Is It Safe To Drive Your BMW X1 With The ABS Light On in Tolleson? In general, the anti-lock braking system or the ABS in your car ensures that the tires are sticking to the road while you are braking. Thus, the main function of the ABS in your vehicle can prevent the wheels from locking up and increase stopping distance. If you found that the tires in your BMW X1 are losing contact with the road, then it can end up skidding on the road. Due to numerous reasons, the anti-lock braking system of the car may cause serious breakdown and challenging conditions such as skidding. On the other hand, the failed ABS also affects the braking performance of the car, especially in wet or icy conditions. When it happens, you have to consult with a professional mechanic to diagnose and fix the problem as soon as possible.
What do you mean by ABS? Commonly, the anti-lock braking system or ABS is a highly essential safety component in your BMW X1 that can prevent the wheels from locking up under hard braking and maintain the control as well as limit the causes of car skidding. Whenever you are applying the brakes hard in an emergency, it will avoid the collision through its sensors means the sensors of each wheel are sending a message to the ECU to determine when the wheels lock up and skid. To prevent the wheels from locking up, the ECU is releasing the brakes on each wheel intermittently and allowing them to control your car. When you start a vehicle ABS will turn on the ABS light automatically and the light will go off after a few minutes. If the light stays on for longer, then it's a clear sign that the ABS stops functioning and affect the functions of the normal braking. At this point, bring your BMW to a reputed auto repair shop for fixing the problem.
Reasons behind the ABS light coming on Due to numerous reasons, the ABS light of the BMW X1 stops functioning. By using an OBD-II scanner, you can easily determine the causes behind the activated light in your car. The following points define a few of the common reasons behind the ABS light comes on in BMW.
Failed speed sensor The main function of the wheel speed sensor in your car is to record the actual speed of the wheels and sends that information to the ECU for controlling the ABS. If the ECU finds that one
wheel of the car is moving slower than the others, then it will allow the brake fluid to move that wheel for moving them at the same speed and maintain the grip of the tires on the road. If the speed sensor of the car stops working, then the ECU is unable to get the right amount of data and activate the ABS light on the dashboard. When it happens, you have to take your car to a licensed mechanic for a specific diagnosis and repair.
Damaged hydraulic pump Generally, the ABS has a hydraulic pump that is controlling the brake fluid pressure efficiently. Moreover, the pump is releasing the brake fluid through a cylinder for controlling the brakes during normal braking. By getting the reading from the ABS module, the ABS can lower the brake pressure on each wheel. For any reason, if the hydraulic pump is not working properly, then it will affect the whole function of the ABS. Eventually, the pump is worn out and contaminates the brake fluid from the outside dirt or metal shavings.
Bad ABS module Like the other parts of the ABS, the ABS module also gets failed in your BMW because that is associated with the wiring. When it happens, the wires get damaged due to corrosion that can delay the communication between the wheel speed sensor and the ABS module. In the worst cases, you have to replace the ABS module as soon as possible.
Low brake fluid Basically, the ABS module is relying on the hydraulic brake fluid for driving the cylinder in order to function the brakes efficiently. If the brake fluid of the car is lower down due to a leaky seal, leaky fluid reservoir, or air in the ABS, then it will affect the operations of the ABS and need to fill the fluid reservoir more often. In worst cases, the low level of brake fluid also activates the ABS light on the dashboard. If it happens, then it will unevenly balance the brake pressure on each of the wheels and cause skidding or other issues.
Is it safe to drive with an ABS light? If the ABS light of the BMW X1 comes on, it’s always advisable to stop driving on the road. Driving in these conditions in the middle of the road can lock up the wheels and skid the car uncontrollably in any direction. When it happens, you have to tow the car to a reputed shop and avoid driving it.
Moreover, ABS is a complex safety feature that has multiple speed sensors and modules. If you found that the ABS light comes on in BMW X1 while driving on the roads of Tolleson and then consults with a reputed local mechanic for diagnosing the causes behind the problem and fixing it accordingly.