2 ABS Units in 3 Months?!?!

[Destroyer169]

In mid October the ABS went on my '98 LX w/93k on it. No griding noises or anything, the ABS and Brake lights came on and the brake pedal went to the floor.

I bought a used ABS unit (control, booster, master cylinder) from a reputable land cruiser parts supplier. My mechanic installed and I was good for about 3 weeks until I started my car on a rainy monring and the ABS light flicked on. I put the car in reverse and pumped the brakes and it went out. 2 weeks worth of driving and no issues, but then the same thing happened. I start the car and on goes the ABS, I turn it off, pump the brakes and out it goes when I turn it back on.

Yesterday my ABS light comes on after a stop sign on a hill. I was at my destination so i parked it and when i returned the ABS was still on and buzzing. I drove it around the parking lot and the brakes seemed to be fine so I started my 2 hour trek home. About 15 minutes into the ride the ABS light and buzzer turn off. I make it about 1/2 mile from my house when it comes back on, and the brakes go out entirely. Thankfully the ebrake still worked!

Either I have terrible luck or there is something funky happening here. Electrical issues, wiring, sensors, brake fluid????

Does anyone have any suggestions or am I going to have to bite the bullet and go for another ABS unit????

 

[cruiseroutfit]

What failed on the first one? The master cylinder, the electronics or the pump itself?

 

[Destroyer169]

Kurt - thanks for the response. My local mechanic was unable to diagnose specifically what failed and the lexus dealer advised him to replace the whole unit. I read some posts on here and it sounded like a common solution so I went with it. I'm not super mechanically savvy but is there is a way to test the old unit or the one that just failed which is still installed? Thanks again. Pete.

 

[marshotel]

I suspect the explanation involves either the "local mechanic" or the "reputable parts supplier" (or both).

Find somebody who is able to diagnose specifically what failed.
Then send the "used ABS unit" back to the "reputable parts supplier."

It sounds like you probably did not get what you thought you were paying for the first time around.

 

[FlipSA]

Hi Destroyer169

Have you found a solution to your problem?
I'm experiencing the same problems on my 2000 vx100 now.

 

[AimCOtaco]

There is a method where you put a jumper across a couple of pins in the ABS connector and the dash light will flash you the codes. Could be a wheel sensor starting to go out this time or something else that's cheaper than the whole enchilada.

Look Here: https://forum.ih8mud.com/100-series-cruisers/88310-abs-light-reset.html

 

[APKhaos]

Wheel speed sensor failure will throw an ABS light and kill ABS operation but does not cause the pedal to go to the floor. AimCOtaco gives good advice - read the ABS codes. Everything else is guessing when it comes to the brake & ABS system.