ABS and "!" lights are ON again!

[onizuka]

just took my car to my dealer, last winter (jan 2008), I had my left rear sensor replaced. Now this winter, my right side are done. As usual, parts are backorders, have to wait for 1-2 weeks just like last time. Luckily my ECP extended warranty is paying for it.

To whomever doing their sensor, push them to do it both side. IF it's the same hardness and they are installed at the same time, it's the matter of time that both get corroded around the same time.

Just like your left shoe would get same wear and tear than your right shoe! I don't understand why didn't Toyota simply replace both side from beginning.

[IllusionX]

Originally Posted by GeneralDon7

Yes thats the parking brake light, Does anyone know what would cause the ABS to come on sometimes, its really random, is this cause of that corroded connecor, and also does anyone know why the power steering light would come on, could it be low power steering fluid, cause it only comes on after i start steering. These lights have only started coming on after I just got my front two tires changed. Which I find quite fishy to begin with.

was it this one?

Originally Posted by CTScott

It is the one that looks like this:

[kozm]

Same thing happened to me two days ago - both (!) and (ABS) lights were on. My wife went to the dealership, and they will replace the bloody thing once it has arrived. Her English is a tad weak, so she did not exactly remembered what the bloody thing was - but it looks like the same one from this thread...

Sedan/2007/37 K

[IllusionX]

BTW guys... my sedan has been undercoated by Toyota. my connections probably have been isolated from water and road salt. I also do yearly oil rust-proof, and they spray oil all over under the car.

onizuka, how about yours ?

[onizuka]

still pending for parts arrival

[Jem_hadar]

Originally Posted by onizuka

Last year I got the speed sensor problem fixed. Waited for parts for 2 weeks, and driven my car without ABS in snow for 2 weeks. And now a year later, the problem happens again after an afternoon of snowy driving.

I recall my dealer telling me how the speed sensor can easily be malfunction due to salt splash. Dammit, I hope it's on the other side, because I can't believe how the same parts fail twice in 2 years. I have to bring my car in on Monday.

My car is heading its 4th year, and I hope my warranty continues to cover this.

THANK GOD IM NOT THE ONLY ONE!!! (Sorry to hear abt u having the same issue too though, man)

Last Sunday this bloody issue happened AGAIN with my 2007 Yaris 5DR Manual Hatchback.

This is the SECOND time it has happened to me (YES, I'm annoyed! Sorry)

Happened earlier this year, last winter back in Feb 08.

Now, this winter, Dec 08, it had happened again (right after we got another massive dumping of snow)!

Luckily getting the replacement part in was no problem for my dealership. Took my car in (bc of the ABS and (!) warning lights showing), and after the apt they told me the issue (something abt the hub assembly ???? i dunno, was over my head...) and that i would have to come back the next day for the fix - getting the part the next day wasnt an issue up here.

I'm covered under warranty, but that expires this coming May 09. So since this has now happened TWICE in less than a year, I'm kinda concerned (and annoyed).

I asked out of curiosity what it would likely cost me to fix, just a general ballpark i said..... and was told around the $400! JESUS f*cking jehovah!


Anyways, so sum this up, I have a few questions to clear up.

If this goes on me again when I'm out of warranty, I dont wanna be shelling out money for something that is NON-ESSENTIAL to my car's operations (while im still making monthly pymts)

ie. If i dont need to fix it (if it wont cause further issues or complications for my car), i dont wanna fix it.

Can I just say "screw it" and save the $400+ and live w/o ABS and be fine? There'll be no detriment to my car, right? There's no danger of creating further problems for my Yaris in the future if i dont address this ABS failure?

As well, if the answer above is YES, and i chose to live w/o ABS (not huge big deal for me), is there a way they can flash (or whatever the term is) the car's computer so i dont have to live w/ the ABS and (!) lights being perpetually on!??

I would hate to have to deal with and see those lights on constantly if this was an issue i was gonna just ignore. Can turning them off (as it relates to this ABS failure issue) be done?

(obvi i would still want my (!) to be on when i have the parking brake up... i drive a manual. i am fond of that indicator. lol)


Thanks for the input ppl.

Glad to see im not the only Yaris owner w/ this bloody issue. UGH. Feel annoyed for us all though. this feels like an "annoying VW" issue as far as im concerned... :S


Jem

[Jem_hadar]

Originally Posted by Adriaan

Make sure they change the harness with the sensor, and if you can see if you can watch. It was badly corroded. when he placed the new one he put contact cleaner on it and once installed put white grease on it also i believe. Since then no problem but it winter like every two to three weeks i try to wash under the car and wheel area.

Interesting input. Thanks for your thoughts and advice here man.

I'll keep this in mind, but i dont think ill be able to make enough fuss myself to get them to let me watch, unfortunately. wish i could.

Originally Posted by Dave

This is kinda concerning to read. Three people have had this same problem? Is there anything that can be done to prevent this problem from happening? Would that rust-proof undercoating help?

VERY concerning to read. Reminds of old VW bullshit w/ their electrical systems that frustrated the fuck out of their owners!

Originally Posted by onizuka

actually, this happens to me for the second time now
seems to come back when winter starts to pound snow and when temperature is dropping
definitely a defect from Toyota. Only had my car for 3 years with 71k

Twice over here now. First Feb 08. Now again in Dec 08. Just for reference points, I dive an 2007 Yaris Hatchback. Bought it back in May 06.

Originally Posted by jesse1000

it sucks, but as long as I know that the ABS doesn't work when the light is on, I'm okay, becasue I don't expect it to kick in....my car is long past warranty, so there's no way I'm paying money to fix it....I like driving without ABS in the winter anyway

Once my car goes out of warranty this coming May 09, if this ABS issue crap happens again next winter, ill just leave it too. Im not shelling out $400-500 to get the f'n ABS working again on my vehicle, not while im still making monthly payments anyways. I dont feel the need to have working ABS that badly. Once my car is paid off and im not shelling out money each month for it, ya, ill prolly pay then to fix it.

Originally Posted by onizuka

this should be something of safety concern and perhaps a recall should be made
when most of us upgrade to ABS package, we expect it to last and come to use
jesse, I can see that your car is 2007, how can you past your warranty this quick?

Agreed. Lets get a bloody recall on this issue so they can fix it (free of charge) and get it permanently dealt with properly.

Originally Posted by onizuka

just took my car to my dealer, last winter (jan 2008), I had my left rear sensor replaced. Now this winter, my right side are done. As usual, parts are backorders, have to wait for 1-2 weeks just like last time. Luckily my ECP extended warranty is paying for it.

To whomever doing their sensor, push them to do it both side. IF it's the same hardness and they are installed at the same time, it's the matter of time that both get corroded around the same time.

I didnt ask and they didnt tell me specifically which sensor went.

And all i know from last time, per my notes which i reviewed, was that "Need an ABS speed sensor for back breaks."

So it had to do w/ my back sensors, but dont know if it was both L and R or just one or the other.

Huh.



Anyways, GREAT THREAD, so glad to have found it!

Jem

[onizuka]

Thank you for your input.

I wonder if we could start a survey/petition for a recall. If enough people getting the same problem, they should not hide this and make it an official recall.

JEM: your service invoice should indicate which side of sensor they replaced. Have a close look on that.

Originally Posted by Jem_hadar

Interesting input. Thanks for your thoughts and advice here man.

I'll keep this in mind, but i dont think ill be able to make enough fuss myself to get them to let me watch, unfortunately. wish i could.




VERY concerning to read. Reminds of old VW bullshit w/ their electrical systems that frustrated the fuck out of their owners!




Twice over here now. First Feb 08. Now again in Dec 08. Just for reference points, I dive an 2007 Yaris Hatchback. Bought it back in May 06.




Once my car goes out of warranty this coming May 09, if this ABS issue crap happens again next winter, ill just leave it too. Im not shelling out $400-500 to get the f'n ABS working again on my vehicle, not while im still making monthly payments anyways. I dont feel the need to have working ABS that badly. Once my car is paid off and im not shelling out money each month for it, ya, ill prolly pay then to fix it.




Agreed. Lets get a bloody recall on this issue so they can fix it (free of charge) and get it permanently dealt with properly.




I didnt ask and they didnt tell me specifically which sensor went.

And all i know from last time, per my notes which i reviewed, was that "Need an ABS speed sensor for back breaks."

So it had to do w/ my back sensors, but dont know if it was both L and R or just one or the other.

Huh.



Anyways, GREAT THREAD, so glad to have found it!

Jem

[Jem_hadar]

Originally Posted by onizuka

Thank you for your input.
JEM: your service invoice should indicate which side of sensor they replaced. Have a close look on that.

Ill hafta look to see if i can find the invoice still (that could be a challenge, lol).

should have it around somewhere. i keep them of course. just have no idea where it ended up almost a year ago.

[jgag123]

Originally Posted by onizuka

Thank you for your input.

I wonder if we could start a survey/petition for a recall. If enough people getting the same problem, they should not hide this and make it an official recall.

JEM: your service invoice should indicate which side of sensor they replaced. Have a close look on that.

I agree, it should be big time recall, or we have to replace does stupid sensors every winter.

[WeeYari]

Originally Posted by voodoo22

Is anyone with a sedan having this problem?

I haven't had this problem on our sedan yet, and so far, it looks like everyone having issues owns hatches.

Post #24 is a sedan.

[IllusionX]

i would like to know if, of all those who had the problem, had the car rust proofed, or had undercoat done.

[Dave]

Originally Posted by IllusionX

i would like to know if, of all those who had the problem, had the car rust proofed, or had undercoat done.

Agreed. I was going to have mine coated anyway, since I've had issues in the past with stuff rusting/seizing in other (*cough*GM*cough*) cars. This problem seems to give me a whole new level of motivation... If there's any preventative action that can be taken to stop this failure, everyone should be aware of it.


Edit.
Though that doesn't remove Toyota's responsibility to fix what sounds like a design/manufacturing flaw.

[Jem_hadar]

Originally Posted by IllusionX

i would like to know if, of all those who had the problem, had the car rust proofed, or had undercoat done.

I didnt specificially ask to have my car rust proofed or have an undercoat applied.

So, if such things are not done standardly when you purchase a car from Toyota, then I'd guess mine never had either done.

[Jem_hadar]

(EDITED post after checking car over lunch)

I just noticed today as I was getting out of my car at work, that I didnt recall seeing either the red (!) or the yellow ABS warning lights still being on...

Checked at lunch - yup, both are no longer on! (WTF?) And was able to activate my ABS too with some quick braking in water puddles.

So what does that mean now? Everything was magically fixed? All of sudden my ABS is working and the indicator lights are gone...

Does this mean there's still an issue, even though my ABS is now working again (at least temporarily?)


Well, brought my car into the dealership anyways for my apt. Didnt tell them that the warning lights had gone off -- im sure they'd just tell me to not worry abt it then and take my car back to them if and when they came back on again. I'm just going to let them put in the new part(s) they ordered.

(As an aside, and I have NO IDEA if its relevant at all, or of any importance, but I'll mention it anyways. Today, the day I noticed that my ABS light is no longer showing, also happens to be quite warm... its like +9 oC out (instead of -10 oC like the way its been)... snow is melting all over the place and roads are very wet, all kinds of puddles all over the place. Could water splashing all up into the ABS area have somehow caused my problem to (temporarily?) go away?? So confused by it all…)

Jem

[Pars]

yep. cold weather seems to effect it. Rest assure, it'll come back. Let the dealership know, they should still be able to call up the error code. If you're still under warranty, I wouldn't wait.

[Jem_hadar]

Interesting, so you think it's more likely the warm weather instead of any water that prolly caused this problem to temporarily go away?

And ya, car is in the shop right now for this to deal w/ this issue. I'm still under warranty, so im def getting it fixed.

Thanks for input.

[Jem_hadar]

OK. Just back from picking up my yaris. Spoke to the service guy briefly abt the matter.

He told me it was the right rear ABS sensor that went this time (Dec 08). It was the left rear ABS sensor that went last time (Feb 08).

I asked him if he knew why, if the mechanics had said? He didn't know why. Told me they just read the error/problem code and the computer said that to correct the issue they needed to replace the right rear sensor, so thats what they did.

I also asked him if this happens again when im out of warranty, and i just decide to live w/o ABS breaks, can they shutoff the indicator lights that are telling me that the ABS sensors are malfunctioning? (ie. turn off the perpetual (!) and ABS lights as they relate to warning me abt this problem.)

He said they couldnt turn them off, that I would have to fix the issue to have them go away. Can anyone on here comment to the truth of this? Is this really the case? Would I just have to live w/ seeing the ABS and (!) always on?


Oh, almost forgot. Also told him abt how the warning lights disappeared today and that i had my ABS functioning once again…

He told me many things often affect these sensors, temperature being one. So it was likely just this warming up today that caused the sensor to temporarily start functioning again.

Well, thats it. There's my update on the matter.

Jem