HELP ME MY ABS AlMOST KILLED ME.

[JojoRoll]

Same Problem

Wow. Glad I'm not the only one going through this, I am currently going through the same thing with the winter weather/snow. When braking I hear the same grinding/buzzing sound in front and the brake pedal gets stiff when I step on it even when I do it slowly. It also takes longer to come to a stop so I have to keep a longer distance than normal from other cars. At first I wasn't used to driving with the ABS system because my first prior car didn't have it, but now I tend to be more careful with the 4Runner. ABS defect?

 

[541joseph]

been towing a trailer without brakes with the abs fuse. brakes are pointless!!!

 

[shootmymime]

When it does happen mash on the brakes harder. I mean both feet on the pedal to the floor. Go to an empty parking lot and try it.
But the only other way would be to disable the abs system.

 

[cruiser08tt]

I've had a lot of cars in the past with ABS.. This 00 4runner would be the first time experiencing abs kicking in on light snow .. Brake pedal pushing against you and hearing grinding/binding noises coming from the front.. Didn't knoe if this was normal or not, but based on everyone's description it's normal?

 

[kball]

When it sounds like a cat and dog are fighting under your truck, that's the abs sounding normal.

 

[DocW8494]

Similar issues with my 4R. Driving home from xxxx (will not mention place . Roads were wet doing about 35 mph and had to slam on brakes, but nothing out of the ordinary, swerved into the other lane and things were good.
2nd time, coming to a stop light, wet conditions and had the same effect of the ABS to kick in. Less emergency conditions than the first and was only doing 25 mph.
So when I get home, I'm going to clean the ABS sensors this wknd and see if that makes a difference over the next 6 months or so. Whomever stated cleaning the ABS sensor, thanks!!!!
Will follow up with results in 6 months.

 

[Tphocker]

I can't stand the abs on almost any vehicle. But especially my runner. The first thing I did when I bought it was Instal a kill switch. Allowing me to turn it off at a moments notice then turn it back on when the wife drives the car and whenever I felt it necessary.

It's really easy to do, safe, and easily reversible.

Let me know if you want pictures or details on what I did.

 

[SnowGull]

Downright Dangerous ABS on my 2003 4Runner (V8 model) !

Last year I just cruised right through a stop sign....Not once but three times !!
Twice, the people saw me coming, flashing lights and waving my hands in despair and nothing bad happened. The third time, there was nobody around. This was on back roads with very little traffic. I live in the back country, lots of logging roads and shitty asphalt roads and snow and ice are just normal winter conditions. I drive about 30,000 km a year, between an old SC400 in the summer and a 2003 4Runner all year round. I'm 62 years old and I've seen many vehicles and road conditions and never had an accident sometimes because of luck but mostly because of planning ahead while driving. So when I come to a stop sign, I've been planning and slowing down for a while already.

I have never run across a vehicle that scared me so much while braking.
My SC400 gives me some ABS action sometimes in very wet and slippery conditions when I exaggerate and push the envelope, this is normal. But the thing stops on a dime 99.999% of the time.
My 4Runner , reacts to the slightest slip to the point that it is absolutely impossible to stop with any form of predictability. Recently, in the city, I almost ran over a mom with her child in a stroller.
There was a bit of snow on the street corner, nothing out of the ordinary, but try as I may the wheels would just shudder and slip and nothing was happening. I managed to shove the automatic transmission in reverse and the truck stopped dead in its tracks, no slip at all. The mom survived, the tranny survived but I was really really MAD. I wired the ABS to a switch and I'm now experimenting with it on and off, and so far there has not been one situation where the ABS stopped me shorter than my own skill at stopping the truck. Not even close. The difference is actually incredible and no one in their right mind could support the use of such a debilitating piece of bad technology. It's as bad as if they put square wheels on our vehicles and call it an improvement.
This is so dangerous that I am now working on a video to show these tests and see if people can duplicate this on their truck. I'm sure many people have been hurt because of this particular ABS behavior and if I can help stop others from getting hurt, I think it's worth it.
Am I the only 4Runner driver out there that can beat his truck's performance or are there a few others ???

 

[HiLife]

All the abs does is keep the wheels from locking (mainly the both front steering wheels) up during braking and allows you to steer the vehicle to safety.
Its not a magic pill for a ultra short stopping distances. It does improve stopping distance by allowing the wheel to slow down and not lock up and skid.

The noises you hear is the abs solenoids cycling during emergency braking.
The noises you hear means the abs is doing it's job.
It takes getting used to driving with it

 

[Robb235]

All the abs does is keep the wheels from locking (mainly the both front steering wheels) up during braking and allows you to steer the vehicle to safety.

Its not a magic pill for a ultra short stopping distances. It does improve stopping distance by allowing the wheel to slow down and not lock up and skid.



The noises you hear is the abs solenoids cycling during emergency braking.

The noises you hear means the abs is doing it's job.

It takes getting used to driving with it

Yes, yes, we're all familiar with the theory and intent of the ABS. The point is, the ABS on the 3rd gen doesn't do so well in the real world, as shown over and over again by countless posts describing its haphazard effects.

 

[thor999]

Glad this thread got resurrected, as we're getting into the snow again soon... everyone that hasn't cleaned these sensors should do so, and get out into an empty parking lot in the snow and familiarize yourselves with this potential issue; I seriously put myself in the path of a bus while driving VERY slowly leaving a parking lot :redbrick:

 

[hour]

Clean sensors? I'll have to google that.

I was descending a slightly steep but snow covered trail a couple weeks ago, maybe 2" of snow and not even consistent coverage (rocks, gravel, mud, snow patches). I had to put it in 4LO and ass pucker the whole way down. Slightest pressure on the brakes and it would shut me out. Didn't want to try pressing harder because, well, I could have gone sideways and down a 100 foot hill in to the woods.

Seems fine around town though (flat) and I drove it on sheets of ice and snow covered ice for a week straight until it melted the other day.

 

[dmag]

4runners are not alone here.
I have a 2011 tundra that is quite dangerous in its abs in snow. three to four truck lengths to stop at times . It is generally worse at less than five mph.
At the dealers suggestion i installed Michelin ltx m&s tires. thats what they sell. it was no help ,nor was 400lbs of sand over the rear axle, nor were new brakes all around.
I cant help to feel sorry for allthe poor souls that are deathly afraid to drive in snow thanks to their abs. Driving today in the snow I cant help but notice the slowest cars on the road (10mph) were toyotas. Curious

 

[Skinfaxi]

Yep, it's been covered a lot before, but just because a car "has" ABS, doesn't mean it has GOOD ABS. 3rd Gens were the early days of the technology. The engineers were just figuring it out. It wasn't much more than a marketing push back then. In a nutshell, 3rd Gen ABS is among the worst systems out there. If you're a responsible, attentive driver, have appropriate tires, and know how to manage a car without ABS, you're much better off in a 4Runner without it, especially in snow. A 4Runner is a case where a human can control the brakes better than the computer. New cars... no way. But we're talking about 20 year old tech here. ABS and DRUM BRAKES is an awful combo. Way too much variation from shoe adjustment for the ABS have any precision.

I'm running Tundra 231s, braided stainless lines, well adjusted rear drums, and no ABS. The pedal provides plenty of feedback for modulating brake pressure. I also run Blizzaks in the winter. The difference in stopping capability is night & day from when my 4R was stock on all-seasons with ABS.

 

[Hear5Johnny]

BTW. you don't have to pull the fuse to disable ABS, you can simply disconnect the plug underneath the master cylinder fluid reservoir and in doing so can disconnect ABS, VSC and ATRAC at the same time, systems which I've yet to need. (will eat my words when it snows I'm sure (which is why I connect the plug back for normal everyday use).

Hope that helps as well.

Holy crap! Gonna go try this right now, thank for the tip!

 

[97t4r81]

Abs killed my truck

On dirt road at 25-30mph the brakes went abs and I could barely slow down(15-20 percent power). In60 yards I slowed maybe 5-6mph, in part due to quick downshift. She rolled, is dead. But I'm completely uninjuried. This is the short version. Great for pavement, not good for dirt. Learning how to post, but I've been around awhile. I think these pictures will come up

 

[Chuckles89]

I agree about no ABS on the dirt. I have a ABS kill switch for offroading purposes.

 

[WallyWest]

If you disable ABS doesn't that effectively disable VSC and ATRAC? I mean, both those systems use ABS sensors and applies brakes to individual wheels.

I wouldn't care much about losing VSC, but ATRAC is kinda nice in slick conditions.

I drove in some snow and ice this last winter with my 2002 and it seemed fine. I don't remember ABS being too intrusive. One time I almost slid through a stop sign, but I was going downhill in about a foot of snow. I'm not even sure ABS engaged. Maybe by 2002 the system was better?

I do feel the brakes are a little weak in general. Tundra brakes is on my list of upgrades.

 

[houjames98765]

Do not put AFTERMARKET brakes. Put genuine I had almost the same issue

While I was I Mexico I had the same issue but hitting a rock fence side save me. I was taken to Toyota dealer in Mexico they removed all after market parts and also repair the ABS. Make sure to spend more money on tires I have good year. Take it look for the dirt.
For 15 inch wheel
Goodyear Wrangler SR-A tire P225/75R15 - Walmart.com

For 16 inch wheel
Goodyear Wrangler SR-A Tire P265/70R16 - Walmart.com



Title :: Goodyear Wrangler SR-A Tire P265/70R16
Or
Goodyear Wrangler SR-A Tire P265/70R15

 

[Nelsonmd]

While I was I Mexico I had the same issue but hitting a rock fence side save me. I was taken to Toyota dealer in Mexico they removed all after market parts and also repair the ABS. Make sure to spend more money on tires I have good year. Take it look for the dirt.
For 15 inch wheel
Goodyear Wrangler SR-A tire P225/75R15 - Walmart.com

For 16 inch wheel
Goodyear Wrangler SR-A Tire P265/70R16 - Walmart.com

Title :: Goodyear Wrangler SR-A Tire P265/70R16
Or
Goodyear Wrangler SR-A Tire P265/70R15

The aftermarket brakes weren't your problem. The ABS just sucks on these things... The ABS is so simple, I doubt different brakes would make a huge difference in this case. On more modern stability control systems, definitely the brakes could make a huge difference (negative difference in ESC), but the 3rd gen algorithm is so simple I think that the brakes weren't the reason you crashed.