Right, my ABS light is on all the time, sensor resistance seems fine so I doubt it's an easy fix.

What's a lot more worrying: When I hit the brake pedal hard and quickly the rear wheels lock up Would be lovely if it was a drift slag but it isn't.

When I gently and progressively apply the brake, brake balance is normal, locking up the front wheels.

I had a similar thing ages ago on a normal 2.0 and it was the solenoids in the abs unit being fubarred. However on that car, the ABS light didn't stay on.

Could a faulty ABS control box also cause that kind of behaviour?

 

It's a 4x4 Saff Cossie btw.

If it is the whole ABS block that's fucked, will a 2WD one fit aswell?

 

Check the brake fluid level. If it is OK, take the 2 pin connector off the brake reservoir and bridge the 2 terminals on the wiring loom. If the light goes out, get a new brake fluid level sender.

 

Nope, light stays on.

 

With the abs light being on, it is partially or fully disabled(the abs) this then would leave you with normal brakes, do you have the same pads on all four wheels, ie same rear as front ?
If the abs spots an anomoly it will illuminate the light, a rusty sensor disc can do it if a tooth is chipped and missing enough.
tabetha

 

But even with ABS disabled, normal brake balance should be restored shouldn't it?

 

Anyone? Dojj???

 

mine locked the rears up when my abs wasnt working,its dangerous when it happens leaves you lookin at the hedge for a moment. did you try the orange relay in the fuse box yet?

 

Seriously? I thought without the ABS the brakes would still work normally. But this is just lethal!

If the relay was broken, would the pump still run? Because it does.

 

i think it will but cant remember exactly. send me your email address through pm and i'll send you a diagram that might help you trace the fault

 

mine does that too, i pressume ford didn;t really set up the bias with the thought that the abs will just sort it out, got nw sensors coming for mine, so hpefully that'll fix it.

 

Cheers mate, already got one showing me how to measure all the sensors, etc.

@WongRS: Thanks for the information. I'll keep treating it as a normal ABS fault then.

 

Just out of interest: With a broken sensor, does you light stay on all the time or does it go out after start but comes on again after you've driven a few metres?

 

I just measured the sensors while driving and they all deliver accurate values...

 

Ford did cock up a bit on the abs when this is duff, it can be either partially or fully disabled depending on the fault.
If a fault is sensed it will stay illuminated until it senses fault fixed.
Yes the rears do indeed lock up easily without abs functioning 100%, even when the abs is working, there is still way too much bias to the rear, as I've been sideways under really heavy braking, as rear nearside locked up!!, the "fault" only showed up under seriously heavy braking from speed, wheel locked, abs light came on 1/2 mile later went out and stayed out.
It has not done it since I recut some teeth on the rear sensor ring.
The abs system does not control the front rear bias.
tabetha

 

Right, I've plugged in a different ABS control box (the one behind the glove box) and it works now!

Thanks for your help!