"Exercising" ABS system?
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Pro
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 628
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From: Columbia SC
"Exercising" ABS system?
A couple of recent posts have talked about members activating their ABS system by jacking the rear end up with proper supports, then running the car in gear so that the rear wheels turn. At a relatively low wheel speed they say the ABS will detect the difference in wheel speed between the front and rear wheels, and kick in, thereby activating the ABS and "limbering up" the motor. Supposedly this exercising makes a car that never sees ABS activation in normal driving less likely to throw codes (1214?) and require repairs to the system.
I don't drive my car in the rain, don't want to hop on the brakes hard enough to activate the ABS in the dry, and don't particularly like trying the "running 12 volts to the ABS controller" method. Does someone knowledgeable about these cars such as Mr. Curlee have an opinion about the above wheels-off-the-ground method? Will it be effective? Any reasons for not doing it? Any dangers? Thanks for any input, Ralph Boineau in central South Carolina.
I don't drive my car in the rain, don't want to hop on the brakes hard enough to activate the ABS in the dry, and don't particularly like trying the "running 12 volts to the ABS controller" method. Does someone knowledgeable about these cars such as Mr. Curlee have an opinion about the above wheels-off-the-ground method? Will it be effective? Any reasons for not doing it? Any dangers? Thanks for any input, Ralph Boineau in central South Carolina.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Ralph
If you dont use or activate the BPMV Pump, it can become difficult to turn the BPMV motor armature and it will draw excessive current. The DTC that it throws is NOT 1214. The DTC that you will see is a 1243. (BPMV Pump Motor Stalled) DTC 1214 is the Solenoid Valve Relay Contact or Coil Circuit open. That relay suppies power to the solenoid valves.
You can jack up the rear of the car and allow the rear wheels to rotate slowly. When you do you should see ACTIVE HANDLING ACTIVE message in the DIC Message Center. That means the the pump is active and the solenoids that activate the brakes are working.
BC
If you dont use or activate the BPMV Pump, it can become difficult to turn the BPMV motor armature and it will draw excessive current. The DTC that it throws is NOT 1214. The DTC that you will see is a 1243. (BPMV Pump Motor Stalled) DTC 1214 is the Solenoid Valve Relay Contact or Coil Circuit open. That relay suppies power to the solenoid valves.
You can jack up the rear of the car and allow the rear wheels to rotate slowly. When you do you should see ACTIVE HANDLING ACTIVE message in the DIC Message Center. That means the the pump is active and the solenoids that activate the brakes are working.
BC
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 931
Likes: 35
From: Rowlett, Texas
Yeah, the 1243 code is the motor dragging.
But, a code 1214 may actually be the lessor of the two evils in the long run. The malfunctioning relay is located in the EBCM, which can be removed and sent to ABSfixer.com for repair - about $150 I think.
Not a real easy task to get the EBCM off (crowded in there), but MUCH cheaper and much easier to replace than a failed motor in the BPMV.
Re: the Jacking/running trick for the stalled motor. I definitely plan to try it when mine acts up again. Just went through the 2 hours of standing on my head to "excercise" the motor via pin 8, and it's working great now. But, as soon as it misbehaves, I'll try the easy method and report the details.
DG
But, a code 1214 may actually be the lessor of the two evils in the long run. The malfunctioning relay is located in the EBCM, which can be removed and sent to ABSfixer.com for repair - about $150 I think.
Not a real easy task to get the EBCM off (crowded in there), but MUCH cheaper and much easier to replace than a failed motor in the BPMV.
Re: the Jacking/running trick for the stalled motor. I definitely plan to try it when mine acts up again. Just went through the 2 hours of standing on my head to "excercise" the motor via pin 8, and it's working great now. But, as soon as it misbehaves, I'll try the easy method and report the details.
DG
