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View Full Version : abs light goes on and off - 95 legacy l



rumble
08-19-2010, 01:18 AM
i have a "new to me" 95 subaru legacy L wagon. (5 spd, 204,000 mi)

i've never had a car with abs brakes before so i'm not sure what to expect.

sometimes when i start the car and i have my foot on the brake i can feel it sink a little when the car starts (and i think i hear something (a mechanical noise) on the other side of the firewall near the pedal).
it's intermittent. i don't notice that happening.

the brakes seem to work well but i do not feel the brakes "pumping" when i use them moderately (am i supposed to?)

every once in a while the abs light comes on. i haven't been able to determine if it's when i'm braking or after i brake, etc.
i just happen to notice it's on and then the next time i look it's off.

the brake fluid looks a little brown (rusty?) so i intend on changing that (and all the fluids) asap.

the mechanic i took it to to get inspected said the rear rotors were a little rusty, and pads were a little worn but ok and they would probably work themselves in the more i drove it (meaning get rid of some of the rust.)

can anybody tell me more about what's going on with the abs light?

i'm not a great mechanic and i'm thinking about getting an obd computer just so i have an idea what's going on.
(walmart has one for about $80 that looks pretty good. not a real cheap one...)

will that tell me what's going on with the abs light? (obviously i want to avoid going to a dealer...)

thanks

Airgne
08-19-2010, 02:07 AM
as or the pedal drop this is normal. the mechanical noise you hear is the abs ecu running its test to make sure its ok.

abs light coming on might mean you have low fluid. change the fluid once a year. as for the scanner at wally word will not work on the abs system.

abs has its own scanner to check it.

most places you go will do a complete brake check for free.

rumble
08-19-2010, 02:21 AM
ok.

fluid is topped off but it looks kind of old.

is there a way i can pull abs codes without a scanner?

Airgne
08-19-2010, 02:27 AM
do a google search on that one. i do not know that one.

rumble
08-19-2010, 02:33 AM
ok. thanks for all the info.

subie/legacy
08-19-2010, 09:20 AM
viewtopic.php?f=39&t=12056 (http://www.sl-i.net/FORUM/viewtopic.php?f=39&t=12056)
might be worth taking a look at.