ABS.....have some questions regarding fuses.

[XCLR8TN]

Last night I'd just about had it with the over sensitive ABS so I pulled into a Sheetz and went to pull the fuse to try it out.

Disclaimer: Before anyone chews me out.... The past 3 cars I've owned did not have ABS. They also had aggressive brake pads. I pulled the fuse on my Miata and ran it for years like that. I understand this is not the "proper" way to do this (I am doing it the proper way on the Miata now).

Here is what I found:
(upper left corner of lid, ABS, 40A, right under the blower fuse)

But yet, here's my fuse box:

Notice, NO ABS fuse........... what gives?? I checked the fuse box inside the driver door dash area, no ABS fuses.

Any ideas?

 

[XCLR8TN]

No one? I'd really like to control my own braking... As opposed to having ABS kick on on a downhill turn almost putting me into a guardrail at speed like it did tonight....

 

[Slow Paul]

I'll agree that the ABS is set off pretty easy on the 2. I've done some pretty spirited driving since I got mine and haven't had any issues with the ABS being intrusive. However, the ABS goes off on a slightly slippery road. As for the fusing being missing, I'll look at my fuse box tomorrow and see if the same is true for my 2. I have a touring model too, so if I do have one, then I'd say a call to Mazda is in order.

 

[XCLR8TN]

I'll agree that the ABS is set off pretty easy on the 2. I've done some pretty spirited driving since I got mine and haven't had any issues with the ABS being intrusive. However, the ABS goes off on a slightly slippery road. As for the fusing being missing, I'll look at my fuse box tomorrow and see if the same is true for my 2. I have a touring model too, so if I do have one, then I'd say a call to Mazda is in order.

The times I have issues are when the road has a bump or gravel. Coming down a left hander on a twisty road with a little bump and hitting the brakes only to get a bit of braking and then no braking all of a sudden when I needed it most due to a surface imperfection on the road does not sit well with me lol! Thanks I'll look for your reply tonight!

 

[XCLR8TN]

Bump....

 

[Slow Paul]

Dang! Sorry about that. I looked the other day and behold I saw the same thing. No fuse. This is quite weird, however, I think the abs might is tied into the traction control system and those operate off the same fuse. Further investigation is needed.

 

[Racebrewer]

OK. How about unplugging one of the wheel speed sensors (each corner has one). That should shut off both ABS and the Traction Confusion.(rei)

John

 

[Slow Paul]

That would work. I had an ABS sensor go out on my last car and it disabled the ABS along with all other driver aids. I decided that after a pretty hairy situation on the freeway involving a panic stop that I needed to replace that sensor. I have no intention on either disconnecting the speed sensors/procrastinating to replace a bad sensor should the need arise.

 

[DaleNixon]

I did not know we have ABS. Does it clunk when engaging?

 

[XCLR8TN]

I did not know we have ABS. Does it clunk when engaging?

I wouldn't say it clunks but you definitely can tell it's there working. It also is (obviously) still engaged when you disable traction control.

Thanks for checking Paul! Very odd that the fuse isn't there

 

[ddawson]

I've managed to engage the ABS once as well and I wasn't braking really hard.

I'm wondering is its a combination of a skinny tire and one that doesn't have great grip. I've never had this problem in my Mini with 205 Potenza RE050A.

 

[XCLR8TN]

I've managed to engage the ABS once as well and I wasn't braking really hard.

I'm wondering is its a combination of a skinny tire and one that doesn't have great grip. I've never had this problem in my Mini with 205 Potenza RE050A.

I'm running 140 treadwear Toyo R1Rs, it's just super sensitive ABS. I engage it at least once a day., but I definitely don't drive like a normal person (I'm also running Porterfield R4S pads but had the same issues with stock pads!)

I just want to disable it but have it be reverseable again (because honestly, on track the ABS was helpful/less intrusive at speed, on the street I can't stand it though)

 

[Racebrewer]

Splice a switch into one of the ABS sensors so you can disconnect it and kill it when you want to?

John

 

[vdsracing]

I was in contact with a racing team in japan and asked them the same thing because I also don't like abs(for track and fast road use) but they told me that if i remove the fuse,the electric steering will go off too.

I would also be very happy if I had an on-off abs switch,if anybody has a solution please let as know.

 

[Joker2]

I find the ABS very intrusive. Since this is my first car with ABS, I am not used to the brake pedal kicking back and lowering to the floor. This happens mostly on rutted or bumpy roads where trucks made the asphalt look like waves. On my prior cars and on my Miata I would tune braking balance with pads and tire selection. A brake proportioning valve would also cure the malady, but I have to tune the suspension first and then work on braking balance.

 

[XCLR8TN]

Glad you guys have the same feelings about the ABS. wonder why they would tie the steering in with the ABS, that sucks. perhaps wiring a switch or putting ABS on it's own circuit is the only way? I REALLY wanted an easy solution to this, like pulling a fuse/relay lol.

 

[XCLR8TN]

Well FWIW I pulled some wiring diagrams down from all data. I don't plan on trying to defeat this, but I will be checking the fuse box inside the car on the driver side.... shown here:

The rest of the diagrams are here:
http://s971.photobucket.com/albums/ae196/XCLR8TN/2011 Mazda 2/

 

[DrWebster]

Since it sounds like it's happening during spirited driving and on loose/wet surfaces, that doesn't sound so much like an ABS-specific problem but rather the traction/stability control. I'd suggest, before you all start unplugging sensors and pulling fuses, get in the habit of pressing the "DSC OFF" button on the left side of the dash every time you start the car, and see if it behaves more to your liking. IIRC it won't disable the ABS on its own (so you'll still have its benefits if you have to panic stop) but it'll keep the car from nannying you during hard cornering.

 

[XCLR8TN]

Since it sounds like it's happening during spirited driving and on loose/wet surfaces, that doesn't sound so much like an ABS-specific problem but rather the traction/stability control. I'd suggest, before you all start unplugging sensors and pulling fuses, get in the habit of pressing the "DSC OFF" button on the left side of the dash every time you start the car, and see if it behaves more to your liking. IIRC it won't disable the ABS on its own (so you'll still have its benefits if you have to panic stop) but it'll keep the car from nannying you during hard cornering.

I almost always have the DSC off, it's all ABS

 

[Racebrewer]

The ABS and Traction control (as well as the speedometer and cruise control) all operate off of the same sensors. There are two wires going to each sensor. One simple Hall Effect sensor at each corner of the car.

Unplug or sever or splice a switch into one of the front sensors and your traction control and ABS will take a vacation. Disconnect two front sensors and you lose speedometer and cruise control.

All you would have to do is cut one wire and hook a switch in place (extending the wires to the dashboard of course).

John