ABS switch

1991audi200 · Jan 18, 2009, 4:45 PM

ok so i have a 1991 audi 200. the 20 valve turbo. it has abs brakes. there is a button on the dash that turns abs off which can be useful in some slippery situations. the abs will turn off when i engage the locked diff button. btw it is an AWD quattro. so what could it be. i doubt a fuse but is it possible the switch is bad or something like that i honestly have no idea and am not the best with tecnhical terms when it comes the the electronics with cars. i apologize for me ignorance could someone help me out with an idea of what it could be.

Evo_power · Jan 18, 2009, 4:58 PM

Are you saying the problem is that the ABS turns off when you lock your diff?

1991audi200 · Jan 18, 2009, 5:04 PM

no its supposed to turn off when i lock the diff. there is a button on the dash that turns off abs whenever i want to with out locking the diff. the button that turns the abs off wont turn the abs off.

hyphon12 · Jan 19, 2009, 3:40 PM

You sure it turns off the ABS? turning of ABS in slippery conditions isn't helpful, its worse. You sure it isn't ESP or Traction Control? I've never heard of an ABS system with a button to deactivate it.

1991audi200 · Jan 19, 2009, 5:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hyphon12

You sure it turns off the ABS? turning of ABS in slippery conditions isn't helpful, its worse. You sure it isn't ESP or Traction Control? I've never heard of an ABS system with a button to deactivate it.

i guarantee it turns abs off. it is helpful in some slippery conditions if you know how to use it. sometimes abs can restrict stopping power.

hyphon12 · Jan 19, 2009, 6:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1991audi200

i guarantee it turns abs off. it is helpful in some slippery conditions if you know how to use it. sometimes abs can restrict stopping power.

In all honesty I see no advantage with no ABS in slippy conditions. But one question, why do you want to turn it off? Its a safety device, to prevent your wheels locking up thus losing control. But I still couldn't imagine a ABS button, not that I don't take your word, it just sounds strange.

My advice, check your fuses before anything else.

1991audi200 · Jan 19, 2009, 8:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hyphon12

In all honesty I see no advantage with no ABS in slippy conditions. But one question, why do you want to turn it off? Its a safety device, to prevent your wheels locking up thus losing control. But I still couldn't imagine a ABS button, not that I don't take your word, it just sounds strange.

My advice, check your fuses before anything else.

if done right it will stop the car better. i did some racing and picked up a few tricks and learned how to control sliding and lose of control to make a car stop better without abs. because we as humans can get closer to the point of skidding without skidding than a 1991 computer can. and i doubt it would be a fuse because it does turn of when the diff is locked but i will give it a try. thanks

also no abs can be fun in a winter parking lot for some drifting and messing around.

SteveFX · Jan 20, 2009, 1:04 AM

Earlier MB and Audis w/ABS had disable switches. On loose gravel or slushy snow; you need to plow that stuff to slow down.

My E28 had no such switch. The 1 time I drove it snow; I pulled the ABS fuse.

hyphon12: You have never driven.

1991audi200 · Jan 20, 2009, 6:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveFX

Earlier MB and Audis w/ABS had disable switches. On loose gravel or slushy snow; you need to plow that stuff to slow down.

My E28 had no such switch. The 1 time I drove it snow; I pulled the ABS fuse.

hyphon12: You have never driven.

so you understand why it would be useful to disable abs in some conditions?

hyphon12 · Jan 20, 2009, 2:43 PM

With that brief explanation from SteveFX I get it now, I've barely ever driven on gravel or slushy snow, most my experience of "slippery" conditions is in grass fields and on wet roads, then again my car has no ABS so I've never really had ABS effect me (unless its cars from work but I rarely drive them hard)

Just one question, which MBs had these? in all the ones I've worked on I'm yet to see such a thing.

1991audi200 · Jan 21, 2009, 8:48 PM

guys can we please get back to the question. i checked all my fuses and all are good.

hyphon12 · Jan 22, 2009, 3:39 PM

Well it kinda hard to guess without actually being there but just a random thought but maybe the switch no longer works properly or maybe there is a break in the wire so you can't actuate the ABS to turn off.

SteveFX · Jan 25, 2009, 11:04 PM

1991audi200; how do you know your ABS did NOT turn off when you hit the switch???

1991audi200 · Jan 26, 2009, 8:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveFX

1991audi200; how do you know your ABS did NOT turn off when you hit the switch???

one way i know is there is an indicator on the dash that tells when it is off. another is that when i slam on the brakes in snow i can feel the pedal pulsating back. trust me i can tell the abs is still on.

Jan 18, 2009, 4:45 PM	#1
1991audi200 Poster Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 187	ABS switch ok so i have a 1991 audi 200. the 20 valve turbo. it has abs brakes. there is a button on the dash that turns abs off which can be useful in some slippery situations. the abs will turn off when i engage the locked diff button. btw it is an AWD quattro. so what could it be. i doubt a fuse but is it possible the switch is bad or something like that i honestly have no idea and am not the best with tecnhical terms when it comes the the electronics with cars. i apologize for me ignorance could someone help me out with an idea of what it could be.

Jan 18, 2009, 4:58 PM	#2
Evo_power Johnny Suave Race Machine Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Oregon Awesomeness: Infinite Posts: 23,634	Are you saying the problem is that the ABS turns off when you lock your diff? __________________ "Deflecting isn't becoming." - Dorito

Jan 19, 2009, 3:40 PM	#4
hyphon12 Merc Grease monkey Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Scottish Borders, UK Posts: 4,448	You sure it turns off the ABS? turning of ABS in slippery conditions isn't helpful, its worse. You sure it isn't ESP or Traction Control? I've never heard of an ABS system with a button to deactivate it. __________________ 2005 SEAT Leon Cupra R - 221bhp & 206lb/ft

Jan 20, 2009, 1:04 AM	#8
SteveFX Bent Rim Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Atlanta Posts: 3,523	Earlier MB and Audis w/ABS had disable switches. On loose gravel or slushy snow; you need to plow that stuff to slow down. My E28 had no such switch. The 1 time I drove it snow; I pulled the ABS fuse. hyphon12: You have never driven. __________________ monkey's Camaro went faster because of the howling pack of starving stray dogs behind it.

Jan 20, 2009, 2:43 PM	#10
hyphon12 Merc Grease monkey Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Scottish Borders, UK Posts: 4,448	With that brief explanation from SteveFX I get it now, I've barely ever driven on gravel or slushy snow, most my experience of "slippery" conditions is in grass fields and on wet roads, then again my car has no ABS so I've never really had ABS effect me (unless its cars from work but I rarely drive them hard) Just one question, which MBs had these? in all the ones I've worked on I'm yet to see such a thing. __________________ 2005 SEAT Leon Cupra R - 221bhp & 206lb/ft Last edited by hyphon12 : Jan 20, 2009 at 2:56 PM.

Jan 18, 2009, 5:04 PM	#3
1991audi200 Poster Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 187	no its supposed to turn off when i lock the diff. there is a button on the dash that turns off abs whenever i want to with out locking the diff. the button that turns the abs off wont turn the abs off.

Jan 21, 2009, 8:48 PM	#11
1991audi200 Poster Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 187	guys can we please get back to the question. i checked all my fuses and all are good.

Jan 22, 2009, 3:39 PM	#12
hyphon12 Merc Grease monkey Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Scottish Borders, UK Posts: 4,448	Well it kinda hard to guess without actually being there but just a random thought but maybe the switch no longer works properly or maybe there is a break in the wire so you can't actuate the ABS to turn off. __________________ 2005 SEAT Leon Cupra R - 221bhp & 206lb/ft

Jan 25, 2009, 11:04 PM	#13
SteveFX Bent Rim Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Atlanta Posts: 3,523	1991audi200; how do you know your ABS did NOT turn off when you hit the switch??? __________________ monkey's Camaro went faster because of the howling pack of starving stray dogs behind it.

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