The ABS light has been coming on once in a while.
This happened ~ 2 years ago as well as when I stepped on the breaks at
low speed (or going over bumps at low speed), the ABS would engage.

I went to the dealer they tweaked a sensor and it was ok. A week later
the same thing happened and I went back to the dealer, and they
tweaked a wheel sensor again.

It happened again, and when I went back to the dealer, they told me I
needed an ABS computer, which costs spprox $700.

I've been driving the Jeep since then and the breaks still work.

How often do ABS computers go out on 98's as compaired to a wheel
sensor going bad?

If I do need an ABS computer, is there any place I can buy it wihtout
paying full factory price?

Will a dealer even consider installing it if I bring one in from an
outside vendor?

Thanks

Cappy2112 wrote:
Or the dealer doesn't know what the real problem is.


------archive copy-------
Before you go fixing bits...
If your ABS computer is up by the front like mine
http://revbeergoggles.com/Fixes/computer-abs.jpg
Then the connector is probably full of dirt and road salt/debris.

This will cause all sorts of problems. Including a code 30 among others.

Best to do this with the battery disconnected, but I've done my simply
by pulling the ABS fuses and relay.

Take the connector off.
Take the air filter cover off and the filter out.
(your going to use this as a sink)
Put a plastic bag in the "sink" and some news paper.

Take the ziptie off and open the shell. Knock out all the
crud that is in there.

Then with some contact cleaner, (wear gloves it's bad
on the skin and even worse on the paint) spray the
connector clean. Toothpick, cotton swaps, toothbrush.

Then take a small emory file to the contacts on the computer.
clean also with solvent, toothpicks, swabs, etc and let dry.

Apply a liberal amount of dilectric grease to the connector
(back and front, it keeps the moisture out) then reassemble
the whole thing.

I put a plastic shield over my abs computer to keep future
debris from getting in there. Seems where Jeep put the
thing is also where the hood drains and where road junk
comes in past the air box intake.
-------------------------

--
DougW
(cox.net is broken again so I got a shiny eternal-september.org account)

On Sat, 22 Aug 2009 20:44:07 -0500, "DougW"
<I.only.read.usenet (AT) invalid (DOT) address> wrote:

brakes, not breaks... (petty gripe!) But the real comment is did this
'dealer' scan for codes on the ABS system? If so, what codes did they
get? I'm getting the feeling, reading your post, that the dealer you
are going to is not quite as good as one would hope.

Yes, they will work, without the ABS. In some states you will fail the
safety inspection if the ABS light is on. (stupid rule, since so many
cars do not have ABS anyway...)

Who knows? <g> But, not only do the sensors go bad (and often, too) so
do the harnesses, and connectors. Again, without codes you are
shooting in the dark. But if this dealer works on the premis that
since the customer is paying why not, he'll always come out ahead. I'd
go to someone who has an ABS scan tool, and get the code first. Then
fix the problem.

Probably many places. Try eBay if nothing else.

From what you describe on this dealer, probably not. I don't trust
'em, based on your comments. Likely they'll 'replace it' and the
problem will still be there, and they'll say "Not our problem..."

Do what Doug says below... Good advice.

I dont know where the ABS computer is. I dont have a service manual,
and I dont think I want to buy one at this point.
We have been thinking about getting a new vehicle- and I'll keep the
Jeep for now.
There was a website that had detailed instructions on how to remove
door panels to replace speakers, I dont know if they have info on the
ABS computer location.

Easy enough to do, once I find the computer. AT least I will know the
intermittent light wont be due to a bad connection.
I haven't been off raod with my Jeep much but there could still be old
dirt there from the last time.

Thanks

I didn't ask for the codes, since I wouldn't know what to do with
them, and this all happened about 2+ years ago.
(although the light just started coming on again recently.

Where do I find someone with an ABS scan tool?
There can't be many of those around that aren't at the dealers.

Is there a Jeep repair referral service somewhere that you guys use?

I'll try Doug's advice also.

Thanks!

You wrote: "We have been thinking about getting a new vehicle". You
have a couple more hours to trade it as a $4500 clunker, and let the tax
payer eat it.
DRB III DRBIII 3 SCANNER tool:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/DRB-III-DRBIII-3-SCANNER-IN-VERY-GOOD-SHAPE-WITH-64-0_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhash Zitem3a52268fd5QQitemZ250486362069QQptZMotorsQ5fAu tomotiveQ5fTools
A suggestion:
http://www.naxja.org/html/techarticles/uninstall_OEM_ABS.htm
God Bless America, Bill O|||||||O
mailto:BillHughes (AT) billhughes (DOT) com
http://www.billhughes.com/jeep_bookmark.htm

"cappy2112" <cappy2112 (AT) gmail (DOT) com> wrote

I dont know where the ABS computer is. I dont have a service manual,
and I dont think I want to buy one at this point.
We have been thinking about getting a new vehicle- and I'll keep the
Jeep for now.
There was a website that had detailed instructions on how to remove
door panels to replace speakers, I dont know if they have info on the
ABS computer location.

Easy enough to do, once I find the computer. AT least I will know the
intermittent light wont be due to a bad connection.
I haven't been off raod with my Jeep much but there could still be old
dirt there from the last time.

Thanks

cappy2112 wrote:

Yours is actually part of the ABS pump. Follow the brake line from
the master cylender till you run into a block with a harness attached
to it. That is the computer. There is a tab at the end that has
to be pulled out in order to lift the connector. It's not the same
as my mine that uses a lever)

To get at it you have to remove the air cleaner housing and move
the windshield washer bottle. Might also have to move the
steering gear shield. It's burried in there.

--
DougW