The ABS and TCS lights come on when i start the car and it stays on. The ABS kicks in sometimes when i brake. For example when im driving normal speed and i brake, the ABS turns on and the brake pedal rumbles. Anyone have a clue on what this might be or know how i could fix it? Thanks.

 

what year car do you have? The 04+ TL has VSA (Vehicle Stability Assist), and the 1999-2003 TL's had TCS. Sonds like a bad ABS/TCS unit

 

Did you recently work on the brakes and possibly damaged the speed sensor located on each wheel
Without that- the brakes go crazy

In the meantime- turn off the TCS

 

I have a 02 TL, the TCS light stays on even if i turn it off. I just bought the car not too long ago and it just started doing that.

 

The ABS light stays on after starting and it activate randomly out of nowhere. Isnt it only supposed to activate at high speed turns?

 

NO! The ABS is for the brakes, and should activate only when the wheel sensors detect incipient lock-up of the tires/brakes.
TCS is the traction control and operates when a loss of traction is detected.

Check the 2G section of this site (your 2002 is a 2nd Generation TL), but your symptoms sound like those that occur when an automatic transmission is failing.

 

If you have to drive it before you get the problem fixed, I would pull the ABS fuse and disable it completely. I almost crashed my old Porsche because of this problem. Might be something as simple as a bad wheel sensor or pinched wire but you don't need abs kicking in prematurely. That's a safety issue.

 

ABS will activate itself on certain wheels if you get into a pretty good slide to bring the rear back in line. It's happened to me when I forgot to turn the TCS off.

 

So what should i do to get this all fixed? instead of pulling the fuse, is that safe?

 

Pulling the fuse is only to get you to a shop
Take it to a brake specialist shop and describe what its doing

The ABS light comes on for a few seconds at startup while it does a self test
It lights up driving when there is a problem of any sort- or it thinks there is a problem
Since you recently got the car and dont know its history- have a shop take a look at everything for you. Its simple for them to look at the brakes and check for bad wire leads etc

On a gen 2 car the TCS will activate when you spin a tire below 15 MPH- then it stops working- when its working the TCS light blinks. When you turn it OFF (for drag racing say) the TCS light STAYS on to let you know its OFF
YELLOW means check this!
The ABS Anti Lock Brakes, operates any time you stand on the brakes realllly hard- and the wheel speed sensor says lockup conditions- then it releases some of the pressure you are applying to the pedal and then puts pressure again- it repeats this super fast until equal wheel speed exist (the simple explanation)

The gen3 cars have a stabilty control system that will control each wheel speed when needed to save you from ill advised movements

 

Pulling the fuse is not a permanent fix but it's still safer than driving around with ABS kicking in anytime it feels like. Worst case scenario: you're driving a car with no ABS just like millions did in the 80s and earlier. It's not that big of a deal but ABS kicking in whenever it feels like is.

If it's throwing a light, there's a trouble code stored in the computer that can easily be brought up by a tech.

 

The only time I have actually used the ABS is when I test it!
Other than that- knowing the limits of your car, its brakes and tires- is lifesaving!
And paying attention several cars ahead of you helps too- not car lengths- cars

The ABS does not operate in normal situation braking.
Not including wet situations- the time it does activate is when panic stop method of pedal pressure is used, and then its intention is for you to be able to have control to avoid the problem in front of you- all while keeping your foot on the brake pedal- if it pulses- you are in ABS mode
Engineers call it Stomp and Steer
Locked wheels/brakes go in a straight line
Rotating tires allow you to turn the wheel and it responds

 

1) Read the following sticky thread (and any other tranny issue of interest) in the 2G section: https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=113297
2) Visit a dealer service department, esp. if the car was Certified used or if you are under warranty, whether extended or add-on.
One more note: If the car seems to operate normally, but the lights are activating (i.e. brakes are not pulsating, etc.), then it is most likely bad sensors or a bad auto tranny .
G/L!

 

Thanks a lot. The car seems to operate normally, but the ABS and TCS lights are activating. The brakes only pulse once in a while at stops. How much would you think it is to fix this problem?

 

It could be less than $50 or more than $500. If it's just a wheel sensor that you can do yourself (best case scenario) it will be cheap. If it's a controller/pump, it's going to be expensive. I had a 92 3 series BMW that would pulse the pedal at the exact same speed everytime I stopped. It was only a wheel speed sensor and I fixed it for $25 and 30 minutes of my time. Find someone that will pull codes for free or at least very cheap and go from there.

 

That actually sounds like good news-- more likely bad wheel sensors or bad ABS modulator/controller than a $2500+ transmission (assuming no warranty).

 

where would i be able to go to pull the codes?

 

Autozone- Kragen- any big name parts store does it for free

Agree with Will- read the trans failure thread- you may not have a brake problem!!

 

ok. thanks guys