Weird ABS Behavior

2952 Views 8 Replies 5 Participants Last post by Jeff Taylor, Jan 28, 2009

Jeff Taylor

Discussion Starter · Jan 27, 2009

I've had something "interesting" happen to me with my F. When it has snowed outside and I pull into my garage, the ABS freaks out and doesn't allow me to stop. Kind of annoying, especially the first time it happened and I wasn't expecting it. Luckily I just ran into my plastic trash cans and my son's stroller (empty, of course). I was going pretty fast the first time to keep momentum up the driveway, so I figured if I went more slowly, it wouldn't be a problem.

It happened again today and I entered the garage much more slowly. I hit the e-brake and that brought me to a halt very quickly. I have Blizzak LM-25s on my car, so I didn't expect this sort of problem. My old Acura TL with all season tires never had this problem. I also don't have this problem out on the roads, it seems to stop reasonably well.

I'm not getting any ABS failure lights or anything so I assume the system is functioning properly and things are just very slick. Has anyone seen anything like this? Is this something I should have checked out?

Jeff
08 Smoky Granite Mica IS-F

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crazee

· #2 · Jan 27, 2009

Hhhmmm.. i'm thinking probably because of different pavement or there can be a possibility that when you were going up your driveway lots of snow got accumulated underneath your car or on the treads. this is what i think that is happening but i'm no expert so don't take my word for it.

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BigMikeISF

· #3 · Jan 27, 2009

Let me make sure I'm understanding correctly, your driving up your driveway in the snow and when you get into the garage you have trouble stopping, correct? Are the tires sliding or is there no pressure on the brakes at all and your still rolling?

If your tires are sliding then I would assume it is what crazee said, there is some snow accumulation inside your treads and when you get on the clean, slick pavement of your driveway, you slip a little and are unable to stop. Is your garage floor painted?

If your applying pressure to the brakes and your not feeling it slow down at all, as if the brakes aren't working, then I would definitely get it checked out soon.

I would guess that it is the first of the two and your just slipping as opposed to not have any brake power and your brakes aren't working.

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Jeff Taylor

Discussion Starter · #4 · Jan 27, 2009

BigMikeISF said:
Let me make sure I'm understanding correctly, your driving up your driveway in the snow and when you get into the garage you have trouble stopping, correct? Are the tires sliding or is there no pressure on the brakes at all and your still rolling?

Yes, you are understanding me correctly. I imagine that the tires are trying to lock up and the ABS is releasing the pressure. I put the pedal all the way to the floor and I'm still rolling. When I apply the e-brake, the tired chirped and I came to a quick halt.

BigMikeISF said:
If your tires are sliding then I would assume it is what crazee said, there is some snow accumulation inside your treads and when you get on the clean, slick pavement of your driveway, you slip a little and are unable to stop. Is your garage floor painted?

No, the garage floor is just bare (smooth) concrete.

BigMikeISF said:
If your applying pressure to the brakes and your not feeling it slow down at all, as if the brakes aren't working, then I would definitely get it checked out soon.

I would guess that it is the first of the two and your just slipping as opposed to not have any brake power and your brakes aren't working.

I think you are probably right since it seems to stop okay on the roads. It is just kind of stressful pulling into the garage now

Thanks for the input!

Jeff
08 Smoky Granite Mica IS-F

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BigMikeISF

· #5 · Jan 27, 2009

No problem. I'm sure it's nothing to be worried about, just be careful going into and out of your garage. If it starts to happen on the road, then I would get concerned and bring it into the dealership soon

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micaISF

· #6 · Jan 27, 2009

sounds like you have brake failure. maybe there is water or air in the brake line. check you brake and abs fluid levels. i would take it to the dealer ASAP. never mess around with brakes.

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BigMikeISF

· #7 · Jan 27, 2009

micaISF said:
sounds like you have brake failure. maybe there is water or air in the brake line. check you brake and abs fluid levels. i would take it to the dealer ASAP. never mess around with brakes.

If it was a brake failure, wouldn't he have trouble stopping everywhere he went, not just in his garage?

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FChampOH

· #8 · Jan 27, 2009

Hi Jeff,
my two cents.

I have the same smooth concrete floors in my garage as do most here. I also have between 3 or 8 " of snow on the ground at a given time right now and snow on the residential streets too. I have a pretty flat driveway though. I think your front tires might be "sliding" on the cold, slick, icy garage floor and causing the ABS to go haywire. I think the e-brake is working on the rear tires because the front tires have cleared a path like a squeegee for the rear tires to stop on clean. Ever spun the tires in your garage on any car before and noticed how the tires kind of leave clean stripes on the floor? Just spitballin' here.

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Jeff Taylor

Discussion Starter · #9 · Jan 28, 2009

Well, after driving around in the snow and slush today, I think I can safely say the ABS is working okay. I didn't have any braking problems at all, except in the garage again. I've learned to keep my left foot on the e-brake pedal in case the real brakes don't do the job.

My car did really well with the Blizzaks today. The only problem I had was not being able to make it up my driveway without shoveling first. I might have been able to make it, but I was going a bit sideways and didn't want to take a chance of hitting the side of my garage. That really would have ruined my day.

Thanks again for all of the input.

Jeff
08 Smoky Granite Mica IS-F

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