ABS & Brake Lights ON!

[Aton9900]

Greetings... everybody!

My 1st post after more than 2 years of "watching" and learned a lot from all the great people here. Now that I need your advice:

On Thursday afternoon, I spent 2-1/2 hours driving from Danforth/Greenwood to 14th Ave/Kennedy. Thanks for the last snowstorm (hopefully) of this winter in Toronto.

After about 2 hrs of driving/crawling, the 'ABS' and the 'BRAKE' lights showed up on my dashboard while all other things appeared normal. Braking was as usual (not sure if ABS was working though... I didn't test it). I had no choice but continued my journey until I reached my destiny. Both lights were on all the time until I stopped my car (so they were on for about 1/2 hour).

Upon arrival, I tried resetting the car by restarting the car after a 5 min. break. Both lights were still on after the restarting. Test-drove within the parking lot… in 2 minutes the brake light went off followed by the ABS light in another min.

I would think the problem was because the snow slush jammed under the car somehow interfered with the ABS/speed sensor (is there such an animal?). My question is: Should I worry? Would you suggest me to take it to dealership for inspection? My 3 is a 2004 (July) hatchback with 38000 km so it's still under warranty. It's been back to normal for 2 days since then.

Thanks for all your comments in advance!

Aton

[Jeff-TheBiz]

Best off to have a dealership take a quick peak..

Seems like everything is fine, though

[Chiburashka]

Yea like TheBiz said, you have nothing to lose by letting a dealership take a look at it just to double check everything is fine.

[3GFX]

Go to the dealership, but it could just be as simple as a low fluid level.

[Wild Weasel]

Hopefully the experts here can verify this.

I believe the two are independant. The brake light should come on when the fluid sensor indicates a low fluid condition.

The ABS light will come on for any of a number of ABS related conditions, most common of which is a faulty sensor.

When the ABS light is on, the ABS system is disabled. Keep this in mind when driving as you'll have to brake a little differently, taking this into consideration.

There is a wheel speed sensor on each wheel. Check that they're all plugged in properly.

Check your fluid. Fluid levels should never get low enough to trip this sensor unless there is a problem. Brake fluid is not consumed. It goes down as your pads and rotors wear, but shouldn't go low enough to trigger the sensor.

If both lights are now off, I wouldn't be too concerned but would take Jeff's advice and have it looked at. They can scan for stored trouble codes form the ABS system and will know how to check the fluid and what not.

[FLIPDADY]

If both lights are now off, I wouldn't be too concerned but would take Jeff's advice and have it looked at. They can scan for stored trouble codes form the ABS system and will know how to check the fluid and what not.
If the light is off you don't need to bring your car in. This happened to me when the ABS kicked in the other night when I hit a patch of black ice. The light came on and shut off soon after. That means your sensors are working properly and doing their job.

Now if it stays on and doesn't turn off then bring the car in b/c the techs will be able to see the problem when the light is on.

[b]

I've only had the abs and every other light on my dash come on when the engine ground was bad... I would take it in like theBiz said.

[Aton9900]

Thank you for all the input!

Can't really afford the time to bring the car in for checking unless absolutely necessary. So, I'll keep an eye on it and if the same problem comes up again, I will have it checked.

Thanks again!

Aton

[Hazy]

I had the same problem the other day where my brake and ABS light appeared on during my drive. I tried restarting the car and everything went back to normal. Hopefully its nothing serious.

[WildEmu]

My ABS light came on while I was driving a few weeks ago and after turning the car off and on a few minutes later, the light turned off as well. I asked the tech when I brought my 3 in for an oil change the next day (Coincidence that this happened the day before a scheduled oil change) about it and he said it was normal and working properly if the lights come on and off. There is only a problem if the lights stay on.

[EvilEric]

I had the same problem the other day where my brake and ABS light appeared on during my drive. I tried restarting the car and everything went back to normal. Hopefully its nothing serious.

Ditto had the same thing. Haven't had it happen since. Didn't notice until I had arrived at my destination and was about to turn off the car.