ABS Light flashing. Only once. What does that mean?

[ELP_JC]

First of all, I want to start with the bright side first: this bike is awesome! Best bike I've ever had, period. It's a keeper.

The only hiccup during my first long ride was a flashing ABS light as I came to a hard stop (both brakes), but not enough to invoke ABS at all, to take a break (one of those pullouts on mountain roads, you know). From 50 mph tops. When I glanced down to shut off the engine, the ABS light was faintly flashing. Maybe it was my smoked shield, but neutral seemed brighter. Maybe it was just me, but just want to point everything out. Anyway, checked brakes and sensors manually and everything seemed tight. Front brakes were cool, but rear was hotter than it should. Not scalding hot, but hot enough that it wasn't normal. First thought was a stuck rear brake pedal, but it wasn't stuck at all. I forcefully applied it and released it quickly, and didn't use it again until a couple of hundred miles later, and it was warm, as it should. I doubt that was the issue, but just a comment. And yes, bike restarted normally, with the light on with ignition, and going away immediately upon starting, for the rest of the trip.

I only use the rear brake when I need to stop quickly (as it, unfortunately, is linked to the front, and it makes a big difference in stopping distances), and I always ride with the ball of my feet on the pegs, with my right boot far away from the brake pedal, so no way I was 'riding' the brakes. It was during an ascending mountain run, but even on descending ones, I rarely use the brakes at all, and only the front when a little 'too hot'. And worth mentioning is I went over a road with grasshopper infestation for too darn long, and my bike was literally yellow below the engine covers. Will remove sensors to see if something got in there from the carnage, but the fact light didn't come again seems to point to another direction.

Owner's manual only mentions to take bike to dealer if flashing or solid ABS light. What a surprise. And lost my 'cheat sheet' how to read trouble codes from the diagnostic menu, so that will have to wait until this evening. Now to my questions:

- Does anybody have a clue of what happened? Has it happened to anybody else? Maybe the brake got a bit stuck after applying it the last time?

- Does anybody know the difference between flashing and solid ABS light?

- Does the momentary flashing triggers a code? Probably worth the hassle to look for my CD and browse for the right 'diag' number to read codes.

Any and all comments welcome folks. And yes, I just got out of warranty. Actually I thought it'd expire on the 20th, but it did on the 10th :dribble: . Oh well. I was waiting for this trip to see if something came up (like this?) to warrant purchasing an extended warranty (YES) for the first time, but it's a moot point now. Thanks gang.

JC

 

[SkooterG]

Relax. Common occurrence. You want to do it again? Put your FJR up on the C-stand, turn the ignition on, and rotate one wheel and not the other. Blinking abs light only indicates a temporary fault and will reset. If it stays on, then you have problems.

One thing you said concerns me greatly however.

I only use the rear brake when I need to stop quickly (as it, unfortunately, is linked to the front, and it makes a big difference in stopping distances)

Is that really true? Not a typo?

If so, dude, you are breaking ALL WRONG!!!! You are going to hurt yourself.

Edit: Now that I re-read what you said, I think you meant you only use the rear brake in addition to the front when you want to stop quickly. Not that you use the rear brake solely. Schwew! I was getting worried!

 

[radman]

Don't discount the rear brake lever quite yet-in normal use, the application isn't as linear as your test-a light push as the situation demands, and a light release as well can cause a hang easily-and this possibly cause an ABS lamp illumination. At CFO, I was surprised during a half ass poll how few clean and lube both the shifter and the rear brake lever pivot-this should be done at least yearly, if not more often. If nothing else, one will be amazed at the improvement in shift quality after doing this-and the brake lever just has to hang a bit to be a problem. Brake lamp switch adjustment should also be checked. One trick for the rear brake first users is to remove the lever and drop it one spline on the shaft-this makes using it more of a genuine desire than it being an accidental footrest. Ditto the front lever now with linked brakes, though it's less likely to be accidentally activated.

 

[ELP_JC]

I think you meant you only use the rear brake in addition to the front when you want to stop quickly.

Absolutely! I wouldn't be alive with the use of rear brake only :lol: . But thanks for the friendly warning; it could help somebody.

And thanks for your response as well; happy to hear that. But since I didn't rotate one wheel over the other, do you have a guess of what could have happened? And by the way, I stopped even harder a couple more times after that incident, and no light whatsoever. Weird man. Maybe I need to test my ABS feature to make sure it works, no? Will try to do it at slow speed over a bit of fine gravel so I don't beat up my tires.

Here are the things I plan to do over the winter: change the brake/clutch fluid again (it's a year old now), remove both ABS sensors and clean them, and check for codes just in case. And based on what Radman said (thanks too buddy), will lube both the brake and shift levers, although I doubt there was an issue with only 1,600 miles of use.

Hey, may I ask you why the owner's manual say to take the bike to a dealer with flashing or solid ABS light? Does the service manual have a separate description of solid and blinking? Just curious. Will have to dig my CD and read a bit, just for curiosity's sake. But thanks for the reassurance man; really appreciate it. With my warranty expired just a week, having a serious issue would be a monumental bad luck. Glad that's not the case now . Take care.

JC

 

[SkooterG]

Yes, the service manual has a detailed description of what could be going on for both a blinking and solid ABS light. There are many things that can cause each. I am too busy/lazy to post all of that for you. Maybe somebody else will.

Or, may I suggest you buy a service manual...........

Or, try searching as this topic has been covered in depth previously.

 

[SkooterG]

Ok, so I did some quick searching for you. You owe me, man.

Here's a thread with a good post on a blinking ABS light, but it's for Gen I FJRs. I have no idea if it's different for Gen II.

Clicky HERE.

 

[v65]

Rad wins the hardcore award! A poll at CFO to see who lubes their pivots! What's his prize?

 

[radman]

Rad wins the hardcore award! A poll at CFO to see who lubes their pivots! What's his prize?

Less a poll than the same type of issue coming up, and my discovery that few if any had ever bothered to lube or adjust to their unique riding position any of the operating hardware. I think many people short change themselves by not taking advantage of the myriad adjustments available, just leave it as purchased and adapt to what ever the pre-del tech (or Yamaha) decided would work. ELP didn't mention the low miles in the first post, but then, it may not be relevant. Yammi scrimps on some bikes, gobs it on others, and time is as much the enemy as miles, as well as wet riding etc. My point, mainly, is that it's smart to check the basics before getting fancy, or delivering it to a dealer, who may or may not exercise the same care and consideration the owner would-rare, if these forums are any indication.

 

[ELP_JC]

Or, may I suggest you buy a service manual...........

I guess you missed this from post #1: 'And lost my 'cheat sheet' how to read trouble codes from the diagnostic menu, so that will have to wait until this evening.'

And this from post #4: 'Will have to dig my CD and read a bit, just for curiosity's sake.'

Maybe it wasn't clear, but yes, I have the service manual, and just got home and found it :yahoo: . With my recent move, wasn't sure where it was. But thanks for the help buddy; it sure sounds like the same system. Will check the brake switch, and just clean everything and not worry about it. The highway was steep at the shoulder, where I stopped; maybe that triggered it.

Hey, may I ask you if you only use the front brake and the front tire momentarily locks (like with loose gravel), would it trigger the flashing light since the rear didn't slip? Just trying to understand the system. Thanks for everything gang.

JC

 

[radman]

Anytime the ABS is activated it will trigger the lamp while in operation. Once it's no longer operating, it's off.

 

[ELP_JC]

Anytime the ABS is activated it will trigger the lamp while in operation. Once it's no longer operating, it's off.

Thanks buddy; appreciate it. Will watch the light when I test my ABS. Take care.

JC

 

[mcatrophy]

...- Does anybody have a clue of what happened? Has it happened to anybody else? Maybe the brake got a bit stuck after applying it the last time?

...

Any and all comments welcome folks.

...

JC

My '06 ABS light flashed after I had a stuck rear pedal, click here for my experience.

My guess is either that your lever did stick on a bit, or that you were possibly holding the brake on - you say you don't normally ride with your foot over it, but braking hard in the twisties, could you have held the brake on? One or the other because your rear brake temperature was high, which I wouldn't expect if your front was cool.

My suggestion: Lubricate the lever so that it really does spring off (as I did on mine), and forget about it (unless it happens again!).

 

[Bull]

...- Does anybody have a clue of what happened? Has it happened to anybody else? Maybe the brake got a bit stuck after applying it the last time?

...

Any and all comments welcome folks.

...

JC

My '06 ABS light flashed after I had a stuck rear pedal, click here for my experience.

My guess is either that your lever did stick on a bit, or that you were possibly holding the brake on - you say you don't normally ride with your foot over it, but braking hard in the twisties, could you have held the brake on? One or the other because your rear brake temperature was high, which I wouldn't expect if your front was cool.

My suggestion: Lubricate the lever so that it really does spring off (as I did on mine), and forget about it (unless it happens again!).

yup ... me too.

sticky rear brake pedal - just needed a little clean and lub so it would snap back up to 'rest' position after being depressed.

 

[ELP_JC]

Thanks Mca and Bull. The funny thing is the rear caliper wasn't hot. Weird. But the pumpkin was, and always is; normal, I guess. Both pumpkin and rear rotor don't get much air at all; that's why I don't use the rear brake unless I need to stop quickly.

I definitely agree with you guys that the fluke was with the rear brake. Will check the light tomorrow, and continue cleaning/checking everything. By the way, the rear master cylinder is brembo, so it should be pretty reliable. I was thinking it could be 'hanging up' a bit, like somebody mentioned. It's certainly possible. Later gang.

JC