ABS Service Required warning

Mike 011569 · Post by **Mike 011569** » 18 Jul 2004, 20:24

I have a 99 S80 T6 that the ABS light comes on with a warning “ABS Service required.” The warning is intermittent and of course when it is returned to the dealership it wont come on. Did anyone else experience this and if so what is it? I thought there was a humming noise coming from the front of the car when first started it last night along with the warning light. After a few minutes the light usually goes off. Two times I needed to shut the car off and restart it and the warning went off. Any suggestions?

Also, it seems like the S80s are not popular on this forum. Are these models disliked by Volvo enthusiasts?

Post by **matthew1** » 18 Jul 2004, 21:30

No, they're just expensive

.

Just kidding... they're coming down if you buy used. I think they're not talked about much here compared to say, 850s, because they're simply outnumbered probably 5 or 10 to 1. There's just so many 850s on the road. It was a pretty popular model. The S80 is more expensive and thus more rare.

As for the ABS light, I'd jack it up, take a wheel off, and look for a wheel sensor. You'll see it because it will be the only thing around there having electrical wires running to it. These get dirty (on 850s anyway) and they start reporting different wheel speeds. The ABS computer uses wheel speed to calculate when/how much brake pulsing to do.

Mike 011569 · Post by **Mike 011569** » 18 Jul 2004, 21:59

Matt,
Thanks for the quick reply. Any tips for cleaning the sensor? Do I remove it and clean it with solvent?

Thanks

Post by **matthew1** » 18 Jul 2004, 22:56

I don't know; I've never done it

. I'd get in there and take a look at it and use your judgement. Also Volvo dealership parts guys are usually both 1) available to speak to and 2) know how to do stuff, if you ever get in a bind. Or for a wheel sensor cleaning question a general auto parts store person might know.

potroast · Post by **potroast** » 18 Jul 2004, 23:04

I have found the assistant service manager at my local volvo dealer to be very friendly, and will photocopy pages out of the official volvo service manuals... Go be nice to the service manager and they'll probably help you out.

Tsquared · Post by **Tsquared** » 19 Jul 2004, 11:04

You can wipe the sensor off with a shop towel. They are a sealed unit. I need to clean my sensors about every 25 - 30 K miles because of metal build up on the sensors that trip the sensor into thinking that there is a problem with the system. Here is a link to another thread detailing the way to correct this:

https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/chat/p ... t=abs#4838

Mike 011569 · Post by **Mike 011569** » 20 Jul 2004, 06:02

Thank you for the input and I will try your tip.

-Mike