out of the spaces.
He cautioned me to not drive my MH until the wheels had dried for several hours. Drum brakes don't like water soaking.

jelag · 06-28-2016, 09:43 PM

Please remember that the front senors must turn with the wheel when you make a turn... thus the wiring harness to that wheel has to move and eventually you can wear the wires in the insulation and they just break.... in every vehicle I've fixed it has been this simple... the vehicles I've repaired I wasn't able to use the codes to identify which sensor... but on most vehicles it usually the front... especially if the wiring comes loose from the clips that hold it in place... when it comes loose... it blows in the wind and hastens the failure....

Like mentioned above... you can wiggle it.. .and might work for a while... you might wash it and it might work.. what your doing is making a bad connection in the insulation....

Of course it might be more extensive... and like mentioned above... a relay... but I want it to work... and my reason is having the chance to run a police car at high speed on a track... and the control you have in a sudden s curve stop is incredible... its that emergency stop where it really works...

painterbob62 · 06-28-2016, 09:53 PM

Boy, thank all of you for the great response. I think I will put off driving the rig into town and try some of your suggestions first. There are some loose wires up front so I will check those out and see if I have poor connections etc'

Thank you all again !!

Bob

Dutch Star Don · 06-29-2016, 10:56 AM

Bob......sometimes the light will come on after startup. If you haven't driven the coach since the light came on, drive it a few miles first. Often just driving it will clear the light. My Diplomat light use to come on about twice a year. After a few miles of driving, the light would go off.