2000 Chevy Cavalier ABS and ETS issues

Tiny
XLH1460
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  • 2000 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
Brakes problem
2000 Chevy Cavalier 4 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic

Hi,

I am working on my wife's 2000 Chev Cavalier Z24.

She started having ABS issues.

I suspected wheel speed sensors (again) but this time the symptoms are a bit different.

When first starting the engine all of the warning light on the dash are off.

There are two symptoms of the issue.

1. Sometimes when applying the brakes the ABS seems to engage as if trying to stop on an icy road and the ABS and ETS warning lights come on.

2. Sometimes when just driving off the ABS and ETS warning lights come on without applying the brakes.

In both cases restarting the engine clears the lights.

My elcheapo DTC code reader doesn't show any faults but I don't think it is capable of reading/displaying the ABS/ETS DTC codes.

The symptoms seemed to point to wheel sensors so I checked them and they seem OK.

I have the factory service manuals for this car and the sensors were all within specs for both resistance and the AC voltage reading when spinning the wheels by hand.

Do you know if a better code reader might display some helpful information that mine isn't.

Any idea of where to look next?

Thanks in advance.

Dale.
Tuesday, September 28th, 2010 AT 7:43 PM

7 Replies

Tiny
BUDDYCRAIGG
  • MECHANIC
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You already know what you need to do.
You need to get a scanner that can talk to the ABS computer.
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Tuesday, September 28th, 2010 AT 9:45 PM
Tiny
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Fair enough. Are you aware of any reasonably priced ones?

Thanks.
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Tuesday, September 28th, 2010 AT 9:55 PM
Tiny
BUDDYCRAIGG
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Ummm, no.

Sadly I'm too cheap to buy one myself and always have to ask one of the guys if I can use theirs when I need one.

I thought about biting the bullet 2 years ago and getting one, the models I was looking at were areound $500.
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Tuesday, September 28th, 2010 AT 10:30 PM
Tiny
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Well I just ordered one from eBay. It is a CanOdb2 model 3160 which appears to be about the best one that company sells.

The MSRP for it is about $450 on eBay it was $200.

Hopefully it isn't too good to be true.

Thanks.

Dale.
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Tuesday, September 28th, 2010 AT 11:49 PM
Tiny
BUDDYCRAIGG
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Post back how that unit works out for you, cause I would be willing to pay $200.
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Wednesday, September 29th, 2010 AT 1:49 AM
Tiny
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I finally received the code reader.

It seems like a quality unit and you can't beat the price.

I hooked it up and read ABS codes C1221, C1225, C1232 and C1275.

The first 3 all point to the LF wheel sensor which has been plagued with problems in the past. Always broke wires before, I suspect the connection now is likely poor but not yet broken.

The only complaint I have about the reader is that it didn't provide a description of the 4 codes that I read (it referred me to their website where all of the codes can be found) although I can live with that as the codes can be found on the Internet or in the FSM.
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Thursday, October 14th, 2010 AT 9:54 AM
Tiny
BUDDYCRAIGG
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http://www.2carpros.com/trouble_codes/obd2
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Thursday, October 14th, 2010 AT 8:47 PM

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