ABS Issues - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

Matley · 12-31-2004, 05:28

My 96 EF II XR6 has just developed a problem with the ABS. The light has come on on the dash. It comes on as soon as the ignition is turned on and stays on. It is supposed to extinguish after 8 sec. I have retrieved the error code by shorting appropriate pins and it reports code 12 - No faults. It intermittantly reports a code 63 - Power problems to modulator. I remove the shorting link during code readout to clear it, but the light remains.

My question is, where is the relay that supplies the power to the modulator motor? As I suspect an intermittant relay, as recently I have had issues with the relays being infested with ants. There is a bank of relays in front of the air-box but they are labelled 1,2,3,4. What are they all for?

fairmont1998 · 12-31-2004, 17:44

Firstly, welcome to the forums.

It looks like the power relay for the ABS is built into the ABS module according to the wiring diag. I'll attach the diagram for you to look at.

Darin.

Matley · 12-31-2004, 18:55

Thanks Darin, The circuit will help greatly, I will go over all the connectors, and clean the wheel sensors just to be certain.

Matley · 01-01-2005, 04:34

Thanks to the circuit provided by Darin, I checked all the cabling and connectors. I then removed the modulator from the car and pulled the relay box apart. Inside is 2 large (50amp) relays. I found that one of them had a short circuit protection diode across the coil. Not being able to pull the assembly apart anymore, I prised the dodgy relay out, as they are spot welded in place. I then substituted another relay in its place by soldering short lengths of high current wire from the original connection points to the new relay. I reassembled the whole lot, put it back in the car, and now she work beaut. No warning lights, and fully functional ABS. Its sad to think that the individual parts can be replaced on these ABS modulators, however Ford will only sell you a whole new assembly at a premium price!!!!

fairmont1998 · 01-01-2005, 06:10

Excellent, glad to see you had a good result without having to spend big dollars.