My 1993 XJ40 has, on a few occasions, had the ABS light come on - on each occasion, I found turning the engine off and re-starting it makes the light go off.
My question is this: where do I find these sensors so I can check the connections, etc, and where are the other items I can check under the bonnet?
Most grateful.

 

The front sensors are USUALLY inboard of each brake rotor, and easily seen with the wheel off, and peering behind the caliper.

The rears are screwed into the hub (from memory) at 12 o'clock position, again easily seen with wheel off.

The XJ40 had issues with the connector plug further up the line from the wheel, but still outside the engine bay. Not sure of anything in the engine bay relevant to ABS sensors as such.

My X300 has an ABS flash some times, and when I last had them out they were quite coated with brake dust, and since I run semi-metalic pads, I live with it, but a good hose off when washing the car usually keeps it sweet.

 

Thanks a lot. The Haynes manual tells you to 'check' but does not say where - they say to check the ABS Wiring Harness but do not say where that is located - ever heard of that?

 

My best guess, hahaha, is they are talking of the wiring "harness" (short loom/pigtail)that is attached to each sensor, and about 12" long, and it plugs into the "car loom (harness)" further up the line. This connection is what was causing the signal issues, as water etc got inside the plug/socket and created havoc.

My daughters '88 did that, and once the connectors were cleaned, I sealed them with RTV, never flashed again.

 

OK...that's nice...but where is this harness...under the bonnet?

 

Not that I know, but it probably passes through there at some stage.

Find the sensors (front), at the back of the caliper, follow the wire (usually abot 8mm diam due to shielding), away from the sensor towards the spring tower, and up there soewhere you will see a plug connector. These plugs are prone to high resistance connections, due to crap design.

The rears are identical, and from memory the plug is near the lower suspension arm??. Again, NOT rocket science, just follow the wire to the plug at each corner of the car. You WILL get dirty hands, brake dust etc does that.

DO NOT get confused with the "brake pad wear sensor wires" which are right there also, but attach to the inner brake pad. The ABS wires DO NOT attach to the pads, they are connected (sealed) to the sensor located further under the caliper (front), and in the hub housing at the rear.