Odd ABS Problem on 95 Legacy L

[Mark Nye]

Hi All,

 

This is my first post here. Any advice would be very much appreciated!

 

A few weeks ago I had some minor work done on our 95 Legacy L. We were having starting problems, so the dealer repair shop replaced my battery leads and installed a new crank sensor. The car now starts fine. During the same visit, the shop also replaced a failing front, right CV joint.

 

Unfortunately, when we picked up the car I noticed that when I turned the key (with break and clutch pedal depressed) the ABS system fired while the started motor was cranking the engine. Of course the car was sitting still, but I could hear the ABS chatter, as if I was breaking heavily on snow or ice. This problem repeats each time I start the car. I'm 100% sure that this problem didn't exist before the electrical work was done.

 

Before leaving the lot, I made the dealer aware of the problem. The service manager told me that I shouldn't be worried, though the problem did seem odd.

 

A few days later while driving home from work, I noticed the ABS warning light come on. It happened to be snowing that day, so I tested the breaks and found that the ABS system was no longer working properly. (the wheels will lock up under heavy breaking) Since then, the ABS light is sometimes on, sometimes off. When the light is off, the ABS system works normally. With the light on, it doesn't. I still have the problem with ABS activation when I start the car.

 

I returned the car to the dealer, and they ran some diagnostic tests, charged me $200 for labor, and ordered a replacement "ABS Valve Relay". Today I dropped off the car to have the relay installed, and they just called to say that it didn't correct the problem. Now they want to charge more for more diagnostic labor. I find it very hard to believe that this problem isn't related to the original work preformed on the car, but the service manager insists that it absolutely couldn't be related.

 

So I don't know what to do. Has anyone experienced a similar problem with their Subaru? Am I crazy to think that the timing of my ABS problem suggests that it was caused by their previous work? I would be very thankful for any advice or ideas!

 

all the best,

 

Mark Nye

Ithaca, NY

[93leg]

There could be a connection between replacing a front axle, and your ABS functionality. There are tone rings and their sensors mounted at each wheel. Perhaps the sensor was damaged when they replaced your axle, or repaired your CV joint. This would be the first thing I would look at since it wasn't a problem before it went into the shop.

[Mark Nye]

Thanks for the reply. I've been looking around the forum, and I found the manual page that outlines the proceedure for reading error codes off the ABS control unit. I'll take a look at that this evening.

 

Is it possible to observe the tone ring and/or speed sensor by removing the front tire? Perhaps I'll be able to see evidence of physical damage, though I would think that the dealer (I don't know how honest they're being at this point) would check for that first.

 

best,

Mark

[93leg]

Yes. You can view these if you crawl under the car also. The sensor is mounted on the back of the axle housing. It has one wire coming out.

[lmdew]

If you end up needing parts, I just parted a 96 Legacy and all of the parts should swap over. Much less than the Dealer.

 

 

I'd make them fix it for Free, if they caused the problem.

 

Larry

 

Lmdew@hotmail.com