'98 GM, Buick Regal, Anti-lock Brakes Always Engaged

Your insurance provider will have an opinion.

As will anybody you rear-end.

I would try to correct this as soon as possible,,,,been there,,done that,,,totally, un-safe.

Joe in Texas

I would trade this car in for something from the late 60's, either Ford or GMC. These issues won't come up. When you push the brakes, the car will stop. If it doesn't, it can be fixed in 2-3 hours.

I'm not delighted to have Bill Gates on my desk top, I damn sure don't want him under my hood.

Check for a corroded ground point and fix it. These had very small brains and are easily confused.

you need to stop driving it, the abs can stop the brakes working completely

My 1995 Suburban just started to act up - a wheel would lock when I'd touch the brake at low speed. It was very annoying...

My solution was to pull the 30 amp breaker for the ABS.

Now, the brakes work perfectly.

A caveat to my solution is that its been said that brakes can fail to work due to a problem with the ABS system; I have no idea if this applies to the 1990's GM ABS system. However, my brakes are working perfectly.

A response to my solution could be "Oh my, how incredibly dangerous and reckless to operate a vehicle without ABS". None of my other dozen vehicles have ABS. Not even the airplane. Suddenly we'll all die in a firey crash without ABS?

Keeping a respectful distance from the car in front, Rock

YOUR LAST SENTENCE IS GREAT ADVICE FOR ALL.

A response to my solution could be "Oh my, how incredibly dangerous and reckless to operate a vehicle without ABS". None of my other dozen vehicles have ABS. Not even the airplane. Suddenly we'll all die in a firey crash without ABS?

Hi its not that driving without ABS is sudenly dangerous its the system fitted to your vehicle that gave you the ABS thats the problem.

If you understand how ABS works you would understand, the system has the power to release the brakes while your pressing like mad on the brake pedal.

the releasing and applying of the brakes is done very fast, BUT if the system released the brakes while you was operating the brakes and didnt reaply the brakes you would have no brakes at all, Thats the danger

and the faulty system could even apply the brakes without you having to touch the break pedal if it went faulty

Good post and probably the problem.

To the OP, don't follow some of the other REALLY DUMB tips you have been given, do NOT disable the ABS, just go and get it fixed PROPERLY, ONCE!!

I couldn't fix your brakes, so I made your horn louder...

I don't know where you are, but if you are in the rust/snow belt region of the continent, then you should know that GM had problems with ABS sensors corroding and losing the signal so you should go with jvrj's suggestion. It is economical and may bring a good safety item back to proper useage.

Since the antilock warning is on, then you have codes stored in the little black box which should help you greatly in diagnostics. It does seem that one of the sensors on one of the wheels has shot craps or is fouled, but the code will give you that info and you'll be able to get a cheaper, safer fix. Unless you are the electro/mechanical engineer that gave birth to this system, I would strongly advise not disconnecting ANYTHING. It places a great liability on you, and puts us all at risk for its failure.

Good luck.

Hello All,

1998-99's had a sensor on the differential that is used to supply information to the (sic) Speed Control Module, Power Control Module, and ultimately the Speedometer and the ABS warning light. Check for proper grounding (as previous), connections (and, I say this because the actual fault in the '99 Chevy Van was at the connector at the firewall) and for frayed wiring.

Any way you cut it (pun, intended), these are a BEAR to chase down and are usually a case of frayed wiring that rubs up against a frame member somewhere.

Respectfully submitted,

GLB

check the sensors at each wheel, rust can build up under the sensor were it bolts to the spindle. this will increase the air gap and cause the sensor to read a lower MPH than the others. this is seen as a locking wheel to the ECU and that causes the ABS to cycle every time you stop. pull the sensors out carefully and clean the mounting surface and smear a small amount of wheel bearing grease on the pad.

i would fix the problem and not bypass the system, you will always have the base brakes if ABS does not work or malfunction but think SAFTEY FIRST!

The ABS system has a fuse or relay which can be removed to make the system inoperable. It will make the brakes behave like any car without ABS. However, the problem is almost certainly one of the ABS sensors. For an older model like yours they should be relatively inexpensive. ...and disconnect ASAP! Letting the ABS system run like that is dangerous for stopping and running continuously will burn the system out. Also, there are ABS code readers which will tell you specifically what sensor is bad. These readers are different than OBDII readers. I you want to save some time, a small shop (not a dealer) should be able to sort this out quickly.

Hi Iris,

$1200??? did this include putting a new (used) car around the existing brakes? Better ask your mechanic if he/she has a vacation planned, just tell em you want to come with them, and you`ll drive!

I am not sure who gave you that $1200 figure (and you were not told what exactly the problem is?!), but it does sound like a wheel sensor / ground fault wiring issue.

In my estimation - 30 minutes max. to locate the problem, perhaps 1-2 hours labour and $200 max in parts, assuming that is the issue, still pretty far away from $1200, but heck a good vacation is worth it!

Get that fixed don`t mess around with brakes and consider changing your mechanic.

I recall not too long ago a similar problem with my 1997 F350. Something that did not really occur to me until I sat down a deeply pondered matters. My problem was with the Speed Sensor Transducer which resides in the rear differential housing. I had a single wire that had been damaged. I simple solder up and heat shrink and the ABS problem vanished. Your Buick is about the right era for that sort of malfunction...... My $0.02.