Tire Kingdom replaced front calipers/rotors/pads, now I have ABS light. Any advice?

[Osteomata]

So I had an intermittent break light coming on. I wasn't quick enough getting it checked out, and by the time I got it in to Tire Kingdom they identified a bad/stuck front left caliper which had damaged the rotor. The front right rotor was getting close to finished anyway, so I had them do the full front rotor/caliper/pad replacement, and they tossed in and applied yellow caliper paint for free. (It looks kinda cool unless you get really close, then its a bit amateurish. I digress.) I drive away fat dumb and happy, but after I am deep in traffic I notice the ABS light is on. Which was definitely not on when I brought it in. I called back to the TK, the manager consulted with the mechanic, who swears it was not on when he finished working on the truck. I will be bringing it into them again tomorrow AM, but should I do anything before then? Like take any pics or whatever? Any thoughts on what might be going on here? I dread the ABS module problem.

[Triathlete]

They more than likely damaged one of the sensors or wiring to it while doing the brakes.

[deermagnet]

Did they forget to transfer the ABS sensor rings from the old rotors to the new ones?
Did they damage a sensor ring in the transfer process?

Mark

[RabidPony]

Did they forget to transfer the ABS sensor rings from the old rotors to the new ones?
Did they damage a sensor ring in the transfer process?

Mark

This was my first thought too. Check the tone rings and see if they are there and if so, if they are damaged.

[Osteomata]

OK ABS sensors, in particular the tone rings, got it. Now I will try to figure out what those look like. Thanks guys, at least I have the language to talk about this stuff with the TK guy tomorrow.

[MSHardeman]

Here's a shot of the tone/abs sensor ring mounted to a new rotor from when I did my brake job a few years ago:

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/thumbs/Brake_Job_51.JPG (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=18930)

This is a shot of the back of the rotor and you can clearly see the "rusty" sensor ring against the new rotor.

The ring has high and low points that rotate past the abs sensor, which is really just a magnet, that is mounted to the spindle assembly (on the front wheels). I had a close up picture of the abs sensor, but I can't seem to find it right now. If it would help I can find it and post it.

[Triathlete]

Mark, that pic is probably in your Moab pics. :)

[WormGod]

Yep, chances are, they never put the tone rings on. At least you contacted them before they could have a chance to throw out the old rotors w/ them still on them (like they did mine). :confused:

[Osteomata]

OK, mystery solved. Wormgod is correct, they forgot to put the tone rings on, but found them and have since installed. I'm headed to pick her back up shortly. These guys are tire and brake specialists, right?

[blacksambo]

Problem solved. It's nice when the VX support community gets the credit it deserves.

[atilla_the_fun]

If they lose them, they pay for them - correct?

[Triathlete]

Glad they made it right. :)

[WormGod]

In all honesty, it's a beginner's mistake that even the best tech WILL make at least once in his lifetime. Problem is, brake's are so easy to do that when you get on a roll, you get sloppy. Whatta'ya gonna do.... *shrug*

[nfpgasmask]

I had the same thing happen after my first brake job. I don't know what the gorillas do at those shops, but my ABS worked on and off after my first brake job, and then finally stopped working all together.

Bart

[rsteinmetz70112]

the manager consulted with the mechanic, who swears it was not on when he finished working on the truck.

No Comment

[etlsport]

It probably was not on when the mechanic finished. Until the wheels start spinning, the light would not turn on.

As a mechanic a can say that when I finish with a vehicle I check the lights while its on the lift still I will quick glance while driving it out. when he drove the vx out its very possible the steering wheel covered the abs light so he didn't notice it. My steering wheel covers my abs light and turn signal indicators if I sit forward (which I always do while driving customer vehicles)

[WormGod]

Exactly etl.

My height and how I sit and hold my wheel, I can't see my ABS light anyways. I didn't know mine was on until about 3 weeks after I had my guys swap my rotors out. I am sure it was on the whole time, but since my posture and the fact that I drive her only on weekends, I just never realized it. In any case, my guys DID forget the tone rings and after they were aware of this and said they already recycled the parts, they did a $650 worth of free work to my STi when I took it in a month later. ;)

In the end, I have learned to live with the ABS light and if anything, I personally feel more control over my stopping power, and I like it that way.