When your ABS light illuminates in your 2012 Honda Pilot, it could indicate an issue
with its traction control system. Traction control systems are susceptible to
breakdown since they’re located close to wheels where they’re exposed to dirt,
debris, salt, rain and snow as well as other road hazards.
An issue with the wheel speed sensor is usually at the root of any traction control
and ABS light appearing, here are some steps on how to diagnose and rectify it.
Faulty Wheel Speed Sensor
ABS sensors constantly monitor each wheel of your vehicle and relay this
information to the ABS control module. If a sensor fails, this may activate an ABS
warning light as well as cause other problems like pulsing brake pedal or loss of
traction and stability control.
A typical sensor comprises of a coil of wire wrapped around a magnetic core coupled
with an abs “ring”, featuring teeth that correspond with those found on your wheel
axle shaft or hub assembly. As your wheel spins, this sensor sends signals back to its
computer that increase in frequency and amplitude as its speed does; any
malfunction will trigger diagnostic codes which a mechanic can read off with special
scan tools to identify other errors within your abs system.
Faulty ABS Pump
If your brake pedal requires more pressure than usual or is unresponsive, this could
be a sure sign that the ABS pump in your Honda Pilot is starting to fail and requires
professional attention as soon as possible to minimize further damage to your
vehicle. It is vital that if this occurs to seek assistance immediately for prevention of
further damages to your Honda Pilot vehicle.
ABS pumps are designed to automatically reduce braking pressure on one or more
wheels if they detect that they have lost contact with the road, taking into account
input signals from wheel speed sensors.
With a reliable OBDII scanner, it should be easy to determine exactly which sensor
in your system is faulty and triggering the light to illuminate. Once this issue is
addressed, most likely both the traction control and ABS lights will turn off
automatically.
Faulty ABS Relay
Faulty fuses or relays that don’t function can prevent the ABS system from receiving
electricity, prompting its lights on the dashboard to illuminate and its performance
mimicking that of older traditional systems.
Wheel speed sensors may fail if they’re located close to the road surface and
exposed to dirt, salt, or debris. A physical inspection should suffice in identifying any issues with these components; otherwise consult your service manual for specific values and pinouts or use an OBDII scanner for fault code decoding to pinpoint faulty components quickly and replace them quickly.
Faulty ABS Cylinder
If your ABS and Traction Control lights continue to illuminate, it’s a clear indicator of
system issues. A professional should usually handle this job and should do it at their
shop as quickly as possible.
If the traction control and abs brake lights are illuminated continuously, it indicates
that your computer has detected an issue with one of your sensors. An easy way to
identify which sensor has failed is using a code reader which can read ABS codes.
Resetting the sensor may also help. To do this, disconnecting the battery cable
before taking steps such as unbolting and disconnecting electrical connector from
wheel speed sensor. Finally, physically inspect sensor for damage or corrosion.
Faulty ABS Module
The ABS module controls wheel speed sensors that are susceptible to malfunction
due to their proximity to road surfaces, where they may become covered in debris
such as sand, salt, dirt, ice or snow – or rain! A defective sensor may cause your
vehicle to think that more pressure should be applied on its brake pedal than
necessary.
Repair of an ABS module can be completed, though professionals are usually the
best choice. An initial visual inspection and check of wires and connectors for signs
of damage or corrosion is a good starting point to identify what part might be
malfunctioning, while using a good code scanner to help identify specific DTC codes
corresponding to malfunctioning sensors can provide further clues as well.