ABS warning light, driving in snow

[stripe]

We got lots of snow here in Montreal yesterday. While driving home, and while the streets were 'so so' and still covered with snow, my ABS light came on in the dash.

Later during my ride home, I turned the engine off at a red light, and started the car again, and the light never came back on.

Did this ever happen to anyone? Could the snow have caused a sensor malfunction, or is this more serious? My car is brand new (2009, 1200 KMs)

[FLIPDADY]

Something just triggered your sensors to come on. It's perfectly normal and means that they are working just right. The sensors are located in the knuckle/spindle so could have been some ice or snow snow build-up on them.

[stripe]

Alright, that seems like a reasonable explanation. Thanks!

Does this mean that when the light comes on like this, that I loose ABS capabilities?

[secondgear]

I had something similar. We had a lot of snow last year and while I was driving the light came on. It never went away until the following morning. Never took it to dealer since driving and braking feels fine.

[MSMitch]

Typically the ABS light goes on when it's active, not when there's an ABS error...

[Effin Itai]

Typically the ABS light goes on when it's active, not when there's an ABS error...

Actually, when that light goes on, ABS is inoperable due to what Flippy was saying. Either ice build up or snow. It's happened to me a few times when I needed the ABS. Wheels locked up, and weeeeee did I slide! lol.

[3GFX]

Its happened to me before...once after some hard braking. Occasionally the sensor just needs to reset ie. restarting the car.

[Wild Weasel]

Actually, when that light goes on, ABS is inoperable due to what Flippy was saying. Either ice build up or snow. It's happened to me a few times when I needed the ABS. Wheels locked up, and weeeeee did I slide! lol.

Just to clarify between this and what MSMitch said...

When the ABS is active, the light comes on or flashes. This is only momentary though.

If the light comes on and stays on, then that means something triggered an error and the ABS system is now deactivated. Be sure to drive accordingly.

It could be something as mundane as some snow and dirt interfering with a sensor, or it could be something more complicated. Basically, if it goes away on its own the next time you start the car, then I wouldn't worry about it. It it's persistant, then you'll need to have the code scanned to find out what's up.

[Fuman]

When the ABS is active, the light comes on or flashes. This is only momentary though.
Not the case on my 2006 Mazda 3 GT.
Is this just me?

[Wild Weasel]

Not the case on my 2006 Mazda 3 GT.
Is this just me?

Next time it's snowy, I'll double check.

I thought it worked the same as the traction control light. When TC is doing it's thing, the light flashes on the dash.

It sucks, because it's basically a signal to my wife (especially at night) that I'm having too much fun driving. :)

[gramps]

Not the case on my 2006 Mazda 3 GT.
Is this just me?

I also have an 06 GT
and last year, also coming back from montreal (in the laurentians), snow everywhere. and the light came on for a couple of hours or so. never came back on
-g

[cwp_sedan]

Did any other lights come on as well? I had this happen to me before and it sounds rather similar.

http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?p=256273#post256273

[MikeyGT]

Did any other lights come on as well? I had this happen to me before and it sounds rather similar.

http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?p=256273#post256273

Thanks cwp_sedan. That's exactly what happened to me today. Freaked me out :|.

Thank god those 2 lights went off after restarting the car.. :bana2

[ThucP]

my abs light also came on and my parking brake light went on too. i just turned my car off then started it again and the lights were off.

[bunchi]

yesterday during lunch time when the snow storm was at it's most intense, I had to go drive out to get something, was just 5 mins drive. on te way back when I started the engine, the abs light also came on. I shut off the car, started again, still there. after a few minutes it went away. got me all worried though before it disappeared.

[x_o_k_x]

Typically the ABS light goes on when it's active, not when there's an ABS error...

Actually when ABS kicks in light doesnt/shouldnt come on, it comes or only when there is error or failure

[Effin Itai]

Actually when ABS kicks in light doesnt/shouldnt come on, it comes or only when there is error or failure


Thank you, atleast someone else understands whats going on. It happened to me today. Too much snow and ice in my wheel well area, Parking Brake and ABS light went on. Went home, parked it in the garage for a few hours, to let everything melt off. Light went off and I slept fine. LOL.


This is definetly a newsance with this car. When you need th ABS the most, it doesn't work. This and the crappy ass brakes is the only negative side to the car.

[m_a_t_r_i_x]

yeah same thing happen to me last night, driving in the thick of the snow. Parking brake and ABS lights went on. So i just pulled over, turned off and restarted the car and everything went well again.

[Mazdanow]

I also have enjoyed this lovely experience several times over the last few days.

Based on this thread and the other one posted, it seems to be all the same issue that the snow affects the sensors and causes the lights to come on and is considered "normal". I called the dealership on Friday during the huge snow storm as I was going home and having both of those lights on for a good hour and a half but they were not there. Later in the evening I took the car out again from my under ground garage and lights went off. As I drove to an area where snow was not ploud and got stuck to an extent, the abs light came on again and would not go off.

I don't understand how this can be a normal occurance. I don't care if the abs light comes on telling you that you have bad traction or your sensors are jammed up with snow/slush or whatever (in my old vehicle a light would come on saying "traction off" when I felt the car sliding) and as soon as the car regained control or the snow melts/comes off it would go off. But when the car disables your ABS as a result for you when you need ABS the most, that's a major design flaw.

Also, there is no traction control system on the M3 Sedan GT is there.....
I've never had so many problems keeping a car on the road as this one. True I don't have winter tires but I've never had them on any other vehicles and I was never afraid for my life when going on the road......... not the case now days. Every trip during snow is quite an adventure :)

[Go_Habs_Go]

I've had my car since August 08 and noticed the ABS light flash only on 1 occasion during some hard braking in a summer rain storm. It just flashed once or twice (I guess this indicates the system was being activated) and then I never saw the light again.

However last night I was trying to park in a semi-shovelled snow bank (we had a big storm in Montreal a few days ago) and while moving the car back and forth through the snow my ABS light and Emergency Brake light came on. I turned off the car and turned it back on and the Emergency Brake light was off but the ABS light stayed on. I was a little concerned but figured it was snow on the sensors. So I finished parking the car with the ABS light still on.

When I came back to move the car a few hours later the ABS light was still on. Yet as soon as I go out of the snow bank and drove a few metres (probably loosening whatever snow had accumulated) the light went off.

I just hope I didn't damage the sensors or anything when trying to park!!

[Flagrum_3]

Actually when ABS kicks in light doesnt/shouldnt come on, it comes or only when there is error or failure

To be more precise it also comes on when you first start the car telling you the system is active.

There has been several threads on this same topic going back a couple of winters (MGM where are you? :)) ....It's just snow build up on the sensors that's all, and it's not just our cars that have this 'annoyance'.


_3

[5_Alive]

Mine came on when I had my Cobalt on the dyno.. and the same thing with the Speed.. its normal.. when the car senses rapid acceleration or deceleration, the light will trigger, and either after a few km's or a couple starts the light will shut off.
Its normal bro, no worries..

[mit-gee-mui]

To be more precise it also comes on when you first start the car telling you the system is active.

There has been several threads on this same topic going back a couple of winters (MGM where are you? :)) ....It's just snow build up on the sensors that's all, and it's not just our cars that have this 'annoyance'.


_3


Some more previous threads regarding the abs light:

2nd link at bottom of page

http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=22583&highlight=abs+light

http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=8532&highlight=abs+light

http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=11585&highlight=abs+light

http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=16826&highlight=abs+light


:)

[lioha]

Had this problem yesturday in Montreal (we had a big snow storm). ABS light and brake light came on while driving in downtown Montreal in snow). Restarted the car, the lights went away. Then parked in snow and when restarted the car, both lights came on again. Restarted the car again and only the abs light was still on. Then I just parked my car in the garage. This morning, when coming out of the garage, the abs light was on for 30 seconds or so and then disappeared. And the abs actually works now since I felt it kick in once while driving to work. I guess I will follow this isue with my car if the lights come on again.

I guess it is normal for a Mazda 3, but this is something Mazda should look into because it kills the whole purpose of abs brakes. It should work in snow storms, this is when you actually need it. But it turns off because the sensors feel too much snow. I guess Japanese engineers can not imagine what a real winter is)))

[Ogata]

good thing for TM3. I just got back from the dealer and the ABS light JUST came on for the first time when I was about to leave and they said it was normal. So this light only comes on to tell you that ABS will be non functional? The service guy said he "slammed" the brake and it was normal afterwards....sigh..don't know if that was a good idea.