so the other day i started my car (97 cav 2.2 3speed auto) and went to put it in gear but i couldn't push the button down on the shifter. i was like wtf. so i pushed on it really hard and it finally went into gear. as i started driving my ABS light came on. not only is the ABS light on but i have no brake lights. the third brake light doesn't even come on when i step on the brake. i assume there is some issue with my ABS system. could it just be that the ABS fuse is blown and i need to replace it or is it more serious. how can i test to see if my ABS fuse is blown, because it is just an ugly grey box in the fuse panel in the engine bay, i can't see inside it or anything. my brakes work fine and there are no other problems with the car. everytime i go to drive the car i have to press really hard on the shifter button to get it out of park. i looked over all the fuses inside the car and they are all ok. any ideas?

anybody know how much an ABS fuse costs? if its relatively inexpensive i'll just go buy one to test my theory

I might be the brake light switch. Check that fuse with a dvom. You can check the resistance of the fuse with it out of the car. Check from one prong to the other. Don't just replace parts you don't need.



^^Home made sig^^ ghetto, I know. http://members.cardomain.com/blackoutfire

how do i check to see if the brake light switch is defective or not working properly? and i just checked the abs fuse for resistance and i got none. does that mean that it is blown? i appreciate the help. i also apologize for my lack of knowledge in this area

first off that gray "huse", isn't a fuse, its a relay, and if there no power, it wont have n e resitance, just switch with one relay that is the same (there should be three there) this really does sound like a brake switch, you may have to go under your dash, and you'll see a lil black cable go from your pedal, to a lil black rectangle, make sure the lil blue tab isnt broken, if it is, just glue it back in, now the brake switch itself may be why you have no brake lights




96 Sunfire, 2.4L Twin Cam 5 Spd, estimated 180hp

thank you sunfirepower97, i'll check that brake switch in the morning.

the brake switch looks ok. is there any way i can test to make sure that it is working properly? i also went to autozone to see if they could scan the code for me but they said that they couldn't. they guy referred me to a shop and said that they would scan the code for $50. 50 freakin dollars just to scan a code. needless to say, i didn't go to that shop. i'll just wait til i get a chance to go to the dealership. oh well. who needs brake lights anyway right

basically your ABS only works when your EBCM (or whatever its called on J-bodies) sees that you're braking, which i think is sees it through the brake switch.

If you do not have any brake lights and your ABS light is on, i would lean towards something with your brake light switch. The switch might be bad, or there might be an open in the wiring.

If you have a voltmeter, then go find your brake light switch, there should be (according to my hanyes) an orange and a white wire coming from the switch. orange power coming from the stop-haz fuse (20A) and the white wire goes to your 3rd brake light and the turn/hazard switch assembly. Dont worry about that for now.

Voltmeter - If you place the positive lead on the orange wire, and go to a good ground (battery ground if you can reach, or a chassis ground) you should have 12V or something close to it, whatever battery voltage is. Next, place the positive lead at the white wire (with it still connected to the switch) and the negative lead on a ground, and press down on the brake pedal, once you press down you should see about the same number from the first test. If you see something that is off by a volt or more, your switch is bad. If you get the same readng, but off by a tenth of a volt or less, then your switch is fine.

if you dont have a voltmeter, then go and buy a 12v testlight, make sure it has a very long cord.

Take the testlight and probe the orange wire and then take the clamp and go to ground... if your testlight lights up then you have power going to the switch which is good. Then leave the clamp on the ground and probe the white wire, (when doing these tests dont damage the connector!!) press on the brake pedal as you normally would. If your light lights up then your switch is fine, if it doesnt, then your switch is bad.




<img src="http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-11/504808/z28.jpg" width=317 height=59>

i just checked the switch with a voltmeter, 12 volts going in, none coming out when pushing on the pedal. so i guess that means its bad. anyone know how much a switch costs? do i have to get one through gm or can i pick on up at autozone or advance auto parts?

thanks for all the help.