ABS brakes service required

fandre · Post by **fandre** » 02 Oct 2006, 09:19

Hello,

I was driving to work this morning as my 2000 Volvo S80 displayed me this error message: ABS brakes service required. I stopped on a traffic light, turned the engine off, then back on -- message stayed for about 30 seconds after the restart, then disapeared. I am wandering what this could mean? I am at the point when I need to replace brake pads soon -- maybe the car tells me that it is time now? Or is it something wrong with the ABS module and I need to send it to the guy from http://home.earthlink.net/~vicrocha/ for repairs? Is there a way to find out for sure without taking it to dealer for diagnostics? I'd appreciate any advice you might give me.

Thanks,
Andrei

Post by **matthew1** » 02 Oct 2006, 10:59

fandre wrote:Or is it something wrong with the ABS module and I need to send it to the guy from http://home.earthlink.net/~vicrocha/ for repairs?

very likely. my dad's '99 S80 is in need of Victor's ABS work... same message. you could take it to an independent Volvo tech shop, or an auto parts store where they will read your codes, usually for free.

fandre · Post by **fandre** » 02 Oct 2006, 11:12

matthew1 wrote:
fandre wrote:Or is it something wrong with the ABS module and I need to send it to the guy from http://home.earthlink.net/~vicrocha/ for repairs?
very likely. my dad's '99 S80 is in need of Victor's ABS work... same message. you could take it to an independent Volvo tech shop, or an auto parts store where they will read your codes, usually for free.

Thank you. I am going to try taking it to somebody who could read the codes. Is there are particular code I need to be looking for? Or should I just get the codes and ask here again?

Post by **JRL** » 03 Oct 2006, 21:20

There are no codes for ABS.
You will need a new (ABS) controller, that's what fails on Volvos
You can get them rebuilt at 1/6th the price of a new one

fandre · Post by **fandre** » 04 Oct 2006, 08:34

JRL wrote:There are no codes for ABS.
You will need a new (ABS) controller, that's what fails on Volvos
You can get them rebuilt at 1/6th the price of a new one

Thanks. Yesterday I saw a second message that came together with the ABS message. The new message read "STC service required" or something like that. Does this also mean that STC controller need to be replaced/rebuilt? Or both systems (ABS and STC) are controlled by the same unit?

Also, this morning when I was drivign to work my car gave me no error messages. Does it make sence to wait for more consistent errors before sending the ABS controller to California for repairs or I can send it now?

Vitor · Post by **Vitor** » 17 Oct 2006, 08:03

All the ABS control units (Installed on 96 and newer 850, 70 series and S80 models) will eventually fail after they reach 65,000 miles or 5 years. The average is 85,000 miles and/or 6 years for failures.
A dealer will charge from $60.0 to $120.00 to diagnose the problem and about 95% of the cases the mechanic will recommend to replace the ABS control unit.

Here's more information on this issue and a replacement alternative.

Vitor's Volvo ABS website

ANJO · Post by **ANJO** » 21 Oct 2006, 15:03

Hi.

The solution, will find on our Portuguese forum. Sorry, but you will have to translate it. I can tell you that I saw many units been opened and be fixed. It very easy. One single point (+30) needs to be fix.

****************************************************
Portuguese answer is:
Vou desvender 95% deste MITO

Na verdade o mJrO encontra-se mt be informado

Trata-se de um problema de sobreaquecimento interno da maioria dos m

camelpipe · Post by **camelpipe** » 16 Dec 2006, 11:13

if ABS/STc service lights up it may not be the unit.
90% of the time it is but my problem was the pump its self.
remove plug on side of unit and connect a 12volt supply for a few seconds and try and hear it running.
if not it is jammed like mine or burnt out
Volvo says the motor never goes but mine did
hope this helps

Post by **JRL** » 16 Dec 2006, 14:15

Why do you make it difficult.?
Not 9 out of 10, more like 99 out of 100 that it IS the ABS unit.
It needs to be rebuilt