ABS Light: Description and Operation

WARNING: The base braking system may not be working properly if the amber ABS indicator is flashing. Driving with a flashing amber ABS indicator can lead to an accident. If the amber ABS indicator is flashing, pull safely off the road and have the vehicle towed for service.

NORMAL OPERATION
^ When the ignition switch is turned to the ON position prior to starting the engine, the amber ABS and blue ABS ACTIVE indicators should illuminate for three seconds. The red BRAKE warning indicator will quickly flash on also.
^ As the engine is cranked, the red BRAKE warning indicator and the amber ABS indicator should illuminate steadily.
^ Three seconds after the engine is started, the ABS and the ABS ACTIVE indicators should be off. The red BRAKE warning indicator will go off immediately.
^ Whenever the vehicle is involved in an ABS stop, the ABS ACTIVE indicator will illuminate notifying the driver that ABS is in operation.

ABS Indicator
The antilock brake system uses three lamps, the red BRAKE warning indicator, an amber ABS indicator and a blue ABS ACTIVE indicator. The amber ABS indicator will either flash or light to alert the driver of a malfunction.

Solid Amber
A solid amber ABS indicator indicates that the malfunction affects the operation of ABS. Normal (non-antilock) braking will remain. In order to regain ABS braking ability, the ABS must be serviced.

Flashing Amber
The amber ABS indicator will flash if the problem affects the normal (base) braking system and the Electronic Brake Control Module (EBCM) cannot illuminate the red BRAKE warning indicator. The flashing amber ABS indicator informs the driver that braking performance has been degraded and that the vehicle MUST be serviced immediately.

ABS Active Indicator
Since the brake pedal feedback normally associated with ABS operation does not occur with ABS VI, there is an additional indicator in the instrument cluster to inform the driver of ABS operation. The blue ABS ACTIVE indicator will illuminate during an ABS event and during system initialization.