hades

This is ABS with EBD (Electronic Brakeforce Distribution). IIRC, not fitted to classic scoobs, which had plain old-fashioned 4 wheels on/off together type ABS - believe it came in somewhere with the new age cars?

bluepolarbear

I think you are mistaken or I was not clear.

Modern ABS works independantly on all four wheels eg if only one wheel is slipping it will work on that single wheel while not acting on the other three. It is this nature that can out perform a human who with only a single pedal has to impact the braking ability of all four wheels the moment one wheel slips (or make some other comprimise). 4 Channel ABS was available from around 97

EBD varies the total braking pressure / bias between the front and back wheels in an attempt to prevent real wheel lock up especially in an unleaded vechicle and normally operates before the ABS.

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Early scoobs are 3 channel ABS. So I suspect the rear wheels are not independantly controlled.

bluepolarbear

3 channel systems have 4 wheel sensors but the rear wheels are controlled as a pair.

urban

iTrader: (1)

Whats that got to do with ABS?

Shaun

NotoriousREV

It is on the MOT, though. It's like most things: if you don't have it, it can't fail but if you do have it, it has to work.

speedking

From this site

ABS WARNING LIGHTS
My car is fitted with an ABS system. The warning light has come on and the ABS doesn't work although the brakes work fine. Will this be acceptable for passing the MOT or must the ABS be working if fitted? Many thanks.

Hi, my father has a toyota celica 1.8, the MOT has expired And he's been trying to get it tested. He recently took the car to a Toyota dealer for a service prior to the MOT expiring. The service was carried out but the dealers cannot diagnose what is causing the ABS light to remain on. Despite two hours of testing/fault finding the problem remains unsolved, yet the ABS
system is fully operational. Despite the clean bill of health will it still pass an MOT with the light Illuminated? Mike

I bought a car with the extra option of ABS.
The ABS has failed as shown by the ABS warning light.
The basic function of the brakes is unimpaired.
Would the car fail its MOT just because the ABS is non functional ?

I am sorry to say that the regulations here are very clear. If there is a problem signalled by the ABS light, then that is an MOT failure. The Testing station would have no discretion at all.
The ABS system will have a special sequence of warning lights when the ignition is switched on to indicate that the system is functioning correctly. That is tested for the MOT. The ABS as such is not tested. So if, as a result of your ABS failure the warning lights show an incorrect indication, then that will result in an MOT failure. - MOTT

speedking

A blown headlamp bulb is an MOT failure. But if you had an accident in daylight when lights were not required then that shouldn't affect the outcome. Therefore similarly if it could be proved that lack of ABS did not affect the outcome of the incident then it should not affect the claim. It is very borderline and IMHO would be an extremely difficult claim to substantiate. Worth trying though considering the likely cost of failure.

Good luck.

mightyyid

Very good point, although I think that unless you swerved to hit a dear and clipped the kerb, rolling the car, ABS could be said to have had no involvement as there was not time. However, going too fast and then hitting ice, you probably would have had some time to hit the brakes and thus ABS was not there to help you. I have to say I'd see it as very difficult to ever get out of the fact that you disabled ABS and it 'could' have helped. Regardless of whether it would have done or not, the insurance company insures the car rather than you. Tamper with car, you tamper with your policy and therefore run the risk of cancellation.

You could have chipped the car, for example, and had a 20mph accident going into the back of someone who stopped unexpectedly. The chip made no difference to the speed you were travelling, but if found out, your insurance would be invalid. Same principle....

bluepolarbear

sorry typo - unladen

GaryClark

One point, watch out for those bridges in cold weather. The lack of ground underneath can mean that while the road is not icy yet, the tarmac on the bridge might be.

richto

Driving with a defective breaking system is what they will do you for. Which might also invalidate your insurance if you knew.