Our Land Rovers are equipped with a host of safety features. Some are more recent, like the 3D surround camera, while others are well-known and established, like ABS.
Occasionally, problems occur, and the technology that is there to help protect us falters. ABS, or Anti-Lock Braking System, to give it its full name, is one such piece of kit that sometimes sees this happen. We know something is wrong when the ABS warning lamp lights up. It tells us that the ABS isn’t going to work, or, if it does, it won’t perform as well as it should.
There can be a variety of reasons for the ABS warning light to illuminate in your Land Rover, from issues with brake fluid to problems with sensors; it can sometimes be tricky to locate the cause. In this blog, though, we will dive deep so you can find out what may cause your ABS warning lamp to turn on and see whether your vehicle is still safe to drive.
What is ABS?
ABS, or Anti-Lock Braking System, is a piece of safety tech incorporated into your Land Rover that assists when braking. As the brake pedal is applied, the ABS assesses the wheel movement and detects whether they might slip. If the system senses this, it will make the brakes work at intervals to prevent a wheel lock-up and, therefore, a skid that could lead to an accident.
What should be noted is that this is not a system to stop the vehicle any more quickly; it simply gives better control of braking in emergencies, so you can reduce the chances of a crash.
What will cause my ABS brake warning light to come on?
The reason the ABS warning light comes on will vary. It typically indicates that something is wrong with the ABS, but it can also mean that another component of your Land Rover is malfunctioning or performing erratically. One of the biggest problems is that your brakes will still feel normal when you apply them. This often means you ignore the problem or treat it as less serious than other problems that give you a “feel.”
We’ve highlighted some of the most common ABS problems that cause the warning lamp to light up.
Lack of brake fluid
With ABS being a brake-related system, the best place to check first is the brakes. The warning light will come on if your brake fluid levels are too low, so investigate this as your first port of call. If levels are low, top them up! If levels are fine, you might need to investigate other causes.
You’ll have a good idea that low brake fluid levels might be the cause if you find that stopping is taking longer than normal, the brakes are not as responsive as they should be, or you hear scraping and grinding sounds when you apply them.
Faulty wheel sensors
Among the vast array of tech in your Land Rover are wheel speed sensors. These check how fast each wheel is turning and send information to the ABS. Should the sensor develop a fault and either detect a wheel moving at an unusual speed or not be able to relay any information, the ABS light will turn on. This is because the ABS may think the car requires braking assistance and will apply brake pressure to make the wheel move at normal speed. This could all occur despite the vehicle actually driving fine.
You’ll need the expert assistance of a Land Rover service centre for this one.
Look out for your Land Rover taking longer to stop and a loss of control or traction when braking as indicators that this may be the fault.
Blown ABS fuse
A common fault that doesn’t necessarily give away any clues other than the ABS warning light. If the ABS light is on, and you’ve had the previous two problems checked over, it could be the fuse. One thing that could help you determine the problem is whether the engine warning light is on too.
Should both the ABS light and the engine light be lit, check the fuse before looking elsewhere.
You might also need professional help here, and we would advise that if you see both lights on, you make the fuse your first investigation.
Faulty ABS
It sounds obvious, but it can often be overlooked! The ABS itself might not be working as it should. If your ABS module is faulty, it cannot receive the information it needs to function correctly. This will cause the warning light to come on. In addition, the traction control and ABS are closely linked, sharing components to ensure the wheels work as they should. This means that sometimes the ABS light turns on when the traction control is not working.
You’ll have a good idea that the ABS isn’t working properly if:
- Your hear a clicking sound when pressing the brakes
- The brakes lock up when you drive
- The brake pedal becomes less responsive
Faulty hydraulics
Your ABS will control the wheel speed via hydraulics. With the speed sensors we mentioned earlier detecting individual wheel speed, they alert the ABS to activate a hydraulic brake pump to increase brake fluid pressure. Should this pump or its valves be damaged, the ABS will not be able to respond correctly. As a result, the ABS warning light will turn on.
This is another fault that requires the expertise of specialists, so you should take your Land Rover to them as soon as possible. You’ll be able to tell if the hydraulics are the problem if you notice:
- Brake fluid leakage
- Poor brake performance
- Inconsistent brake performance
- The brakes feel spongy
Can I still drive my Land Rover when the ABS light comes on?
You can, but you should be careful. Your brakes will still function as normal, but they won’t give you the added assistance from ABS should hard and heavy braking be needed. Upon arrival, you should then look to get your ABS checked and repaired if it is faulty.
If multiple warning lights are showing, you should refrain from driving and have the problems investigated further.
If you are already on the road and the ABS warning lamp comes on, exercise a little more caution and then pull over when safe. Turn off your vehicle, leave it for a minute or two, and then start it up again. Sometimes your Land Rover just needs a little reset for all the sensors to be checked over. You might then find that the light no longer comes on and your ABS has been reset. If the light does remain on after restarting your vehicle, locate your nearest Land Rover garage for assistance.
If you are encountering problems with your Land Rover, be it the ABS, or anything else, contact the team at RCV. With over 40 years of Land Rover expertise behind us, we get your vehicle back to its best quickly and affordably.