You are driving down the highway and your ABS light comes on. You worry that something broke. So you pull into the rest stop and put the truck in park and grab your cables. However, maybe you realize that you don’t actually know how to fix the issue. Instead of a costly visit to a mechanic right away, you can learn how to reset your ABS light yourself.
In this article, you’ll learn how to reset the light. Truckers do come across issues like this when they are driving. For example, their ABS light comes on. It needs to be reset. Generally, it does not come one when driving, if it does there is something wrong. You are to not drive the truck.
Reasons Behind the Light
There are several reasons why your ABS light may be on, which is why it’s so important to make sure it’s working exactly as it should at all times. Below are some of the reasons why your ABS light may be on.
Low Levels in the Fluid Reservoir
If your ABS system is hydraulic, there could be a leak or not enough fluid. ABS could also just be off, which is when the light will show that it is not on. This could be an accident, or even on purpose, but it is a very important safety feature. If it happens, you can usually just turn it back on. Make sure you do so in a timely manner; you need it so your freight-liner does not skid in case of black ice or rough terrain.
Wheel Speed Sensor Issues
It will shut off the engine if one of the wheels is not spinning correctly. Don’t panic. It is trying to get stable traction. This will typically need a professional mechanic to fix, as the ABS and traction system are together in one module. The wheel speed sensor tells you how fast each wheel spins on its own. If it gets dirty or stops, it will disable ABS until restarted or the problem fixes
Resetting Your ABS Light
To fix this, park your freight-liner, grab some jumper cables, and then push the brake eight times. This should fix the issue. Using a scanner could help diagnose the problem too. It should show codes. Like in the table from Truck Manuals Hub.
Using the Jumper Cables
One way to reset your ABS light is to use jumper cables to restart the electrical circuit. To do that, you can follow these steps:
- Make sure you have jumper cables for the DLC or an adapter kit for service.
- Turn off the truck and install the wires
- The ABS or anti-lock braking system is now blinking
Pressing the Breaks
Follow the next steps carefully after using your jumper cables. If you do not there could be more issues than just the light. No one wants more issues, especially since you are getting paid to travel goods from coast to coast.
- Press down the brake pedal, do not be rough, and do not touch the gearbox and the accelerator.
- After it clicks, push down the brake pedal eight times within a few seconds
- The ABS light should not be off.
Repeating Steps
- Once it switches off, the light is now reset.
- It could correct if you drive a mile overnight 25 miles.
- The sensor could be damaged and not reporting
Some freight-liners will have the light stay on for a few seconds and blink four times. If you notice the light staying on, don’t panic; wait at least a minute and then try again.
Extra Help
Another great resource for some of the codes that may show up in the blink code diagnostic is from CBS Parts. It tells you how to obtain the codes. There are two ways: you can use your ignition power activation or a special tool designed to help you reset the light.
Below are some helpful tutorials for fixing your ABS light:
- Fixing the ABS Light Fault by Big Rig Fix
- How to Fix the Trailer ABS Light on the Freightliner Cascadia by Trucking Tips DIY.
Conclusion
Resetting your ABS light is not a hard skill to master. You can do it relatively easily using jumper cables. If the problem persists, visit a mechanic, and never drive a car if you don’t feel comfortable with the breaking mechanisms. Your ABS light could indicate something serious in your freight-liner, so be cautious moving forward to avoid other long-term problems.