warning...why you should not ignore a warning light..

[t5steve]

hi all
this is a warning to all of you out there that have got the dreaded ABS light fault......ie it works one day but not the next.......the one that you are going to get fixed later.............maybe when it comes on for good

well i had such a fault and was going to get it sorted when i got the chance...........friend is an electronics engineer and was going to resolder joints when i took module off.........................well i was on the way home last minding my own business at traffic lights when chav filled scooby pulls up alongside and starts the usual "old man in volvo" bit..........well i knew i wouldn't beat him off the lights so let him go...........about a mile up the road at next roundabout i came up alongside said scooby but this time we were both moving...................well off we went up the dual carriageway (it was late and deserted) big grin on my face as old man volvo watches scooby drop behind................anyone that knows my car will know how well it stops(330mm discs and ap calipers).....at next roundabout me thinks i can easily outbrake said scooby so leaves braking to last minute as usual..............i pushed the brakes hard.....and as i am slowing rapidly geuss what....................ABS light comes on mid braking and all of a sudden no ABS...........brakes lock on rear, volvo slides sideways straight into kerb......................the following pics show the aftermath...................the moral of this story
DON'T IGNORE WARNING LIGHTS THEY ARE THERE FOR A REASON

[claymore]

Or keep it for the track, this is a good example of the front brakes not being matched to the rears. (how did we all manage without abs for all those years)

[p fandango]

i thought the ABS only worked on the front wheels anyway?

[M-R-P]

Bloody hell Steve, Hope everybody involved is ok mate.
Cars can be fixed and your pride will recover.

Lesson learned the hard way, although, how many would drive with that light on until it failed the mot?

Food for thought.

[Harvey]

Sorry to see the damage to your motor,hope you're ok.
It's all to easy to ignore a small light on the dash.

[theflyingbrick]

holy crap!! hope your ok?? if you need anything whether its running about or helping with repairs give me a shout mate i can pop round after work while weve still got a bit of daylight left lol,give me a shout mate

[t5steve]

lesson learned indeed..........................car has ap racing proportioning valve fitted to allow fitment of bigger front brakes (but yes i should have taken it to a track........................ABS on front only i don't know............possibly too many cars driving with light on, reason for this warning..................all too easy to ignore a small light......................brick i'll call you tomorrow

car all fixed now

[p fandango]

car has ap racing proportioning valve fitted to allow fitment of bigger front brakes

the fronts use an independant line from the ABS pump, rear uses a single line ran down the car & split to the 2 calipers on the rear axle. Is the proporting valve just adjusting the rears then? thats how i've done mine but i've removed the ABS

[t5steve]

yes valve is on rear beam just before line splits..................thats where ap advised putting it so thats where it went

[stribo]

Ouch, that looks nasty mate, glad no one was hurt.

[JUDGENINJA]

Steve you big kid!!!

Glad your OK though..

Suppose it give you the option to get your spray gun back out.. Did mr Scooby stop and laugh, or could you sheepishly make it home..?

[V70 Graham]

Bloomin 'eck Steve, and you've only had those wheels a while.....guess thats a lesson to EVERYONE, glad your ok mate, hopefully get the car back on the road soon.

[t5steve]

Steve you big kid!!!

Glad your OK though..

Suppose it give you the option to get your spray gun back out.. Did mr Scooby stop and laugh, or could you sheepishly make it home..?

mr scooby didn't make roundabout and ended up parked in middle of roundabout....................made it home as you say sheepishly

[T5frankie]

a big crap yer pants moment i bet, glad your'e ok seave

[JamesT5]

Although I agree ignoring a warning light is not a good idea and I'm glad your ok, I must say I consider 'racing' on the highway an equally poor decision. If you had not been 'racing' and trying to out run another driver then you may have not hit the kerb despite having a problem with the car. Unfortunatley your decision to 'show off' meant that you actually ended up having a minor accident, damaged your car, and only made yourself look foolish in front of the driver you were trying to impress. I've never understood this need to race other drivers and see who's car is faster - utterly pointless.

Anyway 'rant' over, best of luck with the repairs.

Regards

James

[d2k]

oooh, thats a real bad whack!!

lol... i bet the said scooby driver was laughing, god that must of hurt seeing him dissapear over the horizon.

[R-200vi]

My abs light and trac's light is on atm too. If im driving/breaking hard most worse in the wet my one off back wheels lock up to never had both. Keeps you on your toes a bit. ha. I also have a flat spot on one of my new rear tyres..

[t5steve]

oooh, thats a real bad whack!!

lol... i bet the said scooby driver was laughing, god that must of hurt seeing him dissapear over the horizon.

scooby driver was anything but laughing............he didn't make roundabout and ended up in the flower beds in middle of roundabout...............at least i drove mine home..............he had to wait for tow truck

[t5steve]

Although I agree ignoring a warning light is not a good idea and I'm glad your ok, I must say I consider 'racing' on the highway an equally poor decision. If you had not been 'racing' and trying to out run another driver then you may have not hit the kerb despite having a problem with the car. Unfortunatley your decision to 'show off' meant that you actually ended up having a minor accident, damaged your car, and only made yourself look foolish in front of the driver you were trying to impress. I've never understood this need to race other drivers and see who's car is faster - utterly pointless.

Anyway 'rant' over, best of luck with the repairs.

Regards

James

point taken ref racing........................point i was making ref abs light was it could happen to anybody that ignores warning light and needs to stop quickly

[Ali-Bongo]

My abs light is permanently on, read the codes and know the faults (RR circuit has a break and abs pump is fudged) only locked up once by accident in 5,500 miles and that was heading to the oxford meet with hazza behind me. I find the car behaves much better with no abs but I did drive a mighty little rover 100 before the T5 so used to no assistance. Shame about the car Steve but it's easily repaired. Nice orange mk2 escort hiding behind the Volvo too!