Anti-lock brake system technology has been around a lot longer than you think. This added safety feature helps ensure you can stop your automobile no matter the driving conditions. Euro Autoworks can service and maintain your European automobile’s ABS to make certain you can always rely on it. If you get an ABS dashboard warning, we can also find the problem and fix it. Let’s talk about ABS and how it has evolved over the years to benefit personal vehicles.
Anti-Lock Braking History
Anti-lock or anti-skid braking technology dates back to the 1920s. That’s right. Some automobiles had ABS installed on them a century ago, although this was rare. The technology hit the aircraft industry in World War II, and personal automobiles saw a surge in ABS installations in the 1990s to boost vehicle safety and reduce the numbers of automobile accidents caused by vehicle control loss.
How ABS Works
An anti-lock or anti-skid braking system is a simple concept. The systems are designed to prevent your brakes from locking and your vehicle from skidding when you slam on the brakes. The ABS system senses the start of a skid and pumps hydraulic pressure as quickly as 15 times per second to unlock the brakes and stop the skid. This helps you maintain steering control of your vehicle.
Different ABS Types
Anti-lock braking systems come in three ways: one-channel with one sensor, three-channel with three sensors, and four-channel with four sensors. The four-channel ABS is the best. It has a sensor on each wheel so it can micromanage each wheel’s response. Three-channel systems have two sensors in the front and one in the back. One-channel systems have one sensor in the rear.
Common ABS Problems
If you end up with an anti-lock brake system problem on your automobile, the ABS light will illuminate on the dashboard. Common causes of an ABS warning include
- Malfunctioning ABS sensors
- Malfunctioning sensor wiring
- Contaminated ABS sensors
- Damaged system wiring
- Hydraulic control unit failure
- False sensor feedback
The latter will cause your vehicle’s engine control module to report an ABS problem (turn on the light) when there actually isn’t a problem at all. An ABS test can find any issues.
Bring your automobile to Euro Autoworks for all of your brake service and repair needs. This includes the anti-lock brake system. Our European automotive service shop in Woodbury, MN, is staffed with experienced technicians who work primarily on European automobiles. We know what we’re doing!