2001 malibu brake warning lights on

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[SofaKingWeToddDid]

All warning lights are coming on and it 'stops like shit in the rain'
So I'm just wondering where and what to look at, I'm bad with brakes.

[92 GP]

all warning lights? Like the red BRAKE light and amber ABS light?

[SofaKingWeToddDid]

Indeed.

[92 GP]

that's why it'll stop like asshole, if the ABS light is on, the entire system is inactive (same as your airbag light/system)

If you don't have a way to check the codes (can NOT check with a common cheap CAN-OBD scanner), check play in your wheel bearings, or do an ohm test on them, a lot of cars are different, but if you unplug all wheel ABS sensor connectors and OHM test the bearing, compare all 4, if one is significantly lower (or 0) then it's probably at fault. Most common issue i've seen in GM cars...if that doesn't work you'll just need to get the codes checked for EBCM problems

[SofaKingWeToddDid]

ok sounds good. ill be checking on the brakes to see how the pads are and while im at it i can just check the resistance on thes ab sensors.

[92 GP]

Ya let us know how it is, the ABS light being on will also by default trigger the Brake light, just as an FYI ;-)

[SofaKingWeToddDid]

I kinda figered so, a bad abs sensor can disable the whole system can't it?

[92 GP]

yep, if any sensor fails it will trigger the ABS light, and like mentioned above, if the ABS light is on the entire system is turned off ;-)

[SofaKingWeToddDid]

What a donkey punch

[Chris]

If the ABS system failed, wouldn't the car stop better? Every instance I've seen the car will lock up the brakes and stop quicker with the ABS disabled. If the red brake light is on, that means the reservoir is low on fluid (there's a sensor in the reservoir or on the master cyl that triggers the red light most generally).

I'd check the brake fluid first, make sure it's filled and equal and see if any calipers are sticking first. I'va had a stuck caliper overheat and the rubber seals melt off. Then the fluid leaked and bled the reservoir dry! Get it up on a lift and see if all the tires spin freely, then start worrying about speed sensors. No sense in driving yourself crazy with electrical gremlins when it might be something simple like a blown line or bad caliper.

[92 GP]

Chris - none of those other symptoms you listed would case the ABS AND Brake light, if the ABS light is on, it will automatically trigger the brake light, unless the ABS is just flashing from it engaging as it does in some of the older cars, but the brake light on will NOT trigger the ABS light. Low fluid COULD cause brake light, but again, not the ABS light, and if the system works better with the ABS being disabled all depends on your driving! I prefer to NOT have ABS, but that's just the control freak part in me! lol!

[SofaKingWeToddDid]

either way, i was going to pull off the wheels and actually LOOK at the brakes, so doing one more step and getting the volt meter to test the sensors isnt gonna kill me.
neither is checking the fluid level though.

[92 GP]

Be sure and check your ball joints while you're down there. I just lost another one today, sonovabitch.

[SofaKingWeToddDid]

I've got my mind on balls and joints 90% of the time! Haha

[RobertISaar]

I've got my mind on balls and joints 90% of the time! Haha

0.o

and yes, if you can control the car with the tires scrubbing against the road, you CAN stop faster than you would with ABS. unfortunately, most fucktards on the road can't keep it in their lane when not in emergencies, so ABS pretty much became standard...

lowest common denominator, EVERY TIME.