ABS Light Came On, Brakes Feel Fine! What Do I Do Now?

So you've been driving around, your brakes feel great, but for some reason the ABS light just came on? Is that a big problem? What should you do now? In this video, Len shows you how to comprehensively diagnose an ABS light. He finds there is a problem with the wheel bearing assembly, and has to replace it!

For more great diagnostic videos, check out this playlist:

0:00 ABS Light Came On, Brakes Feel Fine! What Do I Do Now?
0:18 Road Test to Confirm ABS Light and Symptoms
1:45 Reading Codes and Live Data with Scan Tool
6:55 Visual Inspection of Brake System
10:40 Problem Discovered - Damaged Exciter Ring
12:20 Replacing the Wheel Hub Assembly
42:47 Clear Codes & Road Test to Confirm the Repair Worked!
45:20 Wrap Up
46:10 SUBSCRIBE! | Shop 1A Auto Link Below!

⚠ DISCLAIMER:
While 1A Auto strives to make the information provided in this video as accurate as possible, it makes no claims, promises, or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or applicability of the content. No information contained in this video shall create any expressed or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. All do-it-yourself projects entail some risk. It is the sole responsibility of the viewer to assume this risk. 1A Auto is not responsible or liable for any loss damage (including, but not limited to, actual, consequential, or punitive), liability, claim, or any other injury or cause related to or resulting from any information posted in this video.

[Ratlins]

Authentic video, everything from the caliper falling, the flashlight falling, the wrench breaking, bolts located in near impossible areas to reach and talking to yourself made for a true to life version of how auto repairs realistically turn out. Good job

[RedfishInc]

Imagine how much harder this would have been without the lift. For us backyard mechanics this is a nightmare repair.

[sdoyal]

I've been doing most of my car repairs on my own for the last 20 plus years, and no, it is NEVER easy, a supposedly 20 minute job can turn into a couple of days, what usually can go wrong WILL go wrong, your videos are excellent!!!!

[brendanpeterson]

Thanks for airing all the ups and downs of this repair, nothing goes according to script and I'm glad you didn't edit out the tongue ties and even the whistling. You're clearly a pro, but you make it seem like a normal guy could do this as well. You're an asset to 1A auto. Give this guy a raise!

[hitekrednek]

Much respect for DIY mechanics and professional auto techs in the northeast! The rust due to the weather makes EVERY job so challenging! Nice job!

[cowsongs]

I really appreciate how this is presented as a realistic job, where you can't get to bolts, the bolts are rusted and seized, tools break, etc. All the things a normal do-it-yourselfer (and even a mechanic) have to face doing a job like this. I hate car repair videos that say, "Remove these 3 bolts" and they all just spin right out because they are working on a new car, or you can tell they already got them freed up before the video.

[firstnationsindian]

We mechanics in the north deal with rust everyday.
Much easier to take the whole knuckle off, then the bearing.
One of the best real-time videos I've seen dealing with this issue.
Great diagnoses.

[jessedean]

Much respect for NOT EDITING OUT ALL THE PROBLEMS THAT CAN OCCUR IN REPAIRING VEHICLES. I KNOW WE ALL BEEN THERE.I MUST SAY YOU HANDLED THE BREAKING OF YOUR TOOL A LOT BETTER THAN I WOULD HAVE! NICE JOB AS TO YOUR STEP BY STEP DEMO. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF DOING THE SAME REPAIR ON A G6 BOTH FRONTS AND IT SUCKS!

[bearpuf]

This is a tremendous video. It shows the terrific detective work that happens to diagnose the issue from start to finish, the series of problems that can and do occur in repair (broken ratchet in this case) and what a competent mechanic does to overcome problematic situations that are usually certain to arise. Five stars out of five to the mechanic who knows what he's doing and explains it proficiently and to the videographer standing applause for the excellent camera work. I've gone through the process myself of replacing rear wheel bearings and relate to a lot of what this video shows. Thanks

[jimtownsend]

Most enjoyable video I’ve seen in a long time! When I see a mech with a lift and air tools and $$$ tools struggling like I do, it does my heart good! Most honest and realistic repair video you could hope to see. This is what working on machines is really like!

[ernestscarrizales]

Bro this has got to be the best video I have ever seen! !!! What impressed me the most was your patience and after that that you had the tools to do the job! I'm fixing to tackle an intermittent abs light. Thank You!!!

[lowex]

I loved this. You showed the good and the bad. The broken tools, the bad angles to remove bolts. You also showed something that you may not know. The long bolt should've been in place before you tightened everything else down. I will remember this forever. I don't know how many times I've had to undo what I've already done in order to get it right. To make everything work properly. Sure feels good when you get it right, though. I don't know if you ever blew your top during this endeavor, but if you never did...KUDOS!

[allandavies]

Loved the honesty and detail in going through the whole process, including the difficulties encountered. I am totally ignorant when it comes to mechanics but as I have an ABS light problem, and hearing the cost of replacing the Ford C-MAX module braught me to checking it out on Youtube. There were some helpful videos but by far this is the best in helping me understand what I may be up against when my car is taken ito the local garage. Now praying it is a simple fault or the bearing and not the whole ABS module. So big thank you for uploading for It's been really very helpful!

[Ocea]

Single mom here I’m immediately subscribing !! You make this transparent . Very much appreciated

[joseph]

Loved the video! I have an ABS light I would simply replace the sensor...but you've enlightened me to another possibility...the exciter ring! Will check it all out. Thanks for this video. Very helpful.

[larrymixer]

I have had trouble with the ABS and Control Track coming on after oil changes at a local GM dealership. I had bought a Buick from them with the GM certified used vehicle with the certification. I was given free oil changes for one year. My first service went fine but after the 2nd, 3rd and 4th services my trouble lights come for the control systems. Each time they replaced the rear spindle assembly because of faulty magnetic sensor strips that are on the outside of the bearing races. First the right side went out and then the left. The third time it was the right side again all in less than 12000 miles. The last one I took to a friend who owns his own automotive business and is certified. I had him keep the spindle till I could look at it. When I looked at the magnetic tape strip around the back of the spindle it had several places where the tape was cut across the width of the tape leaving pieces missing. This was suspicious and the fact that it always happened that the lights come on after an oil change on the way home. The one that was replaced by my friend and the other has given me no problems. I would also think that an engineer could have come up with a more dependable solution for these pickup strips instead of putting magnetic tape strips on a bearing that is mounted in a casting that you have to replace a complet assembly to fix. I guess that like so much of today's vehicles it is made to sell parts so they can keep you paying for the vehicle even after the loan is paid off.

[keysersoze]

Great video! Thanks for showing all the potential issues that could happen while doing this yourself. A great reminder, "what could go wrong, can go wrong!"

[mikke]

Loved this videos because it shows what usually happens, at least to me. Not everything goes smoothly, stuff breaks, you have to beat things out but eventually get the job done. Great video

[martinkennedy]

My first thought was that calper is going to fall it always does unless you tie it up.
Also I always undo the centre hub nut before taking off the caliper and brake disc.
The reason is if the hub nut is seized you can apply the brake to hold the drive shaft.

[orlandomah]

A real mechanic at work, no edits and cuts. I like it, just like that