Chevy-ABS

[beetle]

My son has a 99" GMC with abs brake system. A while back the relay started to make noise and wouldn't shut off, so he pulled the fuse. That quieted the noise and he still has his brakes. I know of a few others with the same problem. I priced a new modulator and they want 700.00. 500.00 for a used one. Heard last night there might be a recall issued for this problem. Has anyone out there had the same thing happen and what did you do about it? Hasn't been to get checked at the shop yet so we don't know if it's the relay or the modulator itself.
herb

[BGunn]

I'll tell you why I just bought a 2002 Ford pickup.
I use to be a steady customer of GM products until the last one I bought new, which was a 1993 GMC Jimmy. The GM anti lock brakes suck, to put it mildly.
Did you know that the Gov't has a site that you yourself can report defects on your vehicles, or research known problems?
Go to ;
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/complain/Index.cfm

Here is the report I sent in for the truck I have;
Make: GMC
Model: JIMMY
Year: 1993
ODI ID: 743659


Summary:
AT ANY TIME, WITH NO WARNING, THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL BECOME HARD AS A ROCK, AND WILL NOT DEPRESS, THEREFORE PROVIDING NO BRAKING TO THE VEHICLE. THIS IS THE 3RD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED, AND EACH TIME THE TRUCK WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. ONE RECALL REPAIR WAS DONE TO THE TRUCK ABS SYSTEM, BUT THE SAME THING HAPPENED LAST NIGHT AS I APPROCHED A TOLL BOOTH AT 55MPH, WITH NO BRAKES. I RESERCHED YOUR SITE, AND FOUND THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE, AND NOT ONLY THIS YEARS PRODUCTION, CAUSING ACCIDENTS, AND INJURIES. HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE EXPENDABLE BEFORE GM FEELS IT IS WORTH FIXING?

I just now searched the site, and found 171 reports on the problems with the ABS system JUST on this model/year, resulting in many reported injuries (and this is only the people that know of the site for making the reports, would you?). These are the same ABS systems used for years, on many of the GM products. I took the truck to the dealer, wrote to GM, and they just want to deny that there is any problem at all.
If this is the way GM makes their trucks, and cares for the welfare of their customers, I don't care how their engines run, What good are they if your dead, when the brakes fail at an intersection?
I would love to know how many of these trucks were involved in "Running stop lights, or stop signs" and the driver was killed, and blamed for the accident.
The stupid part, is that all they have to do is tell you to unplug them (and maybe save you, or someone else's life), and you have a perfect set of normal brakes(like your son has). But that would be admitting that there's a problem, wouldn't it. So GM lets you get hurt instead.

[HNCP]

Thanks for the website. I agree with you being upset with GM, but I think you are a little naive if you don't think the other major manufacturers do the same thing. I'm not saying I wouldn't have switched either if I were you, because I would have. But Ford did it with Pinto's back in the 70's and Chrysler has basically done it with every piece of crap they have produced:) Just kidding.
Thanks for the website.

[Fishin Tech]

I have been a GM technician for aprox 20 yrs now. The problem you are
discribing could be a number of things. Without proper diagnois you are just guessing at the cause, although I have personally seen some with this same complaint. Those have all turned out to be modules. Good luck! To the guy with the problem with GM, unfortunatly there are good and bad in whatever you buy!

[J.P.]

The problem you are experiencing could be caused by other things. Have someone scan the computer and check for EGR codes. If your EGR sticks open, the vacuum in your engine is lowered, and you wil not have any assist from the booster. It has been carbon getting into the valves that has been a problem. ABS should not have anything to do with a hard pedal.

[Turk]

Had the same thing on my 1999 Silverado.

We had our service advisor contact his regional rep to see if there was anything GM would do to cover parts/labor. We ended up paying $50 for parts/labor.

The regional rep said the ABS problem is a known issue.

Let me know if you need any help.

[BGunn]

Thanks for the offer (really) but at this point I don't trust the GM abs system, and have left it unplugged for over a year now, with no problems. I don't know if my wife would drive the Jimmy if I plugged it back in! She was in the truck all three times the brakes failed, and to say it is a sinking feeling when your headed for a line of stopped traffic at 55mph, with no brakes, is a gross under statement!
She took it to the dealer 3 times and each time they said there was nothing wrong with it. Then she had the recall work done on it, and 3 months latter it happened again. I contacted GM on the problem, and they said,"have it checked by the dealer!"
I did the research on it, and found that Govt' sight where all these problems were published, and got back to GM again with that info. They just ignored me. I think they were mad that I found all those reports on the internet.
I know that all the manufactures have their screw ups, Ford/tires, Dodge/transmissions, ect, ect. But it just frosted me that GM has an issue here that can easily cost you your life, and most likely their lawyers tell them not to admit to it because of all the litigation they would have from all the accidents that already occured (I seen where one report was that a guy hit a COP CAR at the intersection, and got a ticket for running the stop sign!). The bad part is, is that it only happends that one time, then won't happen again for 3 to 6 months. When you try to show someone the problem was with the brakes, they then work fine!

Well, I didn't mean to bend your ear so much! I'll just leave them disconnected, and GO FISHING !!