ABS light constantly on

[SuperProtege5]

I've recently come into a bit of a problem with my 04 Mazda 3 2.3. One night I came home from classes and when I went out to drive the car the next day, the ABS light stayed on and hasn't gone off since. This was about 3 weeks ago. I didn't touch anything on the car between when I shut it off and started it the next morning and haven't touched my braking system in general in months since I replaced all four brake pads. I've disconnected all four wheel speed sensors and cleaned them of any possible dirt and reconnected all of them and still the light remains. Thing is I still have full function of my cruise control. The dealer wants $106 just to run a diagnostic to pull what codes might be in the system, something which I can't afford at the moment. Brake fluid is between min and max in the reservoir and all the pads have between 60% and 75% life on them. I'm quite literally stumped as to what has gone wrong. I know I don't have ABS as I've locked up the car a couple times having to come to a quick stop. Any ideas or help as to what is wrong? Anyone experienced something similar or know anyone that I can call and talk to?

Thanks

 

[Maxx Mazda]

It sounds like a wheel speed sensor is bad. Cleaning them won't do anything. Get autozone to pull the code for you and find out which one is bad, then replace it and follow the shop manual procedure for calibration after it's installed.

 

[LittleRedWagon5]

Also check the tone rings on the CV axles for damage and cracks. exccesive rust and corrosion on the tone ring can cause a bad signal and trigger an abs malfunction.

 

[SuperProtege5]

Also check the tone rings on the CV axles for damage and cracks. exccesive rust and corrosion on the tone ring can cause a bad signal and trigger an abs malfunction.

Any idea where to look for these on the 3s?

It sounds like a wheel speed sensor is bad. Cleaning them won't do anything. Get autozone to pull the code for you and find out which one is bad, then replace it and follow the shop manual procedure for calibration after it's installed.

I've already tried Autozone and Advanced Auto and both said they can't pull ABS codes as they don't have the right equipment to pull them with.

 

[Maxx Mazda]

Than go to the dealer and get them to pull it. You'll have to bite the bullet but you'll know what's wrong.

 

[SuperProtege5]

I just don't understand why it costs $106 just to have a code pulled.

 

[LittleRedWagon5]

TSB: 04-001/07
2004-2005 MAZDA3 - ABS WARNING LIGHT ON WITH DTC C1141, C1142, C1233, OR C1234/GRINDING NOISE FROM FRONT WHEELS
APPLICABLE MODEL(S)/VINS
2004 - 2005 Mazda3 vehicles with VINS lower than JM1 BK**** ** 271699 (produced before January 1, 2005)

DESCRIPTION
Some vehicles may experience the following symptom(s) due to the wheel hub being out of position:
1.For some vehicles with ABS, the ABS warning light illuminates with one or more of the following DTC's stored:
^C1141 - LF ABS sensor rotor
^C1142 - RF ABS sensor rotor
^C1233 - LF ABS wheel-speed sensor/ABS sensor rotor
^C1234 - RF ABS wheel-speed sensor/ABS sensor rotor
2.For vehicles with and without ABS, a continuous grinding noise can be heard from the front brake disc making contact with the caliper support. The noise can be heard without depressing the brake pedal.
The problem is the press fit between the wheel hub and steering knuckle is not strong enough, and with continued impact from the road, the wheel hub shifts in the steering knuckle. For ABS equipped vehicles, the movement creates an excessive gap between the ABS wheel-speed sensor on the knuckle and sensor rotor in the wheel bearing, resulting in the ABS warning light coming on. For ABS and non-ABS vehicles, continued movement will lead to the front brake disc making contact with the caliper support, creating a continuous grinding noise.
Customers having this concern should have their vehicle repaired using the following repair procedure

 

[LittleRedWagon5]

this is what the tone ring looks like, if its not on the CV joint near the hub , then its in the hub.

 

[SuperProtege5]

TSB: 04-001/07
2004-2005 MAZDA3 - ABS WARNING LIGHT ON WITH DTC C1141, C1142, C1233, OR C1234/GRINDING NOISE FROM FRONT WHEELS
APPLICABLE MODEL(S)/VINS
2004 - 2005 Mazda3 vehicles with VINS lower than JM1 BK**** ** 271699 (produced before January 1, 2005)

DESCRIPTION
Some vehicles may experience the following symptom(s) due to the wheel hub being out of position:
1.For some vehicles with ABS, the ABS warning light illuminates with one or more of the following DTC's stored:
^C1141 - LF ABS sensor rotor
^C1142 - RF ABS sensor rotor
^C1233 - LF ABS wheel-speed sensor/ABS sensor rotor
^C1234 - RF ABS wheel-speed sensor/ABS sensor rotor
2.For vehicles with and without ABS, a continuous grinding noise can be heard from the front brake disc making contact with the caliper support. The noise can be heard without depressing the brake pedal.
The problem is the press fit between the wheel hub and steering knuckle is not strong enough, and with continued impact from the road, the wheel hub shifts in the steering knuckle. For ABS equipped vehicles, the movement creates an excessive gap between the ABS wheel-speed sensor on the knuckle and sensor rotor in the wheel bearing, resulting in the ABS warning light coming on. For ABS and non-ABS vehicles, continued movement will lead to the front brake disc making contact with the caliper support, creating a continuous grinding noise.
Customers having this concern should have their vehicle repaired using the following repair procedure

Any chance you have a link to the full TSB so that I can print it off?

 

[Maxx Mazda]

There ya go. Now it's free to have it checked.

 

[SuperProtege5]

How so?

 

[Maxx Mazda]

There's a TSB. It's covered under warranty.

 

[SuperProtege5]

Except the problem is that I don't have either the factory warranty or the extended warranty anymore.