Utility trailer ABS light on

It was my pleasure AgLaw. I fairly agree with your Bendix comment. I was apprehensive of even stating their results. I'm rather paticular on throwing statistics around, unless the populous is significant enough to create a reasonable result for data integrity. But from what I've experienced, there's no reason to buy a more expensive product when I'm satisfied with the less expensive one. I highly doubt that Bendix will supercede Meritor in my industry. But as anyone else in business knows, politics closes doors and money opens them.

 

You need constant power from the AUX (blue) circuit. This is the primary power for trailer ABS. You either are not getting power from your truck on the AUX, or there is an open circuit on the AUX in the trailer.

Troubleshooting ABS is an easy 3 step process. Activate the Brake circuit(make sure ABS warning lamp turns on 1-2 seconds), activate the AUX circuit (warning lamp turns on 1-2 seconds), and run diagnostics with the LITE-CHECK INSPECTOR 910B Diagnostic Trailer Tester to diagnose any active or stored fault codes.

 

I've been out of trucking for a long time (last drove in the late 80's). The company I am working for now is replacing it's mobile clinic with a brand new 53' mobile clinic trailer. They plan to buy a new tractor, but it is likely the tractor won't be available until a long time after the trailer is ready for pick up. We have an old (90's) Mack that we think we'd like to pick up the trailer, but the antilock braking is all new since I drove. Can I pull a new trailer with an older tractor that is not set up with anti-lock brakes?

 

Yes. The abs will not get ignition power, but should still get power through the brake circuit when the brakes are applied. The ABS light should still come on and off when you make a brake application only, so if an inspector wants to see that the trailer abs is working that is all you should have to do. Without the ignition power the abs won't be booted up, but the brake system should work like a normal system without abs.

 

it is hard to say what to check becouse we do not know what the abs unit is installed.

I saw Wabco Vario ABS, VCS, VCS-II, Knorr/Bendix ATC, Haldex Compact abs on Utility trailers.... so first of all identify system. If you cant - post a shot here, I know well how every system looks.

If your trailer ABS got CAN press brake pedal and check for fault codes with dashboard. TABS/TEBS SAE J1587 ID is MID 137, so post all MID 137 codes here.

Some trailers have ABS bull eye. It blinks when ABS system is faulty.

for trailers 4s/4m, 4s/2m and 2s/2m are alloved. 2s/1m is approuved for dolly axes only. and I see that all utility trailers got 2s/2m systems. so there are two wheel speed sensors easy to check

 

+1 on the Litecheck 910B!! I have one and use it almost daily. It is much more than an ABS code reader. With my 910B, I am the ABS king in my area.

 

Best money i ever spent.

 

I have genue tools for all WABCO, Knorr-Bremse/Bendix and Haldex systems)))) so I'm a local king too) LOL

 

I Have a 2003 Utility Reefer 3000R Trailer. ABS light stays on. when hooked to any truck, all have Constant Center pin power. Where is the ECU at? gonna go find it, if anyone can pitch in before i find it it will be ok.

 

The ECU is near the axles mounted on the service relay valve. If you can follow the wheel sensor wires, they plug into the ECU. See if you can identify the system, Bendix, Wabco are the most common, possibly Haldex. Once you identify the system, we can help.