GCLove

I'm new to the site and I'm hoping someone can help.

I recently bought and picked up a 2001 JGC Laredo today. When I test drove it the ABS worked fine, kicked in when it was supposed to etc but I noticed at the time that there was a pulsation when breaking due to the warped rotor issues I've read so much about. So I ensured that the Used Car dealership replaced all the pads and rotors.

When I picked it up today that last thing the owner told me before I got in and drove away was that the ABS is very sensitive on these SUV's. I thought it was a odd statment but chalked it up to my previous test drive when I felt the ABS after I tramped on the brakes and figured he was describing that they worked really well.

Also another note to point out, when he was changing the brakes he made a comment that the ABS was acting weird afterwards.

So anyways I get in and drive away. Breaks work very well and very smooth. As I get to my first stop all of the sudden I feel the ABS kick in, I'm talking 5 to 10 KM's an hour and it goes on full boar. It did this the whole way home and very inconsistently, sometimes it would come on sometimes it wouldn't and always when I was approaching a stop. Anytime I was at crusing speed and had to tap on the break they worked and felt like normal breaks no ABS kicked in. I think I even felt it come on even before I hit the brakes a couple of times before coming up to a stop.

I re-read my manual, it mentions that the the Laredo does a self ABS test at 20KM's and that the driver may feel it occasionally if their foot was on the break pedal.

A few questions:

How often does the self test come on? Should it come on everytime I step on the gas from a stop light or sign?
Am I right in thinking that when they changed the brakes they broke a sensor or messed something up somehow so that now the ABS is malfunctioning??

What I am finding hard to believe is that the owner is trying to pass this over on me, I'd like to think that I'm a little more car savy then the average Joe as I usually do all my work myself and he's trying to make it sound like it's normal, I'm almost doubting myself because Jeep's are new to me.

Any feedback would be really appreciated and sorry for the novel

tks all!
Andre

04WJGuy

Well for starters no that's not normal behavior, you never mentioned though is your ABS light coming/ staying on? What may be happening is that when he put the new rotors on he may have tapped the sensor so it's dirty or misaligned on one of the wheels or possibly a broken or cracked wire. When I changed my rotors in the past the short axle shaft pulls out a bit when you remove the rotor and it takes a minute to re-align with the sensor. I don't know why he would have made a statement about the sensitivity of the ABS I've owned 3 WJ's and had no issues at all with any of them.

GCLove

Thanks for confirming I'm not crazy. I was thinking about that, the ABS light works and it isn't on. I brought it back this morning and they are going to look at it on Monday. I was pretty much telling them the same thing that their mechanic somehow messed up the sensor.

I'm hoping this gets fixed soon, I paid for it in full over a week ago and still don't have it in my driveway. I'll post back when this gets resolved.

CrazyWJ242

i have actually noticed the ABS test while gently resting my foot on the pedal, it will go in just the slightest little bit, not a full blown deceleration of applying the brakes

but hopefully they fixer up for ya

04WJGuy

Something to check when you get it back is to check if the PCM threw any codes. When you put the key in the ignition turn it to on (don't start it) off, on, off, on after the 3rd on read what it says in the odometer. If there is a code it will show for a couple seconds and when it's finished it will flash "done".
Hopefully they get it resolved for you.

mr blondie

i had a similar problem it was corrected by tightining the axle bolts(my problem was in the front) but check all bolts holding brakes and abs sensors.

hope this helps good luck

GCLove

Thanks for all the input guys, I brought it back Saturday morning. I'm supposed to hear from them today as they said it would be fixed and I will be able to pick it back up end of day today.

I hope they fix it too, it was a serious downer on my whole weekend.

GCLove

Well it turns out that when the Mechanic was replacing the rotors one of them was seized on the front right side and when he was banging away on it with a hammer he apparently broke the sensor. I picked it up earlier this week and it now works the way it's supposed, very smooth and tight ride I totally love this SUV.

Thanks for your input guys, again it helped reinforce my conviction to see this thing through. The owner was very apologetic and kept thanking me for being so patient. I wonder if he would have acted the same way with someone with less automotive inclination.

Have a good one

04WJGuy

Glad to hear it turned out well for you.