ABS Light On

[Trige Gleim]

I know there are a number of posts related to the ABS Light staying on and I have read many of them.  My scenario is this......we left FL this morning and are now in MS.  About 30 minutes before we reached our destination for the day, I had to brake reasonably hard for a red light.  The remaining 30 minutes of the drive the ABS light stayed on. I'm assuming the hard braking is the culprit. I am okay temporarily driving without that function working but I do not want to do damage to the coach.  If I watch the TPMS and notice no increase in tire temperatures can I assume there is no brake drag significant enough to cause a problem? We will be traveling the west all summer and fall but will return to FL in November and we usually stop at the old Alliance Coach, now Lazydays, to get some type of service done. Assuming the coach has no other symptoms other than the light being on, am I taking too big of a chance to wait until November to have it checked out? If so, we will be in the Dallas TX area in a couple of days where we could have it looked at. Does anyone have a recommended repair shop there?  Thank you.

[Keith Moffett Co-Admin]

We have a similar problem but it is intermittant.  The light clears after the engine is cycled on off.  I suspect a sticky sensor.

[Mike Shumack]

when the ABS light is on, the ABS is not working as you know.
This means you don't have the "anti-lock" braking feature, but the normal braking function is not effected. It's just like driving a semi-truck or coach built in the 70's or 80's before ABS - where you would let off on the pedal pressure a little if the wheels started to lock up during hard braking (or on a slippery road).

[Trige Gleim]

When I started the coach this morning to warm up, the ABS light was on but the minute we started moving it went off.  We've traveled 120 miles so far and the light has remained off so we'll keep our fingers crossed. Thank you for the replies Keith and Mike!

[Eric Maclean Co-Admin]

Trige
The symptoms you have discribed sound like a wheel speed sensor had dropped out ( ie. the anti lock module lost the signal from one of the wheel speed sensors).
This could be caused by a loose connection at one of the wheel speed sensors or too wide of air gap between the tone ring and a sensor this is a common problem   
Especially on tag axles as the turning forces tend to side load the wheel bearings and can use all the end play to push the sensors away from the tone ring.
This could be verified by using a scan tool to check for codes but usually only when the abs light is on is hard code.
If you have a way to block the coach up for safety you can reach in from behind with a small punch and tap the sensors back into contact with the tone rings ( they are only held in with a stainless steel doing bushing and should tap in easily (don't beat on them)
When the coach is moved again the movement in the wheel bearings will move the sensors back slightly giving them the clearance they need so they don't rub and wear.
You likely have a sensor that is a little wide on the air gap and your heavy braking event was enough to trigger the code.
The system on start up would have the abs light on for two or three lengths of the coach untill module recognized and reinstated the signal from the sensor in question what you have discribed is the system coming back on line and it should work ok untill the next time the light comes on. lol
Have a good trip and stay safe
Hope this helps ease your concerns
Eric

[Trige Gleim]

Eric, the light is off for now  .  We're hoping it stays that way but in the event it doesn't, I'll reference your comments again.  Thanks!