Brake System FAQ's & Tech Tips

Why does my ABS light take so long to shut off?

ABS light and Brake light take too long (over 30 seconds) to turn off when car is first started. Possible cause is an intermittent failure of the ABS pump relay. The parts is easy to change and is located on the passenger side firewall. The relay is brown in color, and has a sticker on it saying "ABS". The relay is non-standard pinout and should be purchased from Ford. The cost is approximately $30 CAN. This is a common problem since the part is underrated for it's application. Expect it to fail every 70,000km or so. Total failure of the relay will result in the ABS light, and the Brake light staying on, and no power assist to the brakes. Without power assist, the brake pedal will be very stiff and it will be very difficult to stop the car. I personally have changed it twice, and would recommend you change it yourself first before taking it in for an dealer diagnoses. If this does not fix your problem, take it to your local Ford dealer for a computer diagnoses of the ABS braking system. 

Why does my ABS come on at low speed?

On Thunderbird SC and certain other Ford products the 4WAB system may trigger when coming to a stop at lower speeds on dry roads, under normal braking. This will not usually cause the ABS light to come on, but is caused by a faulty wheel speed sensor, usually on one of the front wheels. Cleaning the sensor usually does not fix this condition. If you encounter this condition you should pull the ABS codes with a compatible scan tool to (hopefully) give you an idea of which sensor is at fault. Sensor rings can be visually checked for cracks and damage, or missing teeth. Sensors can be disconnected and checked with an ohm meter. If you encounter this condition, and need specs, you can email me at bswanson@netcom.ca with the model year, engine and trany type and ABS fault code (if any) and I will send you, via e-mail, code definitions and measurement specs, which will hopefully diagnose the problem. Another common condition with the Thunderbird SCs 4WAB system is a high brake pedal with little or no power assist this is usually caused by a failed pump motor or pump motor relay. Diagnosing this can be a little more difficult to pinpoint the cause, and unless you are fairly up to date in electrical or electronic knowledge, I recommend you leave that diagnosis and repair up to your local repair shop. By Brad Swanson I am a Automotive Tech, licenced in the province of Ontario. I have worked in the service business for 12 years and I am fully up to date on Ford vehicles. I am a fleet tech that specializes in Diesel and gas driveability, electronics and several other areas of automotive repair. I work for a large dealerdship and last but not least I am an avid SC enthusiast. Although I have not been able to make it to meetings or race days yet, I felt that this was a good way to contribute to the Super Coupe Club of Ontario, of which I am a member.

Why do my brakes pulsate when stopping?

Pulsing in the brakes is most likely caused by warped front rotors. This is a result of overheating of the brake rotors. New pads and rotors will cure this problem but only for a short while since they are prone to warpage. The solution is to install cross drilled rotors and high performance brake pads. There is still some contraversy over what are the best brake pads to use with cross drilled rotors. The manufacturer does recommend carbon metallic brake pads but I've run them for some time and found them to be unsatisfactory. I will be experimenting with different types next time I change my brakes but cannot recommend anything at this time.