Do it yourself ABS module repair. Topic is solved

[whoa]

It's great to see that ABS light go off when you hit 15mph or so the first drive after doing this repair.

I tried using 4mm and 5/32 sockets and I stripped the two hard-to-get-to bolt heads. So I suggest getting the E5 socket AND being extra careful that it's seated fully on the bolt heads. I managed to get the one by the firewall off with an E6 socket, but the other one would not budge. Instead of trying to dremel the head off (I think you'd need a flexible shaft, which I don't have), I took a "handy saw" blade (with duck tape wrapped around the end as a handle) and cut through the bolt (and sleeve) near the top of the module. When I got 3/4 of the way through the bolt, it somehow loosened up and I was able to remove it with the E5 socket. Go figure.



I reinstalled the module using just the other three bolts. Probably not optimal, but it seems to work.

I used the screw-the-module-to-a-board trick. When I pried, parts of the lid came loose in the right way, and other parts separated from the lip. I ended up thinning that lip with a hacksaw blade on all four sides so that it separated all the way around. Doing that also just gave room for the pry tool to get deeper into the grooves which gave better purchase.

I found that I needed a pretty hot soldering iron to get the two big power pins hot enough. What worked for me is one of those butane-fueled soldering irons. Love those things.

Also, the two power wires from the plug at the module to the pump had disintegrating insulation, so much so that the wires were mostly bare. I sandwiched them in a piece of duck tape to keep them from touching each other or the metal edge of the ABS gizmo they run near. Ghetto! I'd use shrink tubing but I didn't want to cut the wires.

[Matty Moo]

Three bolts is plenty to hold it on. There isn't any pressure working against it.

[abscate]

I wouldn't call these bolts hard to reach. A small (5cm) 1/4 inch drive ratchet and the correct E5 Torx bit (external), wih the air cleaner removed, it took me 2 minutes. I scrubbed the heads with a small wire brush and made sure the bit seated firmly on the head.

[jifowler]

Hi everyone, I wanted to give back to this forum. For a year and a half, my ABS/TRACS light on my 98 Volvo s70 kept coming on, and throwing no code. I assumed it was the ABS module, and decided a year ago to remove it. I went and got the E5 socket, but I could not loosen the bolt closest to the firewall. Because it really wasn't stopping the car from working I lived with it until it was due this month for inspection.
After several other attempts to remove the bolt I decided to cut the bolt off with my Dremel tool. I knew that the case would be cut as well, so I got on ebay, and brought a used module for $99. I also found 4 bolts at ACE hardware that were 4mm x 50mm. I just wanted those E-5 bolts removed once and for all. OK, because the angle is not the best when you are under the car cutting this, I broke 5 cutting wheels and finally was able to get the last bolt off. I was then able to turn the busted bolt with a pair of vice grips and got all the bolts off.
So I put the ebay module on, and after 30 miles, the ABS/TRACS light came back on. I thought what are the odds that both ABS modules would be bad. Well, I took the originial module that I cut off, and applied the fix (mentioned in this thread) with my soldering gun. I also used my Dremel tool and cut the case open. I also cut the star washers off of all 4 posts. Once done, I sealed the module back up, and used 3 of my bolts to put the module back on the car. One of the post I had to cut into, but the circuit board was not cut (not a bad job for just trying to get the thing off). Well it's been 3 weeks now, and no lights have come on. I also have applied the fix to the $99 ebay one, and has recently put this on my car, and have tighten everything back down.
All the lights are off as well with this one. So thank you to everyone that has posted to this forum. It was a big help to me, and gave me the knowledge to finally put an end to the ABS light coming on.

[billybob12]

Im confused as to what thie soldered module actually fixes and the main root of the problem. I think this is the problem my car has, well on the dash it comes up "abs service required" and the ABS light is on. The main problem I am having is that the brakes are grinding while driving and it feels like they go on and off so does the light while driving. I dont see anyone else with that problem could this module cause that problem too?

PS i have a 2003 s60

[Matty Moo]

Im confused as to what thie soldered module actually fixes and the main root of the problem. I think this is the problem my car has, well on the dash it comes up "abs service required" and the ABS light is on. The main problem I am having is that the brakes are grinding while driving and it feels like they go on and off so does the light while driving. I dont see anyone else with that problem could this module cause that problem too?

PS i have a 2003 s60

None of this applies to your car, it uses a completely different type of module. You have to get the ABS codes read to see where the problem is and chase it down from there.

[billybob12]

I went to auto zone and they did scan it there was no code.

Im confused as to what thie soldered module actually fixes and the main root of the problem. I think this is the problem my car has, well on the dash it comes up "abs service required" and the ABS light is on. The main problem I am having is that the brakes are grinding while driving and it feels like they go on and off so does the light while driving. I dont see anyone else with that problem could this module cause that problem too?

PS i have a 2003 s60

None of this applies to your car, it uses a completely different type of module. You have to get the ABS codes read to see where the problem is and chase it down from there.

[Matty Moo]

That's because Autozone can't do full scans to pull abs codes. You have to go to an independent shop, dealer or get yourself Vida.

[billybob12]

My friend had a great idea. Could i just pull the ABS Fuse's and try driving the car to see if the grinding stops. that would at least be a start at diagnosing the problem, if the grinding still happens with no ABS on the car than it obviously is not the module and something else causing it???

[Matty Moo]

My friend had a great idea. Could i just pull the ABS Fuse's and try driving the car to see if the grinding stops. that would at least be a start at diagnosing the problem, if the grinding still happens with no ABS on the car than it obviously is not the module and something else causing it???

That won't work. When your type of module fails it doesn't fail in the same way as the 96-01 mk20 modules. You have an actual issue outside of the module. You really have no choice but to get it scanned.