ABS Problem

[mb1omar]

Hey everyone,
 

I've been having trouble with the ABS on my Honda Civic MB1. Most of the time (about 80-90%), the ABS doesn't work. On the rare occasions it does work, turning off the car and restarting it usually causes the ABS to stop working again.

The ABS warning light stays on even after turning off the car, so I've to remove the bulb to prevent draining the battery. The Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) that shows up is 1-8 (three times). However, the DTC codes in this forum don't match the ones in a Spanish manual I got from another forum.
 

Has anyone else experienced something similar or know what might be causing this? Any advice would be appreciated!
 

Thanks!

[dr_broon]

Abs is a bit of a nightmare on these cars. @Dave had loads of fun trying to track down a problem on his - can't quite remember the symptoms or the fix though.

Just wondering, is the Spanish manual for the m civics? Not sure if the codes are different for m's compared to other hondas at the time. 

[mb1omar]

7 hours ago, dr_broon said:

Abs is a bit of a nightmare on these cars. @Dave had loads of fun trying to track down a problem on his - can't quite remember the symptoms or the fix though.

Just wondering, is the Spanish manual for the m civics? Not sure if the codes are different for m's compared to other hondas at the time. 

Yes, it shows that it's for MB1.
Is this guide valid for all M's?

 

[dr_broon]

As far as I know it is, it used to be a thread that got turned into a guide. 

Every time I've had an abs fault it's been a sensor, and sometimes they are intermittent and the faults come and go. 

If the code you're getting is 18, then that would be a wheel sensor according to this guide... What is the other guide telling you? 

[mb1omar]

The spanish one tells me "High presure system". In case it's just the sensor how could I check it if it's the sensor without having to buy a new sensor?
The probable causes for the high pressure system are:

• Accumulator gas leakage.
• Changed relief valve set pressure.
• Rear outlet solenoid valve late to close.
• Changed pressure switch set pressure.

[dr_broon]

Strange, that description doesn't seem to match any of the faults in the workshop manual. It even sounds like a different type of system? 

 

I just googled the probable cause you quoted, and the first result was about a 97 accord

https://honda-tech.com/forums/honda-accord-1990-2002-2/abs-code-3231043/

 

From the workshop manual it sounds like the accumulator is part of the abs module, rather than a

Separate part. 

 

Try downloading the workshop manual from the downloads section, and have a look in section 19-B, there's a description of the abs system for the m civics, and a diagnostic fault finding flowchart, which should help on down the problem. 

 

 

[AdzVTIS]

Heya,

 

The worry is the light on after shutdown, it should go off. Mine had a poor after market alarm installed which caused the door sensors to short which was a mystery for ages as it caused a parasitic leech draining the battery.

 

Has there been any mods you might be unaware of, any filled fuses that should be blank or odd wiring anywhere?

 

Fairly sure euro codes are region wide? as opposed to US/JDM, 18 codes are super common, I think you can just unplug the sensor and do the multi meter test to check them.

 

"Spin the Wheel: Carefully spin the wheel by hand while keeping the sensor detached but not removed. When the magnetic field strength (Hall Effect type) or the teeth on the reluctor ring pass by the sensor (magnetic type), you should see a small voltage fluctuation on the multimeter (if it is set to AC volts)."

 

You could also check resistance I think, to see if it's shorted to earth.