ABS Light

Well, almost 2 years and 10,000 miles and my taco has finally given me trouble for the first time. Well, kinda. Yesterday, I got my little OBD-2 bluetooth adaptor so I could use the Torque app on my droid to monitor stuff like a scanguage. I don't know if it was coincidence, but right after I plugged it in my abs light was on. I thought it was just on because I had the ignition on but the engine not running, but it stayed on. It flashes slowly for a few seconds when I turn the engine on, then flashes rapidly for about the first 1/4 mile, then goes off. It comes back on every time I hit the brakes to stop, then goes off when I go. I slammed on the brakes in the rain yesterday, ABS still is functional. I hooked it up to the super fancy computer in the auto shop at school and there were no codes. It went off when I took it back to park it after class but was back after school. Anyone have any ideas?

 

just for fun you did check your fluid level? Also did you remove the adapter, you know just to be sure?

 

I did take the adaptor out, still came back so i put it back in. The Torque app works great though... I'll pop the hood tomorrow and check the fluid but it seemed fine probably a week ago when I was under there for something.

 

I dont know why, and want to know why. This has something to do with the hookup. The 04 is different from other models. Again I have no idea why thins happened, but would like to know, and know how to fix it.

 

The hookup? Please explain.

My brake fluid was right on the money. I checked today.

 

Just the 04 or is it the hookup on the 01-04....I just got an ultragauge and am worried about same issue. Mines an 03'.

 

It may be 01-04? Not sure. I know the Ultragauge does this on my 04. By hookup I mean the cable that hooks up to your computer port. I really have no idea what I am talking about, I just know the light comes on.

 

Just got my email answered by ultagauge, it does not know why it happens, so I asked what to do to clear the abs issue after unplugged. They said there is a way but they don't know how.

 

I figured it out, by accident. I may be able to recreate.

 

Shit! 2 years and you only put 10k miles on it, wow in my dreams I do that in 4-5 months!

 

To clarify, low fluid levels will not make the check engine light come one.

It's not just 04 that is different. It the ABS that came standard on 03-04 that is part of the issue. For 01-02 ABS was an option, I don't have ABS.

According to this post on TTORA: http://www.tacomaterritory.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1998825#post1998825

The info is for a Scan Guage but it's the pinouts & communications method of the 01-04s is what's important & would apply to any OBD reader that behaves this way.

The stuff that I highlight in BOLD is the issue:

2nd gens don't have the ABS issue cause they probably switched over to CAN.

As far as the Ultra-Guage, it doesn't have a force read ISO mode only like the Scan Guage. Modifying the UG so that pin 14 is not connected would probably resolve the issue. The guy disconnected pin 6 as well but that is for the airbag & there have been no reports of having an airbag issue.

As for the OP, if he has the option of changing the communications configuration on his set up to read ISO only then that would resolve his issue.

 

Most of the first year was on a restricted license, so I wasn't driving too much. But I do almost exclusively city driving. The Taco doesn't do road trips. And on the light, why does it only flash when i hit the brakes? Is the ABS computer not always "active"? I would think if it were in diagnostic mode it would be constantly flashing. I'll leave the adaptor out for awhile and see if it goes away. Thanks for all the info!

 

I had Toyota run diagnostics on my ABS light...Report came back throwing codes 51 & 44 (Requires ABS Module Assm) $1,700.00 I'm just gonna pull the ABS fuse lol...

Here's some info:

Studies show that ABS has no real-world effect on dry-surface braking, ABS-equipped vehicles take longer to stop on ice than non-ABS vehicles, ABS-equipped vehicles are more prone to roll-over accidents than non-ABS vehicles, ABS-equipped vehicles are involved more often in single car fatal accidents than non-ABS vehicles, and drivers of ABS-equipped vehicles tend to drive faster and apply their brakes later than non-ABS drivers.