The ABS discussion thread

[Sutripta]

A bit perplexed at the tone of some of the posts! Like I'm an unwelcome gatecrasher at an exclusive party. Am I?

Normally I just ignore such posts. But this time I thought I'd ask.

Peace
Sutripta

[Ranjimso]

Can anyone here tell me how to test the ABS in a car? I checked on couple of sites but most of them recommend to go at a particular speed and abruptly apply brakes and what not..is there a more simple way to check it..?

[sagarpadaki]

Originally Posted by Ranjimso

Can anyone here tell me how to test the ABS in a car? I checked on couple of sites but most of them recommend to go at a particular speed and abruptly apply brakes and what not..is there a more simple way to check it..?

Go to some road with loose gravels or a mud play ground.speed upto 30 kmph and slam the brakes.You can easily feel the ABS kicking in through the pulses in the brake pedal.And ya do this bare foot without any slippers or shoes to get the maximum feel.

[Ranjimso]

Originally Posted by sagarpadaki

Go to some road with loose gravels or a mud play ground.speed upto 30 kmph and slam the brakes.You can easily feel the ABS kicking in through the pulses in the brake pedal.And ya do this bare foot without any slippers or shoes to get the maximum feel.

Thanks Sagar...Let me check this..

[kapilvgupta]

Originally Posted by Ranjimso

Thanks Sagar...Let me check this..

If you want to check if your car has ABS or not a simpler way would be to look under the bonnet or check the dash for the ABS symbol. If the ABS system is working properly the ABS symbol comes on momentarily when the ignition is switched on, if the ABS symbol stays ON then the ABS system is not working properly.

If you want to feel the ABS system working, please ensure that you have the ABS system installed and working properly before you do a test. I am saying this only coz I know of people who have done the opposite.
For an ABS test the easiest way is to test the car on a wet road with wet tires (and preferably unladen condition). On an empty patch of road, take the car to a speed over 40kmph and then simply press the brakes in a swift motion (brake like there is no tomorrow). Do not leave the brakes and the pulsating feel that you get on your foot is the ABS system working to prevent wheel lock.

again - please make sure that you have a properly working ABS system before you conduct any test

peace,
~kg

[Thad E Ginathom]

Also, please make sure you have plenty of room, just in case your car does decide to go for a spin, or even just not stop in a dead straight line.

[ab500]

Guys,

Dont know if this is the appropriate thread. I have a Nov 2010 i20 Asta with ABS, which i got on the 9th of Dec. Since the past 2 days the ABS light in the Dashboard is glowing. Cars done about 600 kms so far. Is it a immediate cause of concern? I have to send the car for its 1st service at 1000kms. Car is only driven in Bombay City. Should I wait till the 1000km service or send it asap? Please Advise.

Thanks

[ghodlur]

Originally Posted by ab500

Since the past 2 days the ABS light in the Dashboard is glowing. Cars done about 600 kms so far. Is it a immediate cause of concern?

@ab500,

Absolutely its a matter of concern if the ABS indication on the console stays illuminated even after the engine start. Normall the ABS indicator turns on during the engine ignition position and when you crank the engine the indication stays for a few secs and goes off. If it does not go off even after starting then your ABS system and in turn safety is compromised. Pls get it checked ASAP.

[Thad E Ginathom]

Any fault indication to do with brakes should be regarded as indicating a risk in driving the car at all. ab500, please go straight to the service centre!

[arun4242]

Originally Posted by ab500

Guys,

Since the past 2 days the ABS light in the Dashboard is glowing.
Thanks

The ABS is a system designed to release and reapply brake pressure.
The indication displays a fault in the system which may be a minor electrical fault also.
However the worst case scenario can result in ABS getting stuck in releasing brake pressure while the drivers pedal is pressed. This would almost inevitably result in a driving incident/ accident

I would strongly recommend not driving the car and asking the service centre to come and pick it up.

Regards

[kapilvgupta]

Originally Posted by ab500

Guys,

Dont know if this is the appropriate thread. I have a Nov 2010 i20 Asta with ABS, which i got on the 9th of Dec. Since the past 2 days the ABS light in the Dashboard is glowing. Cars done about 600 kms so far. Is it a immediate cause of concern? I have to send the car for its 1st service at 1000kms. Car is only driven in Bombay City. Should I wait till the 1000km service or send it asap? Please Advise.

Thanks

The ABS light glowing even (remaining ON) even after ignition is a cause of concern. It means that the ABS system is not working properly.

One thing you can do yourself is to check if the fuse for the ABS system is the fuse...if blown you can replace it and th ABS system would be fine. (the fuse box should have some indication to show which fuse is for the ABS system.. generally a 10A or more fuse).
Even if the ABS system is not working the brakes will work (though without any proportioning) and may lock. Please do not to drive the car too fast or in unladen condition. A faulty brake system should be corrected asap and I would advise you to get it checked from an authorized service centre as soon as you can.

peace,
~kg

[kulvinder singh]

When I was about 12 years old and my father decided to teach me to drive ( in Kenya in the early 70's) My father being a keen -hobbyist- rally driver, one of the main things he taught me was to control the pressure on the brakes-- i.e to avoid locking the brakes, and to control the car in the most difficult of situations. Basically this meant learning to release the pedal pressure- when the wheels are about to lock and then immediately re-apply braking.

This is one of the amazing things about the human mind- once you learn something it becomes automatic in the sub-concious. A few time's I've been in an emergency situation and "automatically" controlled the car.

( next thing my father taught me was to apply "Opposite Lock Steering" when the back end of the car breaks and starts to skid-- this I've only had to do once, in an emergency situation, but I often do for a bit of fun- mostly on rally trails and racetracks.)

Reality about ABS systems is that- "real Driving enthusiasts" dislike them and prefer to do without them.. But they are very useful for those who basically don't want to have to bother with learning how to control a car in an emergency situation and leave it to the car to do this for them. ( not wishing to criticize any one-- most people prefer this and this is why, certainly in the west, more and more cars are being sold with ABS as standard)

So if you don't have ABS-- just take your car to an empty- Road/field etc..
over a weekend-- practice : taking the car to a decent speed, Slamming the brakes on, letting the pedal up a bit, slam the pedal again, controll the steering, control the braking---- ( if you get into a rear end slide- opposite lock the steering etc...)- Guarantee- once you have mastered it, you will be asking yourself ' what all the fuss about ABS is'

[ab500]

Originally Posted by ab500

Guys,

Dont know if this is the appropriate thread. I have a Nov 2010 i20 Asta with ABS, which i got on the 9th of Dec. Since the past 2 days the ABS light in the Dashboard is glowing. Cars done about 600 kms so far. Is it a immediate cause of concern? I have to send the car for its 1st service at 1000kms. Car is only driven in Bombay City. Should I wait till the 1000km service or send it asap? Please Advise.

Thanks

Thank You All for your comments and suggestions. Went to Asset Hyundai Workshop in Mumbai this morning, thats where the car was bought from. Really happy with the customer service there, they promptly took the car, within 5 minutes they had the answer, apparently a rat had chewed on the abs wire and sort of removed it from its socket. Took them 10 minutes to rectify it, did a quick test drive and I was in and out of the workshop in less then 40 minutes. Great Service.

[GTO]

Originally Posted by ab500

I have a Nov 2010 i20 Asta with ABS, which i got on the 9th of Dec. Since the past 2 days the ABS light in the Dashboard is glowing.

I'm glad that you got this problem solved so promptly. However, in case it helps others, here goes : Manufacturers (obviously) take your braking system very seriously. Even if the ABS module is faulty for whatsoever reason, your brakes will work just like that of any normal non-ABS car.

Of course, that doesn't mean you procrastinate on the workshop visit. Get it checked & repaired at the first available opportunity.

[Sutripta]

Originally Posted by GTO

...
Even if the ABS module is faulty for whatsoever reason, your brakes will work just like that of any normal non-ABS car.

Hi,
Think a blanket statement like this needs some discussion/ explanation.

Regards
Sutripta