Expert: Skip Bollinger - 10/26/2006

Question
I drive a 99 olds alero.  I had new brakes put on and about a month later anytime I start my car my low trac light comes on and my brakes make a weird thumping noise like my anti-lock breaks are trying to kick in when I press the break pedal.  Then after about a minute or so or if I go over a bump my ABS light will come on and stays on but then the breaks are fine.  What would cause this?

Answer
Christy,
  I decided, when I joined this organization, I would answer ALL questions. Even if I wasn't able to solve the problem, I felt I could give people direction as to where they might go to get a proper answer. Such is the case here. I haven't a clue as to what the problem might be. I'm a Parts Professional, NOT a tech but here are my thoughts.
  Since the ABS light is coming on, there should be a "Code" set in the computer. I don't know where in the country you are but I know O'Reilly Auto Parts and others have computer scanners that can pull codes out of the computer to give you some direction as to where to look for the problem.
  There is a web site that, for a fee, you can access repair "trees" for problems with your car. You "buy" time and enter your VIN. Then you look for the problem area (ABS in your case) and it will give you a step by step testing until you get to the root of the problem. The site is "eAutoRepair.net". I think it is like $6.00 for a 1 week membership, $20.00 for a year membership and $30.00 for a 4 year membership. The membership ONLY WORKS FOR 1 vehicle determined by the VIN.
  I hope that has given you some direction but in all honesty, I think you are going to have very specialized tools to diagnose this problem. I have a gut feeling it is in the ABS module but again, I'm into parts, not repair. Good luck..
  Skip
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