ABS Light Flashing

[Richouse]

I was out riding yesterday and looked down and saw the ABS light flashing. I continued to ride came to a stop light and gently applied the breaks and it kept flashing. At the next light I more abruptly applied the breaks, both front and rear, not enough to skid but it did make the light quit flashing and it went off. It was not flashing more than about 5-10 minutes. Any idea of what might make this happen? I read in my owners manual it might flash or come on and stay constant but it didn't say what the difference is whether it flashes or stays on. It just says to take it to the dealer to get checked. Since it went off i'm going to ride it for a while and see if it happens again before I take it in.

The manual mentioned a test that requires special tools and the dealer should do it. I'm sure there is more info here on the forum on that???

Thanks,

Richard

 

[wheatonFJR]

I don't know if this will work, but it has been discussed before. Maybe try "abs light flashing" on google. I know Alan has talked about an abs tester in one of those prior threads.

 

[mcatrophy]

Check the rear brake lever isn't sticking on. Well documented to cause the ABS light to flash on a Gen II. Lubrication of its shaft usually cures the problem.

[edit]

I posted one thread here, complicated by mine being a YCC-S bike. Yours won't get any error code if this is the cause.

[/edit]

 

[wheatonFJR]

Check the rear brake lever isn't sticking on. Well documented to cause the ABS light to flash on a Gen II. Lubrication of its shaft usually cures the problem.

Rionna will like this answer...

 

[Intech]

The ABS light will also flash if it senses a difference in speed between the front and rear tires. This can be triggered by ABS operation when stopping on sand or dirt. Cycling the ignition will also reset it. I have experienced this myself. If I approach an intersection with sand or dirt I usually just use the back brake and the ABS can cause a slight skidding of the rear tire. If sustained it will cause the flashing light.

 

[wheatonFJR]

The ABS light will also flash if it senses a difference in speed between the front and rear tires. This can be triggered by ABS operation when stopping on sand or dirt. Cycling the ignition will also reset it. I have experienced this myself. If I approach an intersection with sand or dirt I usually just use the back brake and the ABS can cause a slight skidding of the rear tire. If sustained it will cause the flashing light.

I thought ABS was supposed to prevent the skidding?

I've had that happen as well, along with the flashing light. I think I will lube the brake shaft like our smart englishman suggested.

 

[bwv]

Without waiting for it to happen again... I'd start with the basics, check your tire pressures, brake fluid levels, like Mcatrophy said, look at controls for freedom of movement, also look to make sure theres nothing in, on or near, the abs rings or sensors by the wheel centers.

If it happens again, look for pinched wires, find and check the connectors for the wheel sensors... the simple things.

 

[RadioHowie]

It can also be caused, the flashing that is, if either wheel has left the ground recently, so the two wheels aren't spinning at exactly the same rpms.

And no, I'm not talking about wheelies.

Example: crossing a speed bump a little too fast, the rear left the ground when it hit the bump. ABS light begins flashing. About 100 yards from home. I get ALL nervous, hit the forum and start searching for answers. I, too, got every suggestion from "ignore it" to a semi-major chassis overhaul as BWV suggests above.

Of course, shutting the bike off, hitting the forum, and restarting the bike again 10 minutes later reset the flashing light. Rode down the street, crossed the speed bump, again a little too fast, and bingo...ABS light flashing again. Reset...turn around...drive over slowly, no light. Turn around, drive over again, bouncing the rear...light flashes. Completely repeatable experiment.

 

[mferriter]

I don't know if this will work, but it has been discussed before. Maybe try "abs light flashing" on google. I know Alan has talked about an abs tester in one of those prior threads.

I think we all saw this one coming.

Lubrication of its shaft usually cures the problem.

Yeah - that usually solves my problem, too.

 

[Richouse]

Ill check those things out... I was not going over any speed bumps nor stopping on sand or loose debris. No wheelies either so I don't think it was flashing due to the wheels spinning at different speeds.

ok, I took the rear brake pedal off and took the bracket apart and cleaned and lubed everything up. It did have some crud around the pivot point that got cleaned off but it didn't seem to be so much that it would keep it from coming all the way up. Hopefully it was and now that its cleaned and lubed I won't have any more issues out of it....

 

[Intech]

The ABS light will also flash if it senses a difference in speed between the front and rear tires. This can be triggered by ABS operation when stopping on sand or dirt. Cycling the ignition will also reset it. I have experienced this myself. If I approach an intersection with sand or dirt I usually just use the back brake and the ABS can cause a slight skidding of the rear tire. If sustained it will cause the flashing light.

I thought ABS was supposed to prevent the skidding?

I've had that happen as well, along with the flashing light. I think I will lube the brake shaft like our smart englishman suggested.

Hey Mark..late with the response, but I said slight. If the ABS works as soon as it sees slowing of rotation it lets up like it is supposed to. However, gravel throws another variable into the mix. ABS or not, if you grab a whole lot of brake in gravel the tire will skid. A skid doesn't mean the tire is locked up. It just means it is turning slower that it would with the normal forward motion of the bike. The back tire is more likely to encounter this, thus causing it to be rotating slower than the front.

 

[e2b]

Make sure the sensor bolts are tight.