Retrieving ABS codes when there is no LED on unit

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Skip
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Retrieving ABS codes when there is no LED on unit

Post by Skip »

My 94 GT wagon has no LED on the ABS ECU

It's "ABS" light is on any time the engine is running.

What do I do to make the unit flash the "ABS" light
yielding the error code

Thanks in advance for any help
vrg3
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Post by vrg3 »

This is a North American model, right?

Are you absolutely sure there is no LED on the computer?
"Just reading vrg3's convoluted, information-packed posts made me feel better all over again." -- subyluvr2212
Skip
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pict of ABS comp

Post by Skip »

Thanks for the reply and to answer your
questions
Yes I believe it is a North American model

It was built in Indiana but I have no way of
telling if it was built for the N.A. market.

As for the light on the unit.
I cut the carpet away looking for it
Image

Then another member showed a pict of his and mine has no
LED. I do not believe it to be a replacement but anything is possible.

I thought there was a plug above the throttle
pedal with jumper leads taped to it.
Can't I plug a lead into the proper pin in the plug
and get the ABS light to flash the code?
vrg3
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Post by vrg3 »

Hmm, so you have an automatic, with the 2E ABS system? I don't really know anything about 2E... the earlier systems all had the light on the control unit.

But according to this article: http://endwrench.com/images/pdfs/ABS.pdf

You are correct; you need to ground a pin on a diagnostic connector and then the idiot light will flash out the trouble codes. Unfortunately, the article doesn't give all the necessary details.

But it does say early Imprezas also used the 2E system. So maybe you could try using this information meant for 93 Imprezas:

http://www.graphics.cornell.edu/~v/pics/93gcabs.pdf

There seems to be a good deal of Legacy information mixed up in that Impreza article, but maybe you can make sense of it... The codes are probably all the same, so if you can locate the L terminal on your car based on the illustration there, you should be able to do it.

Let us know if it works!
"Just reading vrg3's convoluted, information-packed posts made me feel better all over again." -- subyluvr2212
Legacy777
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Post by Legacy777 »

May want to check this out.
http://www.main.experiencetherave.com:8 ... s_diag.pdf

You may need to jumper the connector under the dash together and read the blinking of the abs light.
Josh

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1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
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Skip
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links an such

Post by Skip »

Thanks for links guy's
I downloaded and read all of them.

Then went in search of the connector.

I found a black "U" shapped 6 pin and it
looked like the picture but there was no wire in the lower
right corner?

I also found a yellow nine pin that looked similar.

None of the connectors had leads taped to them.

Will have another look at the links today and count pins in the pictured
connectors.

Thanks for the replies.
vrg3
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Post by vrg3 »

Hmm, the figure of the Impreza connector looks more like a 3-pin connector than a 8-pin.

Wait a second! I have a copy of the 93 Factory Service Manual supplement! It should have a full treatment of the 2E ABS system. Let me look it up.
"Just reading vrg3's convoluted, information-packed posts made me feel better all over again." -- subyluvr2212
vrg3
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Post by vrg3 »

D'oh. It says 'Refer to the previously issued Supplement "ABS-2E" (Pub. No. G208BE)."

I have no idea what to do with that publication number.

And the wiring diagrams section doesn't even include a section on the ABS system. :(

But hey! This might help: Josh has a bulletin with corrections to that publication.

http://www.main.experiencetherave.com:8 ... ABS-2E.pdf

It looks like you're looking for a 2-pin connector underneath the fuse box area. Hopefully there's only one.
"Just reading vrg3's convoluted, information-packed posts made me feel better all over again." -- subyluvr2212
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Post by professor »

I do believe that the .pdf files in this thread link are what you need

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthr ... did=192583
That beer you are drinking cost more than my car
Skip
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cornfused

Post by Skip »

Thanks for the links, looked at all of them

VRG I need to know what connector P58 looks like
Did you see a 2 pin connector in another picture?
The wiring diag, shows P12

Prof, thanks for the link, I went and looked at the .jpg files,
didn't see any .pdf files
It shows what looks like a six pin connector, I'll also look for it

I have been concentrating my search on the wrong side of the
st. col.

All other articles say the diag. connectors are ground wires.
If they are not present?

I don't know if I'm comfortable with sticking a ground wire in unknown
plugs

I wish one of the pictures would mention a color
I will assume black

Will look tomorrow and get back to you

Thanks again for all the time spent in this search
vrg3
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Post by vrg3 »

The PDF I most recently linked to shows where to look for the 2-pin P58 connector, and it's specifically for the BC/BF Legacy, so I'm pretty sure that's what you want.

I don't know what to say if you're worried about sticking the ground wire in... I'd say first see if you can find the connector, and if it's the only one of its type you can feel pretty confident about it.
"Just reading vrg3's convoluted, information-packed posts made me feel better all over again." -- subyluvr2212
Skip
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ah sorry

Post by Skip »

Sorry VRG3, I din't mean to dis you.
I downloaded the .pdf and blew the picture up as far as I could
but couldn't make out the shape or number of pins on the connector.
They only mention two pins so I guess there are only two.
Will look for it today and report what I find
vrg3
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Post by vrg3 »

It's cool.

What I mean is that the diagram to the left of the drawing shows the shape of the connector; it's two pins and has a locking tab on top.
"Just reading vrg3's convoluted, information-packed posts made me feel better all over again." -- subyluvr2212
Skip
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blind asa

Post by Skip »

VRG3, I'm just blind, thanks I now see where the connector pict is.

Guess I was looking so hard at the forest I missed the trees.

So I yanked the panel and
WHOOP dar it was, white two pin connector
So I grounded the L terminal

Turn on the ig sw and
My ABS light starts flashing like a christmas tree.

I have read Subaru error codes before

Saw what I believe was the start code (11)

Then there was a series of error codes, so many flashes
it was very difficult to read all of them.

They appear to match some of the codes on the link
Leg 777 gave for the early Impreza's
(i.e. 21 ,29, 31)

I think I should clear the codes and try it a fresh.

Is the clear memory proceedure the same as the early Impreza?

Does Josh have the rest of the 92/93 ABS service manual on line?

vrg3
Thanks for staying with this old blind bat,
we are getting somewhere
thanks to your help
vrg3
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Post by vrg3 »

:)

Yeah, early automatic Imprezas have basically the same ABS system as your car, so the codes should match up.

It couldn't hurt to clear the codes and see which ones return. That's usually the way to go with engine trouble codes. :)

But one notes that code 21 is for the RF sensor, and code 29 is for the tone wheel (I'm not sure what that means -- maybe it's saying the previous code is for the tone wheel rather than the sensor itself?), and code 31 is for the RF valve.

It seems odd that the valve and sensor would both be bad for the same corner... it's possible that the computer quit controlling the valve when it noticed the sensor problem.

With engine trouble codes, the proper procedure is to always fix the first code that comes up and then clear the codes before progressing to any others. Maybe that applies here too. So maybe you need to inspect your right front hub.
"Just reading vrg3's convoluted, information-packed posts made me feel better all over again." -- subyluvr2212
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Post by Legacy777 »

I'd make note of all the codes, clear them, and see what comes up again.
Josh

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1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
2020 Outback Limted XT

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Skip
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Post by Skip »

I agree

now

What proceedure do I use to clear the codes?

3 quick groundings of the "L" terminal??

We know that is the clear method for the other style connector

But what about this system?

That is why I asked for the rest of the FSM of the 93 Legacy ABS
system that VRG3 found.
vrg3
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Post by vrg3 »

I don't think any of us has access to the complete ABS 2E supplement...

I would say the 3 quick groundings is the right way to go. The End Wrench article says to do that too, and it's not specific to any particular model or year. Apparently you'll know you have it right because you can hear the relays in the hydraulic unit click when the codes clear.
"Just reading vrg3's convoluted, information-packed posts made me feel better all over again." -- subyluvr2212
Skip
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NO DICE

Post by Skip »

Well I gave it a shot

three quick grounding of the L terminal ---> nada

tried the other terminal --- > same

grounded both and hit the brake pedal --- > you guessed it - nothing


So I will recheck the tone rings and give a look at
all the sensors.
Wonder what kind of resistance value they have.
Sould check all at the ABS ECU and compare.


I have already electricly tested both relays in the ABS unit

The fuse in the under bonnet box is good.

I would like to have this fixed before the snow falls -read any time now.
vrg3
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Post by vrg3 »

Hmm, did you have the ignition switch on when you tried the clear procedures?
"Just reading vrg3's convoluted, information-packed posts made me feel better all over again." -- subyluvr2212
Skip
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ig sw

Post by Skip »

affirmative on the ig sw in the run position.

engine not running
ttmuench
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Post by ttmuench »

so I've got a 94 L wagon with the ABS-2E system. The light came on so I grounded the L connector and read the codes. Now I want to clear them, but grounding the L connector 3 time in 12 seconds with the key in the run position doesn't do anything! I tried pulling the battery cables for a good hour, but that didn't clear the codes either. Does anyone know the right way to clear the codes out of this ABS system?
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Post by Legacy777 »

If the code won't go away, there's a possibility the problem still exists.
Josh

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ttmuench
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Post by ttmuench »

okay so I figured it out. You have to ground the L connector and then turn the car ignition to run. Then you disconnect and reconnect the L connector 3X to reset the codes. When I did it this way the codes cleared.

When I couldn't figure out how to clear the codes, I was turning the ignition to the on position before grounding the L connector. Doh.

After clearing the codes I drove the car and only one of the codes came back #28. Bingo... after some more diagnostics I believe I need to replace my left rear abs sensor.
ciper
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Post by ciper »

It may be as simple as cleaning it. They are fairly strong magnets and after time its not unusual for them to be covered in a blob of ferrous material.
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