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HotRodKougar

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
In a Focus? 2003 ZTS 2.3L 5spd (rear drums)

Does the car have sensors at each wheel? Or is it computer controlled in another way?

Reason being, we've got an ABS & a Brake light on -- after Jeff put the sedan back to stock. Brakes are bled and the car has firm pedal.

What fuse should we look at/replace? Can we clear the code with a scan tool?

(I posted this in Tech, but there's crickets chirping in there, so I thought I might get more headway in here because we need to fix this ASAP)

Thanks
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#2 ·
I'm pretty sure each wheel has an ABS sensor. That's why the traction control system is so close to the ABS, because those sensors can tell if any individual wheel is locking or spinning.
 
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#4 ·
Disconnected sensor is most common.
Check all connections.

If that checks out, and brake fluid is good, and pad wear is good....???
How are the wheel bearings?
That can wreak havoc w/ the ABS...

If all of that is good, I think you're down to fuses, then sensors, then controller.
For the fuses, check the owners manual.
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#5 ·
(I posted this in Tech, but there's crickets chirping in there, so I thought I might get more headway in here because we need to fix this ASAP)
Click to expand...
Yeah, sometimes it's slow in there, but this should've gone in Wheels/Tires/BRAKES in the first place.
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Discussion starter · #6 ·
Disconnected sensor is most common.
Check all connections.

If that checks out, and brake fluid is good, and pad wear is good....???
How are the wheel bearings?
That can wreak havoc w/ the ABS...

If all of that is good, I think you're down to fuses, then sensors, then controller.
For the fuses, check the owners manual.
Image
Click to expand...
Ok, another noobie question: where exactly are the ABS sensors located on the Focus? Reason I ask is, Jeff never noticed sensors on the car before he put the big brake kit on it. It's not on the car's window sticker (yeah, we still have it).
 
#8 ·
Well, usually, the disconnection is not right at the wheel.
In the front, the sensor goes into the top of the knuckle, inboard of the rotor. Then an electric line goes up to a junction in the fenderwell.
The junction is what is usually disconnected, unless the sensor was accidentally not installed.
Same in the rear... First look for a line coming away from the hub and going up to a junction, and make sure the junctions are tightly plugged in.
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Discussion starter · #9 ·
Well, usually, the disconnection is not right at the wheel.
In the front, the sensor goes into the top of the knuckle, inboard of the rotor. Then an electric line goes up to a junction in the fenderwell.
The junction is what is usually disconnected, unless the sensor was accidentally not installed.
Same in the rear... First look for a line coming away from the hub and going up to a junction, and make sure the junctions are tightly plugged in.
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Click to expand...
Car has neither, front or back.
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He's gonna check fuses tomorrow.
 
#10 ·
My 2.3 Power Premium ZX3 does not have ABS, but there's wiring ready for the rears just sitting there in the rear wheelhouse; it's as if the car's wiring harness is the same as a ZX3 w/ ABS, but the hard plumbing of the ABS pump and lines plus the software in the ECU is not there...
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#11 ·
I don't think that car even HAS Antilock brakes. I know when I wrecked my focus, the wheels had no intentions of un-locking when I mashed the brakes. Check your instrument cluster. When I installed the SVT cluster in my ZX3, those same lights were on for some weird reason, even though the stock cluster did not do it.

If I'm not mistaken... its the ABS light and the e-brake light? If so, check your cluster...
 
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#12 ·
Yeah, the ABS sensor lines should be pretty obvious with the wheels off.
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#13 ·
As far as I recalled, all ZTS models came with ABS brakes...

Might also want to check to see if the parking brake was engaged while the car was moving. I did that accidentally when I tried to get back up my driveway after a snowstorm. The ABS and Brake lights were on for a day, but then went away on their own.
 
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