two weeks ago I had all new pads put in and now it seems every few trips for the last three days the abs light will come on and the go off. i'd rather not take it to the dealer, but i just won't have time to travel out to the mechanic who did the brakes for another week or two. anyone else had this happen? anything serious?

 

maybe your ABS sensors are going bad or maybe one of the teeth on your axle that the ABS sensors reads off of is broken. Maybe you're low in brake fluid. Call the mechanic and ask him what he/she thinks. They are the mechanic that put your brake pads in... maybe the broke something.

 

Well I've changed my own brakes and nothing like that happened....

He might have accidentally broken one of the sensors for ABS.

 

It may be caused by swarf (fuzz) on the front wheel speed sensors. After starting the car and the light is out, does it take 3 or 4 brake applications and stops to put the light on? Then on the next start the light is out? The working end of these sensors are magnetic like crazy and attract the crap coming of the brake pads/rotors, particularly as you have just done a brake job. You may even feel the ABS releasing a brake as you come to a stop. There is enough of an airgap between the sensor and the teeth of the sensor ring I think to get a damp rag in there and wipe of this stuff, but it only takes a couple of minutes a side to remove, clean and reinstall the sensors. This way you know for sure that you have got rid of it all. The rear wheel speed sensors are part of the hub assembly and don't have this issue.

 

Let me know what you find,mine blinks once and awhile .
Anyone you know have a scan tool?

 

The ABS light tells you something is wrong with the ABS system. I don't think it leaves codes.. The codes are only associated with the "Check Engine" light. All I know is ABS light means something is wrong and ABS not working. But regular brakes will still work as if you didn't have ABS.

 

The ABS has a diagnostic feature; and a continuously on or blinking ABS light can indicate an ABS problem with associated stored fault codes accessible by a Consult ll scan tool. A continuously on SLIP light can be an indication of a problem as well. These codes are totally separate and not associated with any engine related codes. fjfroo, it appears has an intermittent ABS light. I still recommend removing any crap from the business end of the front sensors first.

 

i had the same problem it is probably the abs sensor near the wheel bearing. find a local shop and ask. dont go to dealership!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!