Main IndexAuto Repair Home Search Posts SEARCH
POSTS
Who's Online WHO'S
ONLINE
Log in LOG
IN









Search Auto Parts

1999 Chevy Lumina Ls 3.1L ABS Brake Issue!


  Email This Post



Jason Voorhees
New User

Nov 22, 2015, 1:14 AM

Post #1 of 7 (2300 views)
post icon 1999 Chevy Lumina Ls 3.1L ABS Brake Issue! Sign In

Hello,


I just bought this work car about 2 months ago, and have dumped a lot of money into the braking system as follows.


1: 2 rear brake lines replaced do to severe rust caused them to blowout.
2: Passenger front brake caliper replaced do to lockup
3: Front Rotors replaced.
4: Rear drum brakes rebuilt.
(The braking system was bleed after all this, but I don't feel I got all the air out as the brakes are kinda spongy after several attempts, but enough pedal so I gave up on that.

Ok, now for the issue I had to slam on the brakes in the snow as someone cut me off and I didn't feel the ABS engage and I could tell it was full lockup. I haven't gotten any warning lights what so ever so I have no clue what could be causing this issue.. I'm really concerned about this issue as my wife uses this car for work and with snow here this isn't safe for her to drive.
(If it matters the engine runs great)
I would really appreciate any help.. Thanks


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Nov 22, 2015, 5:13 AM

Post #2 of 7 (2288 views)
Re: 1999 Chevy Lumina Ls 3.1L ABS Brake Issue! Sign In

Friend - you have to bleed out the brakes properly if you need to send it out for just that or whatever.
Does the bulb even work in "bulb check mode" meaning most warning lights will light when cranking or when key is on engine is not running?
I think most GMs of this era will keep ABS light ON if you pull the fuse, just for ABS for a test also.
They might work and you don't know it! Total slippery for any reason, snow and ice most common if you slam on brakes all wheels lock easily and the car is looking for one or more not the same as they others to activate ABS. If all stopped the car thinks it's not moving. You can get codes read for ABS and would and test it need to drive in a safe place where say you can get just the right side on something slippery and the other on dry road and test then. One steady push no pumping or you confuse it and will lose braking control.


Other is especially with rust and age, wear alone can you can get dust with rust or not that prevents sensors at wheels from working. Default is regular braking action and ABS light should stay lit.
I live this too like millions of people. LEARN HOW TO DRIVE OR DON'T in ice and snow. If new to this learn - I mean it. The degree and types of slippery vary totally area and by the exact spot while underway. Tires can only grab a surface as well as conditions allow no matter what funk features a car has.


Watch this meant to be amusing but see even lack of snow in one scene it's so slippery you can't even stand up it that never mind drive in it so you don't. If you live with these conditions you deal with it, wait it out.
Video link general not allowed but shows how impossible it can get well.....
https://www.youtube.com/embed/xkk7DX0l95A
Other: When doing brake work what you do to one side (frozen caliper you said) you do them both, not one. If not even on both sides ABS could just shut down too confused but should light up as said. You just got this car and perhaps bulb was removed or broken to conceal ABS doesn't work and could be wildly costly to fix. Mandatory to fix where I am if vehicle was equipped with it new or that vehicle is technically not allowed on public roads!


Get it bled out properly, get codes, clean sensors, both calipers new and see what you have to work with,


T



Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Nov 22, 2015, 6:29 AM

Post #3 of 7 (2283 views)
Re: 1999 Chevy Lumina Ls 3.1L ABS Brake Issue! Sign In

The brakes have to be bled electronically using a bidirectional scan tool with ABS software.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Nov 22, 2015, 6:51 AM

Post #4 of 7 (2279 views)
Re: 1999 Chevy Lumina Ls 3.1L ABS Brake Issue! Sign In

Thanks HT. Wasn't sure for this but suspected that. OP - do any further brake work before bleeding out properly.
I have found drum ABS sensors especially do make a connection of dust/dirt and can just blow some out and be done. Suggestion is when rotating tires take drums off, lube hub so no hassles to do so, dump out brake dust - not maybe it will be in there. It's a hazmat so contain what you get, never be where you can breath that!


No offense meant by "learn how to drive in this junk" or you'll get in trouble or stuck and be a problem to others. No joke, if that important and things are to be at a job or whatever go way ahead of a storm/situation. Here, like hospitals nobody goes home till the replacement help comes in as do other 24 hour things + places and take that in stride where I am which is like many areas,


T



Jason Voorhees
New User

Nov 26, 2015, 3:12 AM

Post #5 of 7 (2246 views)
Re: 1999 Chevy Lumina Ls 3.1L ABS Brake Issue! Sign In

Hello,
Thanks for your responses so to answer your questions the abs light doesn't come on anymore during the test phase of startup. I replaced the ABS bulb for good measure and still nothing. I don't see rust or corrosion as the issue as I checked all that out already and the rust has stayed away from that area of the car.
I also tested the ABS on pure ice and it did not engage. If the brakes weren't bled properly would that cause the ABS to not engage?


I will however replace that other caliper as suggested and have my mechanic bleed the system, but I have a feeling it's not this easy.




Thanks!


(This post was edited by Jason Voorhees on Nov 26, 2015, 3:22 AM)


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Nov 26, 2015, 3:55 AM

Post #6 of 7 (2232 views)
Re: 1999 Chevy Lumina Ls 3.1L ABS Brake Issue! Sign In

Arggh! Can't make ABS light, light up. My guess is it has defaulted to non ABS braking action. Since just acquired so recently and the issues already someone may have found a way to make the warning not light up.
IDK how poorly bled is going to behave but it can't be helping anything. The new caliper to match the other side means back to bleeding it again. The idea is 99% of calipers are redone from your old one and you want them to match. Some might use a different piston type of material - can't speak for all.
Testing on glare ice if ABS works would be valid if you found ice for just one side of the vehicle and allowed those wheels to skid and the others roll at the speed of the car. This car and era of abs doesn't know how fast the car is going or stopped already if all wheels are stopped and skidding even if you are moving how could it know?
It's my opinion not everyone's but the thought that THE CAR is supposed to know what to do and not the driver seems nuts. Basically I don't like the idea of ABS brakes or make it such that you can turn it off. Regular braking action and know how on glare ice with near zero traction will do as well or better with the right driver. Brakes are your total enemy on glare ice as you'll lose all steering if only to aim for a better accident or avoid one than aimless skidding.
Not the whole point here. It's a '99 so fix the mechanicals up to par and I suggest you get the final bleed out job done and codes read for any info about ABS and what you want to do or have to do to be legal about it which is different from place to place.


IDK - I/we share roads and hope other drivers are respecting others with their own driving, habits of driving that can affect others or cause an accident because of neglecting something they know isn't right. Enough surprises happen.


Question is what do you want to do now? Fix/replace what is left and send it out to finish off bleeding and find out ABS situation? I do suggest that.


You should be able to end up with a decent and safe car out of this just a few more bucks and hopefully forget proper brakes for a good while,


T



Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Nov 26, 2015, 6:50 AM

Post #7 of 7 (2224 views)
Re: 1999 Chevy Lumina Ls 3.1L ABS Brake Issue! Sign In

It sounds like the ABS module is DOA for some reason. That is going to be a big problem simply because you won't be able to electronically bleed the hydraulic unit if the system doesn't work. You probably should start testing all the fuses in the system and hope that it's just a blown fuse because you may never get a good brake pedal without that system being able to bleed itself.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.







  Email This Post
 
 


Feed Button




Search for (options) Privacy Sitemap