ABS Light on for 20 years, nobody knows what it is.

[ttocs]

I worked as an electrical tech for many years and a physical inspection of the sensor MAY mean it is bad but it only takes a little resistance to build in a harness/connection to throw something off.

I have read some of the code readers work on them and some do not. I would try the paperclip method and see if it says anything since it also does not cost anything except a little bit of time.

 

[Mustang5L5]

I went down the rabbit hole this AM searching up info on the 1998 ABS system. More questions than answers.

Seems the 94-97 3-channel systems fall into the same "family" and 1999-2004 4-channel systems fall into another. 1998 is a one-year only setup. I searched up maybe 25 1998 model year ABS pumps on ebay, and all have 5 lines to them



2 lines on the top face closest to us are MC1 and MC2. The upper left is LF and the upper right is REAR. The single port to the front is not labeled, but logic would assume it's RF. This would signify it's a 3-channel ABS. I've looked at Cobra pumps and don't see any of them with a 6th port, so seems it's 3-channel.

I would look for an ABS test port under the hood. This pump looks difference from the 99+ units, so it's possible it uses the older test plug method of communication. So while nothing shows under ForScan in the module, it may be because this uses the older ABS test plug setup. I don't actually know, this particular system doesn't have much info out there on it.

 

[ndcade0908]

3 ports? One line out to each front brake and a single line to the rear? What's your build date on the door tag? Is this an early 1998?

The 3-channel ABS should have 5 brake lines connected to it. A 4-channel ABS will have 6.

Do you see an ABS test port under the hood like ttcos mentioned in post #8. Would have a red cover on it.

View attachment 36003


Essentially what I am getting at is that depending on which ABS system you have, there are different methods as to how to pull the codes. The older 3-channel style can use the paperclip or a specialized OBD2 code reader that can do Ford 90's ABS codes. The later 4-channel style was when ford started doing module based DTC's in which you can use forscan to read the module DTC's


It's touch to find info on the 1998 system and it appears to be a 1-year only system, with 94-97 3-channel units falling into one compatibility family, and the 99-04 units falling into another. QUite a few units on ebay

98 1998 Ford Mustang GT ABS Brake Pump Module Good Used OEM M15 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 98 1998 Ford Mustang GT ABS Brake Pump Module Good Used OEM M15 at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

what you linked is a 98 pump, which has 5 line ports, as stated previously, I have a 97 car, which, as far as I can tell, has 3 line ports.

USED - EXCELLENT, OEM 1994-1997 Ford Mustang F4ZZ-2C286-A ABS System Brake Pump | eBay

Spark part number F4ZZ-2C286-A. OUR CHOICE. Be sure the part you are buying is correct for your application.

www.ebay.com

similar to this one.

 

[ttocs]

I would need to dig around but I think I have one with the only problem with it being that one of the ports was stripped out when it was cross threaded nice and tight. I think I just ordered a new one(this was a few years back) and put it in rather than mess with it but if they are that hard to come by and you can make it work we can try to figure it out. It is from my 94, let me see if I can remember where it is but I think I do.

 

[Mustang5L5]

Why did I go this entire thread thinking your car was a 1998.

In that case, with a 1997 you gotta use the paper clip method to trip the code abs code reading process. ForScan won’t read those abs codes.


My apologies. I was thinking you had a 1998.

 

[ndcade0908]

Why did I go this entire thread thinking your car was a 1998.

In that case, with a 1997 you gotta use the paper clip method to trip the code abs code reading process. ForScan won’t read those abs codes.


My apologies. I was thinking you had a 1998.

No worries, it's most likely because I had asked you if a 98 module would work on a 97 car. I'm going to try the paper clip method when I have the chance, hopefully this week, but the car is having some work done to the doors, so I do not have it at the moment. I will update the thread with my findings lol.

 

[Slice]

Our vintage stangs may have an actual light bulb in the dash. I'll get flamed for this but I would just yank the bulb to get rid of the visual irritation. I'm old and drove a lot of pre-ABS cars and don't drive my vert in the rain or winter. I've never had an ABS kick in situation during the summer.

 

[ttocs]

Our vintage stangs may have an actual light bulb in the dash. I'll get flamed for this but I would just yank the bulb to get rid of the visual irritation. I'm old and drove a lot of pre-ABS cars and don't drive my vert in the rain or winter. I've never had an ABS kick in situation during the summer.

removing warning bulbs will cause the computer to make an audible beeping noise for 30 secs every time you start to the car let you know a warning light is out. If you get to the point of declaring defeat and give up you are better off putting a piece of electrical tape over the back of the gauge shroud to block the light.

 

[Mustang5L5]

I’m in the mindset that if a system is present, it needs to work. I couldn’t delete or block off a non-functional system…useless or not.

Same with any warning light on the dash. If a light comes on, I need to fix it.