ABS Warning Light?

Question

My ABS warning light used to come on during driving and then sometimes go off or go off when engine was stopped. Now the light just constantly stays on. MOT due next week and to be honest i'm panicking a bit about this.
Basically what I need to know are what are the most common faults which keep the warning light on. Its a 1996 MK3 Golf Cabriolet.
Had my front brake pads done about three months ago so I don't think that the brake pads need done. I have been told it could be one of the sensors which doesn't stop whatever brake locking. Also the other day there I had to brake quite hard and my front left wheel locked up. No other one though. Is it possible that its the front left sensor.

Thanks in advance

Answer 1

i had this problem on my golf and all it is is an ABS sensor which i purchased and did myself the part was £15

Answer 2

My hubby bought a 1996 Corrado in 1996, and within 3 years he had an intermittent problem with the ABS light coming on. For the past 4 years it has remained on all the time. He always has it serviced / MOT'd by a VW specialist, who has checked everything and confirmed that there is no problem mechanically, just with the electronics of this light. It has sailed thru mots no probs.

Answer 3

With the problems you describe,you should drive it slowly to your garage and have it sorted straight away,if you dont and you are involved in an accident,it could invalidate your insurance.ABS can be dangerous to inexperienced drivers,it takes longer to stop and has been the cause of accidents on rough road surfaces,i was a passenger in a fire engine that had a bump due to the ABS cutting the braking off on a rough surface/bumpy road,it just would not stop.

Answer 4

ABS light on means the system is not working one of the sensors is malfuctioning. These cars also had a problem with the control module, but the only way to find out is to have the system scanned

Answer 5

Have you checked the brake fluid? its a stupidly possible thing seen as you have had your brakes changed but no ones said it yet... The light in my car used to come on even though it looked like it was full to the line, i filled it right up to the cap and never saw the warning again...

Answer 6

Auto electrics are always a tricky problem , so i think this problem you have needs to sorted out by a mechanic. Senors problems or a short in the system could be the problem, but with out the popper tools it will be a nightmare to fix

Answer 7

Could be a simple matter of a wire off. That's what happened to me. Inexpensive to fix but worrisome.

Answer 8

If there is nothing different noticeable about your breaks, I would ignore it. My '96 Pontiac Grand Am used to do the same exact thing. This year was bad for computer and electrical malfunctions.

Answer 9

if ABS light is on the ABS SYSTEM is disabled......get it scanned. thats the most efficient way to find the problem,LF brake lockup is irrelavent..

Answer 10

AS LONG AS THERE IS NO NOTICEABLE DETRIMENT TO ITS BRAKING ABILITY, I WOULD TAKE THE BULB OUT OF THE DASH AND NOT WORRY!