OK, my daily driver/beater Mazda5 just lit up the ABS warning sensor and traction control sensor on my dash. This car is at 192,000 and I was really trying to get to later in the year to wait for lower car financing rates and some end of year deals before I replace it but it may not work out that way as I just had to spend $400 a couple months ago to replace a bad radiator.

I put in a little brake fluid as it was not at the MAX line like the manual said and the lights went out for about 5 minutes then came back on.

Called my local mechanic who I trust 100% and he says "don't bother trying to fix unless it's actively leaking brake fluid, it's not worth it. Just drive it. Keep an eye on the brake fluid level and watch for leaks and then if that is the case come see me."

Is this safe to drive for now with no ABS? I really did not want to have to get rid of it for a few more months.

I'd drive it and not worry about it. It's probably a wheel speed sensor

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Mazda5 just lit up the ABS warning sensor and traction control sensor

Go to Pep Boys, Advance, AutoZone or whatever large parts store is in the area, you can borrow a scan tool for free, see if there is a code set and then google the code to find out what's setting it off.

Culprits are low fluid, bad sensors. You can reset the code if you want and see if it comes back, sometimes there are ghost codes.

Like your mechanic said, fill it up and watch the level if you're not going to do anything else.

Link ABS Lights Christian Bro's

Does your Mazda have a DSC/TCS switch? Some do, depressing it will turn on a light, check it if you have one.

A piece of black electrical tape over the sensor light works well.

I drove a car for years without the ABS working.
It defaults to a car without it. Even passed inspection since it was an option for that year of car.

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Originally posted by HRK:

Does your Mazda have a DSC/TCS switch? Some do, depressing it will turn on a light, check it if you have one.

Yes it does, separate light

I wonder if there might be a liability issue if you were involved in an accident.

Property damage or injury. Your own or others.

It depends. If there are no symptoms like loss of braking power, pulling to one side due to one wheel activating, etc., the ABS is simply off-line and the brakes will act as normal non-ABS - i.e., they will lock up if you "dynamite" them.

Have you got any roaring or rumbling noise? Sometimes a wheel speed sensor is built into the bearing and fixing it will solve both problems. A bad wheel hub or bearing is never safe to drive, or continue to drive, on.

Or, you could fix it ...

The light is not supposed to be on. The bulb is bad, remove it...

Exact situation here (ABS light, brake light, traction control light). I’ve been driving like this for a while, now. Still alive. Millions of people drove/drive without ABS.

I'd not drive like that in the snow, but I'd be careful in the rain and meh in the dry.

for perspective, I've got about 1.3 million miles driven under my belt.

It depends.

Here is my anecdote...

Had a 20something Dodge Dynasty. We called it the nasty because the "Dy" fell off one side and I have a childish sense of humor at times.

Any way at some point the ABS light came on. The wife freaked out and told me the brakes didn't work. I thought "pshaw, she probably just slid on some sand (I mean we were in AZ at the time).She swore they had failed. I drove the "nasty" for a week trying everything to fail at braking. It didn't. As a matter of fact it would stop on a dime!

I tossed her the keys and said, "It's fine just drive it." She went another few weeks without complaints and I thought all was well.

Then we headed out about a week later and took the "nasty" for dinner. As I approached a stop light she had a panicked look. "Don't worry, it's fine,* I said reassuringly. Followed by "OH SHIT THIS AIN'T STOPPING!!!!" Pedal to the floor, pumping frantically, we went zooming through the intersection like we were in a high speed chase.

As it turned out, the master brake cylinder failed and the year model was the one year that Dodge joined up with Bosch for the master cylinder. It was a total failure and would have been $2000 to fix. The car simply wasn't worth the repair so it was donated with notice that the brakes DID NOT work. For all I know someone revived the "nasty," but I was done with it.

So, it depends...

quote:

Originally posted by egregore:
It depends. If there are no symptoms like loss of braking power, pulling to one side due to one wheel activating, etc., the ABS is simply off-line and the brakes will act as normal non-ABS - i.e., they will lock up if you "dynamite" them.

Have you got any roaring or rumbling noise? Sometimes a wheel speed sensor is built into the bearing and fixing it will solve both problems. A bad wheel hub or bearing is never safe to drive, or continue to drive, on.

Or, you could fix it ...

I have noticed a bit of a slight shaky steering wheel lately and thought it was maybe an unbalanced tire. I think I need to have my mechanic check the wheel bearings here.

Have you tried using the manual?:

My 91 Miata airbag light blinks incessantly. I've been considering putting a sticker over it. In my case, airbags of that vintage are probably more dangerous when they DO work.

I have a 15 yr old car. Good tires, ABS functioning perfectly.

One day, I'm on a concrete road, American Parkway, heading west to the Iron Pigs Game. Slightly damp as a light passing shower came by.
NOT speeding at all, but it simply would not stop! I blew the horn as it skidded through the red light at Irving st. ABS clicking like a full auto machine gun.

The only explanation is that the concrete has what appears to be worn down so much that stones are exposed on the surface. No traction at all. No problem since that incident. So, even if functioning, got to be careful!


The older car I mentioned earlier, without ABS functioning, I took apart the ABS mechanical actuator. Turns out, it is just an off center cam. When activated, restricts the brake fluid flow to the output ports as it spins around in its cavity.

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The only explanation is that the concrete has what appears to be worn down so much that stones are exposed on the surface. No traction at all. No problem since that incident. So, even if functioning, got to be careful!

Given the passing shower, it’s likely the road had oil on it. In places with a lot of poorly maintained vehicles, leaking oil builds up at stop signs, stoplights, toll booths, etc. A light rains lets that oil spread across the road and wreak havoc. Happened to me at a toll booth while riding a motorcycle. Luckily the toll booth person saw me sliding, lifted the gate, and waved me through.

quote:

Originally posted by trapper189:

quote:

The only explanation is that the concrete has what appears to be worn down so much that stones are exposed on the surface. No traction at all. No problem since that incident. So, even if functioning, got to be careful!

Given the passing shower, it’s likely the road had oil on it. In places with a lot of poorly maintained vehicles, leaking oil builds up at stop signs, stoplights, toll booths, etc. A light rains lets that oil spread across the road and wreak havoc. Happened to me at a toll booth while riding a motorcycle. Luckily the toll booth person saw me sliding, lifted the gate, and waved me through.

Exactly. Many days with no rain and all the oil and grease dripping from mostly trucks, a light rain makes it slippery, a downpour
will wash it off pretty quick. And in the fall, leaf covered roads in the rain are more slippery than oil. I've got three or four million miles under my belt. I wish I didn't. They don't teach that shit in drivers ed.

Perhaps you guys are correct about the oil not being washed off. There are a lot of big rigs that use that road.

The reason I attributed the issue to road surface condition is that near the Iron Pigs stadium, it is much newer section and no issues there.

quote:

Originally posted by TRIO:
Perhaps you guys are correct about the oil not being washed off. There are a lot of big rigs that use that road.

The reason I attributed the issue to road surface condition is that near the Iron Pigs stadium, it is much newer section and no issues there.

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