Trailer abs light on/off troubleshooting

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by Wespipes, May 31, 2020.

  1. Wespipes

    Wespipes Road Train Member

    1,037
    1,813
    Jul 14, 2019
    0
    im about to burn my trailer to the ground as if I'm protesting Gorge Floyd!!! The dang trailer abs light randomly comes on in my dash. It'll stay on sometime 1 hr. Other times all day. This has been going on for months now. I've tried taking it to a shop 3 times. Everytime it turns off while I'm waiting to get called into a bay or literally as I'm driving into the bay. Mechanic tells me it has to be on to check it. Anyone have ANY suggestions or tips. Idk I'm pulling my blad head hair out on this one. Electric cord from truck to trailer is new. Its a 2014 fontaine 48' flatbed if that helps
     
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. Jenn72

    Jenn72 Medium Load Member

    604
    1,452
    Jun 7, 2019
    0
    I had a problem like that, but mine would also come on and stay on if I hit a bump or it rained. No one could figure it out. I even bought a wire brush to clean my glad hands on the trailer side. That would work occasionally.

    Finally a light went off and I checked the tractor side connectors. They were corroded. I change those out and never had that problem again.
     
    Wespipes Thanks this.
  4. Snailexpress

    Snailexpress Road Train Member

    2,653
    6,034
    Apr 28, 2014
    Rocky
    0
    Do you have ABS light on the trailer on same time or only dash light?
     
  5. Jenn72

    Jenn72 Medium Load Member

    604
    1,452
    Jun 7, 2019
    0
    Sometimes it was both. Mostly it was on my dash, not trailer.
     
    Wespipes Thanks this.
  6. Ol'Shusquatch

    Ol'Shusquatch Light Load Member

    234
    1,920
    Jul 8, 2019
    BC Interior
    0
    Have driven one's that seem to hate rain and snow. Will stay on for an unknown amount of time and go out. Then reappear when conditions are right. Solution..ignore it until it goes away;)
    Or get some more information
    https://www.thetruckersreport.com/t.../yellow-abs-light-of-trailer-stays-on.200462/

    Dude says in the first 30 seconds, how actual function is affected. Good luck!
     
  7. Vitkouski

    Vitkouski Light Load Member

    177
    253
    Mar 6, 2016
    0
    I have the same issue and the problem was in bad ground contact in trailer outlet. TA told me that we need a new ABS ECM...
     
  8. jason6541

    jason6541 Road Train Member

    2,425
    5,356
    Mar 5, 2012
    Omaha, NE
    0
    You can get a ABS diagnostic reader and or see if you can get the blink codes, depends on abs system. Have you looked at the tone rings and the Hall effect sensors?. Check the air gap and or bad sensors. Sometimes the sensors are bad or bad connections at the ECU mounted under the relay valve by air tank. Sometimes tone rings on hubs are corroded and or covered in grease. Finally have you checked wheel bearing end play?. If bearings loose it will let air gap deviate from proper setting will sometimes turn on the light.
     
    Wespipes Thanks this.
  9. Ol'Shusquatch

    Ol'Shusquatch Light Load Member

    234
    1,920
    Jul 8, 2019
    BC Interior
    0
    Nice to hear a man who has learnt some lessons. Pretty much have 75 or 80% of what you said in that Bendix video. The info is all out there.
     
  10. Snailexpress

    Snailexpress Road Train Member

    2,653
    6,034
    Apr 28, 2014
    Rocky
    0
    Most likely you have bad power/ground to the trailer. Trailer ABS module communicate with truck thru power wire. Bad intermittent power wire connection will switch trailer ABS module to use stop light as a power and trailer ABS light will be on every time you apply brakes.
    If you have trailer ABS light on try to read code what is wrong. Turn key on for time less then 5 seconds, then turn off and on again. Trailer ABS lamp will start blinking. Count the blinks and look for the code
    https://www.wabco-auto.com/WabcoWeb...2-ABS-and-ESC-Maintenance-Manual.pdf?ext=.pdf
     
    RubyEagle and Jenn72 Thank this.
  11. jason6541

    jason6541 Road Train Member

    2,425
    5,356
    Mar 5, 2012
    Omaha, NE
    0
    Well yeah my experience comes from working in shops and on trucks and trailers for years before you tube.
     
    DeanOfMac Thanks this.
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.