ABS light to come on is one of the most common issues that every driver face. ABS, also known as an anti-brake locking system is a system feature that keeps the driver safe. In today’s article, we will discuss if worn brake pads cause ABS lights to come on.
Can worn brake pads cause ABS light to come on?
Since the brake pads are not a part of the ABS, so the ABS light should not come on due to a worn brake pad. But still, there is a chance that the worn brake pads can cause the ABS light to come on. However, the ABS light will only come on if the brake fluid is low, or there is a bad ABS module.
Your ABS Light will only come on if you have any ABS-related issues in your car. In case the brake fluid in your car is low, you will see a light come on with an exclamation mark in a circle.
The ABS in your car prevents you from applying excessive pressure to your brakes. That is why you need to check and diagnose the compartments of your car when the warning light comes on.
ABS light will only come on if there is an issue with the ABS-related components, there’s a chance it may be coming from the other sensors that are used to communicate with the ABS.
You should not neglect the issue because the ABS is as important as the engine of a car. After all, it protects your car from skidding. It is a very important component to maintain their control over your car.
However, there is a chance that the worn brakes can make your ABS light come on. This should happen rarely. Because the worn brake pads should not interfere with the functionality of the ABS.
But as the ABS light will only turn on if you have low brake fluid, you should immediately check the ABS components as well as the brake pads to make sure if there is an issue with the brake pads or the ABS components causing the ABS light to come on.
Can bad brakes cause abs light to come on?
This is possible for the bad brake to cause the ABS light to come on. The reason why the ABS light is coming on is that your car has low brake fluid. The ABS light will only come on if there is any issue related to the ABS components.
Because only that is the time when the ABS will receive faulty signals from the components and start to turn on the light.
If your car does not have enough brake fluid, it will cause the car brake to seem much soft or spongy which will eventually affect the driving experience. That is why whenever you notice that the ABS light is turned on, do not neglect the issue.
Immediately take it to a maintenance and repair shop and diagnose all the ABS components as well as the brake pads and opponents. You will eventually find if the braking system is bad or needs to be adjusted.
Why do worn brake pads don’t cause abs light to come on?
The ABS is anti-brake locking. The system is one of the main components of your card that is as much essential as the engine. It helps to bring control over your car when your car is skidding.
The ABS is connected to several components of your car. If any of the components are malfunctioning, the ABS will immediately send a signal and turn on the ABS light. Then you will need to diagnose the ABS and fix the issue.
Worn brake pads are not connected to the ABS. That is why when your ABS light is turned on; it doesn’t mean that the worn brake pads are causing the light to turn on.
Below are some reasons why the brake pads do not cause the obvious like to turn on:
They are not connected to the ABS:
To turn on the ABS light, you need to be a component of the ABS. Since the brake is not a part of the ABS, it doesn’t turn on the light if the brake pads are worn.
Worn brake pads are a separate component:
The brake pads are a separate component of a car. The worn brake pads will affect the driving experience and you can easily understand it when you are driving. So, it will not turn on the ABS light.
This will affect the braking:
Worn brake pads affect driving and braking. It will not affect the IBS system. That is why the ABS light will not turn on.
Can low brake fluid cause abs light to come on?
Yes, low brake fluid can cause the ABS light to come on. In addition to that, it is one of the main reasons why the ABS light usually comes on. Low brake fluid will eventually down your car’s performance and braking.
This will send a signal to the ABS and it will turn on its lights. Since the brake fluid is a part of the ABS components, if the brake fluid is low, it will interfere with the ABS and show you a signal.
You can easily notice if your brake fluid is low by sensing the way your car brakes. Generally, the ABS component modules rely on hydraulic brake fluid, which is driven through a cylinder that helps the brakes to work.
If your brake fluid cylinder is empty, you will notice awful experiences when driving your car and it will also turn on the ABS light.
What causes ABS light to come on and stay on?
The common reason that is causing the ABS light to come on and stay is that the ABS module is malfunctioning. The ABS module is designed to control the traction of your car to keep the four wheels on the ground rolling smoothly at a time.
If the ABS detects any abnormal spin, it cuts off power from the engine until the proper traction is back again. Below are some reasons why the ABS light comes on and stays on:
Low brake fluid:
Low brake fluid is a common reason why the ABS is not functioning properly and turning on the ABS light.
ABS module malfunction:
Sometimes, the components connected to the ABS start to malfunction and that simply causes the ABS light to come on.
Broken wheel sensors:
The broken wheel sensors can even send you a message by turning on the ABS light. In addition to that, if the speed sensor is dirty, this will also cause the ABS light to turn on.
How do I get the ABS light to turn off?
The ABS light will be turned on until the malfunction isn’t solved. The thing that causes the ABS light to come on and stay in the low level of brake fluid in the reservoir. That is why you need to check every component before taking it to a mechanic.
Or, you can try to fix the ABS by yourself. This will save you money and be a more convenient idea. Simply follow the steps to fix to turn off the ABS light:
Disconnect the cable:
To fix the ABS light turn-on issue. You need to disconnect the positive cable from your car battery.
Change the ABS sensor:
Reconnecting the cables should reset the ABS. If it doesn’t, change the ABS sensor.
Use a OOB code reader:
If any of the above solutions do not work, you need to use the OOB code reader to diagnose the problem.
Can a bad caliper cause abs light to come on?
Usually, a bad brake caliper does not cause the ABS light to come on. But in some cases, there is a chance that it can affect the ABS to turn on the light in a way.
If a caliper sticks hard enough, it will cause a malfunction in the car components and make the wheel speed sensor drop faster than other wheels. Which will be immediately noticed by the ABS sensors.
Once this happens, the ABS sensor will try to synchronize the difference between all four wheels’ speed sensors. The speed sensor of the APS component notices any abnormality, it will stop the car.
That is why you should keep in mind that a bad caliper can even cause the ABS light to come on. In addition to that, this will affect your driving experience as well.
Final Thoughts
Since the brake pads are not connected to the IBS components, it will not turn on the ABS light if the brake pads are worn out. In addition to that. The ABS light will only turn on if there is low brake fluid in the reservoir. That is why you need to check & fix the ABS if the lights are turned on.
I am an automotive enthusiast and have been interested in cars since I was a little kid. I have worked in the automotive industry for many years and have extensive knowledge of vehicles and their engines. I am a father of two and I love spending time with my family.
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