ABS Message Won't Clear

[IdahoBob]

Daughter's 04 XC70, 131K Miles. She just bought it. Overall condition is best used Volvo we've had so far, but several deferred maintenance items. Was getting ABS fault lights & message on the DIM. Could hear brakes clicking on front wheels during some turns. Replaced the ABS module with a Xemodex rebuild from IPD. Someone had slit the bag open before shipping, but no greasy fingerprints or scratches, so maybe it wasn't plugged into someone else's car before the daughter's. No clicking on the brakes now, and I tried two good brake lock-ups on snowy roads this evening. ABS seemed to be working. ABS control of brakes kept care from skidding and I could hear the clicking as the slide was controlled. But...the ABS fault message and the yellow warning triangle on the DIM won't clear. The red brake fault light is not on. Does this indicate that there's still a problem? Is this one of the fault lights (like the SRS) that only the dealer can clear? Appreciate your collective knowledge, and Have ga Happy New Year!

[nickbw898]

My experience is that some code readers will both read and clear codes but only the dealership or someone with a Window VIDA and DiCE hooked up to the OBD!! port can expect to clear any and all ABS/BSM set codes. However if the cause of the codes being set in the first place has not been rectified, then once the real-time system checks have completed and the road speed rises to 30/40 mph they may well be triggered again. The indications as to which wheel sensor is problematic (could well be cracked or corroded tone rings too) and not to be taken as gospel. It could be a 'dry joint' in the ATM module. Since the introduction of lead free solder this type of problem has increased. Good luck.

[RickHaleParker]

DTC codes will not clear on their own. First take it to Autozone for a free scan and have them try clearing the codes.

[djrover]

I had a similar problem but it was with the SRS airbag warning light. I bought the ICarSoft reader and used it to reset the SRS light but it would immediately come back on. Turned out I had a seemingly unrelated error code in the central electronic module (CEM) that needed to be cleared BEFORE the SRS reset would take. I wrote up my experience under "SRS light reset". My issue was resolved with the iCarSoft purchase so no dealer trip was needed and I still have the device for future issues.
Good luck and happy new year.

[nickbw898]

I have just successfully cleared the ABS codes :- ABS-111, (Left Front Signal) ABS-0012, (Wheel Sensor Front Left Faulty Signal) ABS-0021, (Wheel sensor Front Right too high) ABS-0031, (Wheel Sensor Left Rear Faulty Signal) ABS-0041 (Wheel Sensor Right Rear Faulty Signal, using a desktop workstation running the VIDA 2014D version (downloadable on this site) in a VM form. I first dismantled the front suspension on each side and removed and replaced the tone rings (reluctor rings) but not the wheel sensors. My reasoning was that the 16 year old car has never shown ABS codes and I strip down and rebuild the brakes all round twice a year routinely. Last week in 5 cm snow on a very narrow country road I had to drive into a ditch to avoid a maniac comming the opposite way, immediately after the ABS light came on. I stopped and switched the ignition off, waited a few minutes and restarted. The warning went off but on my journey home, some twenty miles across country, things got progressively worse. Next day I pulled 13 codes in total which includes some minor temporary faults on door unlock signals and ECM-3420 Rear Knock Sensor too high (which has been with this car 10+ years).
Well, having removed them I marvelled the ABS had worked so well, they were both heavilly corroded and the Left Front was NOT cracked but the Right Front was. Incedentall there's a UK company which sells new rings and expedites them day-of-order but they are close on $80. I chose to order on Ebay from UK, they were £4!
So I tried clearing the codes using my Macbook Pro Mid 2010 13" and a Virtualbox Win_7_Ultimate+ 2012A VIDA setup. Codes cleared but after driving 30 miles one code returned. Brake Warning and Engine Symbol (forget its name) did not come on but ABS Service did.
I would just add that there are other factors which can cause ABS faults; axel bolts not tight, front wheel bearings failing, and the dreaded "dry joint" failing ABS/BCM module. It also appears to be unusual for wheel sensors to go bad. I disconnected mine at the firewall and took multimeter readings each showed 789 Ohms, so I gave them a spray of contact cleaner and put them back. A final word about the 2014D VM. It is not without problems, I had to restart it several times and disconnect/reconnect DiCE because of IE 11 fatal errors. Make sure you have at least 4GB RAM and a fast multicore processor, and a decent , high resolution wide angle display. If you work on the suspension do make sure to have all the torque values (for every component) to hand and replace the streatch bolts for new ones.