95 EX, 85k miles. 40 miles per day mostly interstate commute.

A very general problem description is this: the ABS light comes on at random times. This issue has a variety of behaviors and triggers. One behavior is that it is very random and fairly rare in nature - I can go many hours or even days without it occurring, then it may occur several times within a short trip a few days later. As a result of this, my local honda dealer claims not to be able to recreate it and charged me $42.50 to drive it around for a day. They hooked up the computer and the computer says the light hasn't come on at all - so according to him, I'm delusional I guess. In any case, he offered no suggestions since he couldn't recreate it.

Here is the primary symptom:

I will be driving along, and the ABS light comes on, while simultaneously I hear a "click" which sounds like a solonoid under the passenger dashboard. Also at the same time I hear a noticeable electrical "pop" in the radio, if it is on. Sometimes when it happens, the speedometer will drop to 0 then recover in one instant movement. What happens after this primary behavior is one of several things:

1. The light goes off after a couple of seconds, and that's the end of it. This is my favorite kind. This happens about twice a week (once per 100 miles)
2. The light quietly stays on until I turn off the ignition and restart the car. This happens about once a month. (once per 500 miles)
3. The light goes off after a couple of seconds, then comes back on again, along with the solonoid click and radio pop. This is the most annoying behavior, especially when I'm on the interestate. Basically I'm bombarded with the light/click/pop cycling every 3 seconds or so until I slip the car in neutral, cut off the ignition, then restart it, which ends the process. This happens about once every 2 weeks (once every 250 miles).

The triggers that I have noticed, and they are not consistent, include:

1. Nothing. Usually it happens when I'm cruising down the interstate (which most of my driving is) - no brake tapping, no nothing. Just "click", light on, light off.
2. Turning on the headlights has triggered it on a couple of occasions.
3. Tapping the brake has triggered it on a couple of occasions.


Any suggestions?

 

do all ur gauges drop down for a second..or just the spedometer?

 

I don't know. The speedometer is the only one that's caught my eye - it happens in a brief instant - by the time I look down it's on the way back up already.

 

I am having the same problem....the clicking sound that you hear is the relays under the hood...mine lasts for a while....all the gagues fluctuate on mine though....

 

yeah..it sounds like a ground to me...

 

Any suggestions on how I can debug it further and perhaps even fix it?

 

bump

 

sounds like an electrical short of some kind. the POP you hear on the radio is the biggest clue, as it's most likely power going into the cars chassis, which is ground. I'd start looking at the wheel speed sensors at each wheel and start tracing them back. have you or anyone else modified the cars electrical system?

one more suggestion, is that you try another dealer or an independant shop that specializes in hondas or japanese imports. your dealer charging you $42.50 for shrugged shoulders and confused looks is rediculous. Personally, I'd be willing to give you all the confused looks you can stand for free. Shrugged shoulders will cost a 6-pk though.

 

Thanks jweller. Nobody has modified the electrical system - no mods at all on this car, just basic transportation to/from work. I will try another honda specialist. I agree with you on the $42.50 charge - trust me it pissed me off. I'm happy not ever going there again.