ABS disabled on XJ

The brake reservior isn't the issue with ABS, it's the ABS controller which should be located somewhere under the master cylinder. It'll look like a metal box that the brake lines run into. If it's there, you have ABS. If you only have brake lines running from the MC to the undercarriage, you don't.

If there is no ABS fuse and there is no ABS light lit up on the dash, I would suspect you in fact do not have ABS. ABS was optional that year according to kbb.com.

PS Haynes manuals suck.

I meant to take pictures, but forgot. There is a small metal box with brake lines running into it, but it doesn't look like much more than a splitter of sorts. There are 3 lines running out, one towards each front wheel, and one towards the back. I'm guessing that means no ABS. There is a big cylindrical thing I'm guessing is just for power brakes.

Yeah, that's why I asked the guy. He said he would check, and then later he said it did have ABS.

I saw they had a different manual at Advance Auto. Don't remember what it was called. Is that any better? As you can tell, I don't know much about cars. Before about a year ago, the only maintenance I had done myself was adding fluids and changing wipers and bulbs. I'd like to learn more, but lack of a garage is kind of discouraning in the winter. I changed one of my front hubs in the cold, only to later find out the replacement was also bad.

Ivan

Haynes and Chiltons manuals cover too many years to be of detailed value although the Haynes CJ manual does have good diagrams of the vacuum tubing system if I recall correctly.

What you will generally find recommended on this board is a "Factory Service Manual" which is specific to your model and year. These manuals are pricy to buy new, used copies are often a better value.

Think of it as any specialized tool you need to buy....... the first time you use it it will pay for itself.

For some misc pages for a FSM

Ok, yeah, no ABS then.

Thanks for the help, Ivan

That's the proportioning valve. The ABS controller is bigger with a larger wiring harness connected.

I'm guessing that means no ABS. There is

Yep.

Probably a Chiltons. They suck too.

Factory Service Manual is what you need.

Do you have any statistics or even anecdotal evidence to back that up, or is it just something you pulled out of your butt and blind allegiance to industry propaganda? I have driven a few hundred thousand trouble-free and accident-free miles without ABS. If I could be even safer than I am now, wow, that would be real safe.

Ivan, plug in the fuse and see what happens. With a vehicle this old, it wouldn't hurt to flush the brake fluid and do a visual inspection of brake lines, pads, shoes, sensors, sensor wires, etc. Maybe the previous owner used the vehicle on gravel roads or did some off roading, and just forgot to plug the fuse back in one time.

Earle

Bullcrap. First most folks don't know how to use ABS, and the result is that vehicle with ABS, due to driver stupidity, have a slightly worse accident rate than vehicles without it. A small contribution to that statistic is drivers who believe ABS overrules the laws of physics and think ABS will stop you instantly. [Both of these are easily researched at dot and sae]

Second, on some surfaces ABS cannot stop as fast as wedging without ABS. Those surfaces are where jeeps tend to go.

philthy proclaimed:

ABS can also cause a "run away" situation on downhill. Nearly bit it on a steep downhill dirt trail when the brakes refused to brake. After that experience I always take the fuse out. Eventually I want to put in a bypass switch inside the cab. Now ABS is great on ice and on wet pavement. Providing you know it's so you can steer around the problem.

I did....... with Valvoline's SynPower DOT4. It takes about a quart to flush the old dirty stuff out. (the cost was $4.99 + tax)

In my '01 WJ I often had a problem approaching an intersection under moderate braking if there was a reasonably sharp bump in the road... the live axle up front would momentarily go airborne and the ABS would kick in... nearly slid through the intersection a number of times. This happened from new so it wasn't old flabby shocks.

Personally, I would rather not have ABS but then I would also prefer a standard transmission too.

reboot

As it turns out, I don't have ABS after all.

I did make sure to get a standard transmission. For a while I was worried I might not be able to find one and was thinking about an automatic Grand Cherokee. I didn't even ask to test drive it, because it really seemed like the Grand Cherokee is a sort of luxury car designed so you could claim it was an SUV. :P As it is, I ended up with enough fancy stuff like power windows that freeze shut and cruise control. At least I don't need to feel bad about getting it dirty. The extra leg room wouldn't have hurt though. (I'm 6'5".)

Ivan

Congrats on choosing the XJ, they are far superior to the Grand! One thing to REALLY pay attention to is the the "DOOR HINGES". If you do NOT keep them well lubed, they will sieze and rip loose from the body. NOT a good thing and a pain to get repaired correctly. I prefer the original "Liquid Wrench" which has some actual oil in it (unlike WD-40 which is useless) along with some additives, it penetrates the joint and seems to stay awhile. I lube mine every 3 months and they are tight as when new!

Bruce