Hi,

I have tried to follow you on the ABS problem just in case my 240 cars develop an issue like yours.

I think Bill has given you some good ideas about getting codes. I wonder if it can be specific?

Your car at least gives them. I’m not aware that the 240s are that sophisticated.
My cars are just past getting into the ABS but way ahead of the Flintstone mobile using the foot in the shoes for brakes.

I recently rented a Nissan Frontier truck (the cheapest vehicle they had for $400 week of driving) that probably had that ABS whistle installed but I never felt them engage.
On my 240s you must have to hammer the brakes to get them to work.

So I realize now how this similarity that you say is unnerving!

What I did feel was the engine to stop running at traffic lights. Trust me I thought I had gotten a defective rental seeing a feeling the engine shutter on take offs.
It took me a few times to realize it was the pressure applied to the brake pedal or the repetitive releasing of the brake that would keep the engine running.

So, in all of the dramatic lead up, I think you have only a bad sensor in the master cylinder system or at least one that is maladjusted on the brake pedal below.

I know not much of anything about ABS, my disclaimer!
There has to be a signal created to make the system start to work and how much.
Past that, it’s about wheel speed sensors getting dirty, of which is the first boogie boo, introduced by natural causes.

It’s interesting enough to note another phenomenon and it’s that $800 fee!
That was the same amount quoted to fix my sister-laws ABS light on a Range Rover, SHE HAD!

It appears to me that any vehicle past ten years old or 175K miles gets a “trade it in for new certification” from mechanics or dealerships as they do not want to deal with any liabilities.

Brakes are supposed to be well engineered to not fail and in so should be very reliable.
I too think $800 is ridiculous as that is about all that the car manufacturers pay for the whole system from vendors with patents cost included.
Remember the interval windshield wiper or the push button ratchet scandals?

The sentiment about rusted vehicles is another concern as todays cars are so “unbodied” (snapped together or use adhesives) that the labor cost for a “person” to fix them, makes a hand built roadster or an older 240 more valuable. IMHO.
Young people that are capable of using more than their thumbs will need more time consumer projects, like yours, to make up reasons to be scratching their heads.
Do you know some brilliant ones?

Is your ride getting run down a whole lot as having these kind of issues are what makes people get all starry eyed on dealership showroom floors.
I hear New Car Fever coming your way and the adages of taking two aspirins and sleeping it off may not work!

Phil