Hi!

I have a 2000 Mazda Protege. About a week ago, the parking light/ABS light came on. Local mechanic thought it was a right side sensor issue. Replaced that and the light continued to stay on.

Now they say the ABS Module is faulty and needs to be replaced.

I am in Canada and they said there are no third party (generic) sources available anywhere besides the US. I am facing a $1700 repair.

He assured me I could safely drive the car without ABS.

Any suggestions as to what else it might be?

Thanks!

 

How did he reach that conclusion? "Thought it was" doesn't fly. He ought to have been able to say it definitely was or was not. Get another opinion and an OBD diagnostics hard copy printout, because a Mazda dealer's OBD reader can pinpoint any ABS faults with no ambiguity.
The other (and very common) source of this problem is nothmg more than the handbrake adjustment being out of whack, or dirty/ dry handbrake cable linkages to the rear brakes, resulting in the pull-off springs not being able to retract the cable far enough back to operate the handbrake released switch.
Don't even think of parting with $1700 without a second and competent diagnosis.
If you're mechanically inclined, you can access the brake released status switch under the center console where the cable connects to the handbrake and "fudge" the switch to see if that makes the warning light go out.

 

This makes sense. Oh believe me, I wasn't going to part with $1700 until I got a second opinion. Is a Mazda dealer's OBD reader better (and more precise) than what Joe Mechanic can pull from?

Also, whereabouts is this ABS module placed? When I went to pick up the car, he had moved my infant's car seat that was placed in the rear back of the car. He told me that was where he needed to work?!?!

Is the car safe to drive, in your estimation?

 

One of the things I don't like about ABS (apart from the shocking grunting noise, and the fact that it's performance is inferior to manual cadence braking) is that a degraded primary braking system issue can be undetected for what it is, but can nonetheless be "picked up" by the ABS processor and flagged as an ABS problem.
Not only do Mazda dealers have a specialized tester, but it has to be initialized by inserting a ROM program card, selecting from a menu list the vehicle type, model year, and EVEN THE VIN series. That tells you that your friendly neighborhood guy is not likely to be able to get a "hard read" on your problem.
It can be done however by using the old fashioned DTC port located on the left side of the engine compartment near the firewall, by jumpering the appropriate pins to ground, then reading the "flash codes" coming up on the ABS warning light. It is a tedious and exacting procedure and requires access to the flash code lookup interpreter in the vehicle shop manual, so again, this is not something the average freelance mechanic is likely to be able to do.
The ABS processor is in the cabin sometimes under the gear shift console, sometimes on the passenger side firewall. Moving the child's seat from the front is a precautionary standard practice as a routine prep for service. This allows plastic drop sheets to be draped across the front seats to protect the upholstery, and this is routine professionalism whenever it is anticipated that access for service might require that the mechanic stretches across the seats to work; so don't assume that your wheels were used on the unofficial business of cruising for chicks.
ABS is implemented as a locked out parallel function, so if it finds itself defective, it defaults to "out of the loop", leaving normal braking unaffected.
I will not however give an opinion one way or the other as to the safeness of driving the car as is, I might suggest you find that out for yourself. Under safe conditions and a speed no more than 30 kph. (20 mph.), do a panic stop rehearsal, such that you lock the wheels. If the cars pulls up smartly and in a sensibly straight line, you are probably OK, but I leave that call entirely up to you.

 

did u check the brake fluid???

i have a 88 civic and the brake light came on and stayed on. it ended up being the i was low on brake fluid and there is a sensor in the resevor.

take a look at it. i could be sumthing else. just start simple

 

i agree on checking the brake fluid. When it happens on my car its because the fluid is low.

 

The low brake fluid warning is tied into the "handbrake on" warning on my car (w/out ABS), but I think is the same with cars having ABS, since low fluid level compromises even the primary braking system and is therefore a big "show stopper".

 

I asked the mechanic about the possibility of low brake fluid and he told me it looked fine. Bottom line is that I'll have to take it into a Mazda dealership to see what the real underlying problem is.

Can I safely pull out the fuse to avoid having to stare at those annoying ABS and Parking brake lights?

 

Probably yes. For your info, for both brake AND ABS warnings to be on, you have to have either one or more electrical faults (including a blown ABS circuit fuse) or a problem with the proportioning valve (usually located on the engine firewall).
You're probably OK with pulling the ABS fuse, but with both ABS AND brake warnings on, my advice is don't mess around and sort it out PDQ.

 

Im having the exact same problem with my 2000 protege.
My ABS & E-brake lights are on, my regular mechanic can't turn it off.
I wanted to avoid going to a Mazda dealership, however have you been able to resolve this problem without going to a dealer? Im not about to put another $1700 into this car.
I want to try to sell it asap, however I can't sell it with these lights on.

please help....