abs
05-22-2001, 01:01 PM
#1
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Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 46
how do you tell if my 98se is equipped with abs. i bought it off a friend and he swears it did. however none of the dash lights come on indicating abs. i was told by someone that there should be 4 lines coming from the master cylinder if it did, but i'm not sure if that's a good indicator or not. in the fuse box, there's a fuse for it there but i don't know if all maximas have one there for the hell of it.
05-22-2001, 01:17 PM
#3
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Posts: 46
Re: best way to tell for sure:
Originally posted by justmax
get the car up to 30mph, slam on the brakes!!
No ABS: the car skids.
With ABS: the car doesn't skid, and you feel pulsating in the brake pedal.
justin
get the car up to 30mph, slam on the brakes!!
No ABS: the car skids.
With ABS: the car doesn't skid, and you feel pulsating in the brake pedal.
justin
05-22-2001, 01:31 PM
#4
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Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 861
OK, I see your problem...
There should definitely be an indicator lite for ABS when you turn the ignition to "on", before starting the car. No light, no ABS. I'm 99% sure it's that simple. Maybe someone else here has a 100% sure-fire way to identify ABS equipment. I know my '99 doesn't have ABS and I prefer it that way.
Let me also point out that even if your ABS doesn't work, but your brakes do, then you really don't have any worries. That is, unless you're extremely pro-ABS, and you feel like you must have it working.
Just a thought.
Let me also point out that even if your ABS doesn't work, but your brakes do, then you really don't have any worries. That is, unless you're extremely pro-ABS, and you feel like you must have it working.
Just a thought.
05-22-2001, 01:47 PM
#5
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Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 46
well, i've never had a need for abs, but then again my daily driver is a lifted jeep cherokee. the maxima is for my wife and kids, and whenever we go places together. i figure since it's considered a safety item i might as well have it working. it's also under warranty so i'll be damned if i let them get away with not fixing it. if it wasn't warranted, i probably wouldn't care too much though for myself as i've heard these things are more problems than there worth. it actually drives pretty good without it as is, but i'd feel better with it for my wife and kids since you haven't seen how my wife drives at times. thanks.
05-22-2001, 03:14 PM
#6
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Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: eastern, MA
Posts: 517
If the dealer wants $70 to tell you if you have ABS
Find another dealer - or ask to speak to the Service Manager (not a Service Advisor). Somehow I think a trained Nissan Mechanic should be able ascertain if you have ABS in less than 2 minutes. They should charge for 15 minutes at most. Or just bring it in and say "my ABS doesn't seem to come on". Then they can check it under warranty. If you don't have ABS, they will probably charge you for 15 minutes of work, unless you are having some other warranty work done so there's a reason to have put it on a lift (hint, hint).
If you have ABS and it's not working, that's not good. It's *not* the same as not having ABS. If the ABS affects some wheels and not others, you're going to have problems when you brake. You might want to try a fast stop in the rain (in an empty parking lot) and see if you get some action. It's hard to get ABS to do anything in the dry.
Bob
If you have ABS and it's not working, that's not good. It's *not* the same as not having ABS. If the ABS affects some wheels and not others, you're going to have problems when you brake. You might want to try a fast stop in the rain (in an empty parking lot) and see if you get some action. It's hard to get ABS to do anything in the dry.
Bob
05-22-2001, 06:23 PM
#7
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Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 89
Re: If the dealer wants $70 to tell you if you have ABS
Originally posted by BobMax
Find another dealer - or ask to speak to the Service Manager (not a Service Advisor). Somehow I think a trained Nissan Mechanic should be able ascertain if you have ABS in less than 2 minutes. They should charge for 15 minutes at most. Or just bring it in and say "my ABS doesn't seem to come on". Then they can check it under warranty. If you don't have ABS, they will probably charge you for 15 minutes of work, unless you are having some other warranty work done so there's a reason to have put it on a lift (hint, hint).
If you have ABS and it's not working, that's not good. It's *not* the same as not having ABS. If the ABS affects some wheels and not others, you're going to have problems when you brake. You might want to try a fast stop in the rain (in an empty parking lot) and see if you get some action. It's hard to get ABS to do anything in the dry.
Bob
Find another dealer - or ask to speak to the Service Manager (not a Service Advisor). Somehow I think a trained Nissan Mechanic should be able ascertain if you have ABS in less than 2 minutes. They should charge for 15 minutes at most. Or just bring it in and say "my ABS doesn't seem to come on". Then they can check it under warranty. If you don't have ABS, they will probably charge you for 15 minutes of work, unless you are having some other warranty work done so there's a reason to have put it on a lift (hint, hint).
If you have ABS and it's not working, that's not good. It's *not* the same as not having ABS. If the ABS affects some wheels and not others, you're going to have problems when you brake. You might want to try a fast stop in the rain (in an empty parking lot) and see if you get some action. It's hard to get ABS to do anything in the dry.
Bob
There are sensors on the back side of each front brake caliper. They are plastic bolt on. Should be able to see easily enough by turning the wheels completely to lock and laying down looking up from behind.
05-22-2001, 07:26 PM
#8
If ABS wasn't working correctly the light would come on and stay on, at least that is what it says in my manual. I would venture to say that yours doesn't have it, unless there is a burned out dash bulb.
Also $70 to check to see if it has ABS is BS. . . I needed to goto a dealership to get proof that mine has ABS for insurance purposes, and they just ran my VIN number and printed out the schematic showing my car's ABS actuator. . . They didn't charge me anything.
Also $70 to check to see if it has ABS is BS. . . I needed to goto a dealership to get proof that mine has ABS for insurance purposes, and they just ran my VIN number and printed out the schematic showing my car's ABS actuator. . . They didn't charge me anything.
05-23-2001, 08:37 AM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,601
Three tests
Originally posted by blee89xj
how do you tell if my 98se is equipped with abs. i bought it off a friend and he swears it did. however none of the dash lights come on indicating abs. i was told by someone that there should be 4 lines coming from the master cylinder if it did, but i'm not sure if that's a good indicator or not. in the fuse box, there's a fuse for it there but i don't know if all maximas have one there for the hell of it.
how do you tell if my 98se is equipped with abs. i bought it off a friend and he swears it did. however none of the dash lights come on indicating abs. i was told by someone that there should be 4 lines coming from the master cylinder if it did, but i'm not sure if that's a good indicator or not. in the fuse box, there's a fuse for it there but i don't know if all maximas have one there for the hell of it.
1) Ask any technician at your local friendly Nissan dealer. He can answer after a three-second look under the hood. He will be looking for the ABS actuator, a sort of hydraulic octopus which is located near the brake master cylinder. If the actuator isn't there, your Maxima doesn't have ABS.
2) Sit in the driver's seat. Turn the ignition "on" but don't start the engine. This performs a dashboard warning lamp test. You should see all sorts of warning lights go on and stay on including those for Engine Oil Pressure, Charge, Door Open, and Service Engine Soon. Some other dashboard warning lights go on momentarily and then go off. The momentary lights include Air Bag and ABS. If you make this lamp test and do not see the ABS light go on momentarily, your Maxima doesn't have ABS.
3) Raise the hood. Just in front of the battery you should see a black plastic relay box. This is relay box #2. Snap off the relay box cover. There are two rows of relay sockets, four in each row. Your relay box may have some blank sockets, depending on which options are installed. Look at the row of relays closest to the battery. The third and fourth from left socket should have relays installed. If those sockets are empty, your Maxima doesn't have ABS.
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