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Makes And Models => Zero Motorcycles Forum | 2013+ => Topic started by: DonTom on July 23, 2018, 10:41:58 AM
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I noticed my amber ABS lamp is staying on most of the time, by far.
At least 95% of the time that I am riding it's on. Once in a while, it will not be on after I ride a few feet, but usually will be on within a mile. But most of the time it's on no matter what I do.
Bike is a 2017 Zero SR W/pwr tank, has around 3000 miles on it.
What is the most likely cause for my ABS lamp to be stuck on while riding?
-Don- Auburn, CA
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It's my understanding that the ABS indicator will light if the system isn't functioning because of a malfunction, if disabled by the rider, or if the bike is operated in a way that causes a large wheel speed difference. Low tire pressure? Blown fuse? Chaffed wires?
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Fuse first. Just see if it's tight in the red holder. Then I would inspect the wires at pinch points and around the sensors at the tone ring on the wheels.
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In my case it was clearer: :D
http://electricmotorcycleforum.com/boards/index.php?PHPSESSID=014j9jns6q96r44d911ibirdj3&topic=8129.0
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Fuse first. Just see if it's tight in the red holder. Then I would inspect the wires at pinch points and around the sensors at the tone ring on the wheels.
I have already checked the two ABS fuses and made sure the wires going to them and their sockets are okay.
I just now took a quick look around the two ABS wheel sensors as well as the exposed wires from them, and I notice no obvious problems with such.
-Don- Auburn, CA
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It's my understanding that the ABS indicator will light if the system isn't functioning because of a malfunction, if disabled by the rider, or if the bike is operated in a way that causes a large wheel speed difference. Low tire pressure? Blown fuse? Chaffed wires?
Tire pressure also okay. I have a TPMS in the GPS I have on the bike.
-Don-
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One thing I have not checked is the ABS module connections. I assume there is such a module in the bike somewhere. Where is it located?
-Don- Auburn, CA
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One thing I have not checked is the ABS module connections. I assume there is such a module in the bike somewhere. Where is it located?
It's in the forward part of the frame. You might be able to see the brake lines by peeking under the front corners of the tank cowling. It might be hard to check much with the PowerTank installed.
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One thing I have not checked is the ABS module connections. I assume there is such a module in the bike somewhere. Where is it located?
It's in the forward part of the frame. You might be able to see the brake lines by peeking under the front corners of the tank cowling. It might be hard to check much with the PowerTank installed.
Thanks for the info. Looks like I will have to tear into the bike to find the problem.
-Don- Auburn, CA
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One thing I have not checked is the ABS module connections. I assume there is such a module in the bike somewhere. Where is it located?
It's in the forward part of the frame. You might be able to see the brake lines by peeking under the front corners of the tank cowling. It might be hard to check much with the PowerTank installed.
Thanks for the info. Looks like I will have to tear into the broke to find the problem.
-Don- Auburn, CA
Take it to a dealer for warranty?
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Take it to a dealer for warranty?
Dealer in Reno pulled out and does not anymore have access to Zero Motorcycles diagnostic tools, next nearest would be Elk Grove (southern Sacramento CA).
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Take it to a dealer for warranty?
Dealer in Reno pulled out and does not anymore have access to Zero Motorcycles diagnostic tools, next nearest would be Elk Grove (southern Sacramento CA).
I bought the SR in Elk Grove and I keep it at my house in Auburn, CA. I have my DS here in Reno and it has no problems.
But I try to avoid dealers for repairs even when the bike is in warranty. I would rather just fix it myself, even at my own cost. Besides, three of my nine bikes don't have ABS anyway--And I ride them as often as my other ICE bikes. It's something I can live without, but I will still fix it someday. But I have not felt like trying to take the bike apart in the 100°F Auburn heat. I would rather ride the SR to Rollins Lake and go for a swim, which I often do in the heat when I am staying in Auburn. BTW, it's also been around 100°F here in Reno just about every day.
BTW, I had no idea that the Reno Indian Shop gave up on Zero. Is that because the sales were low? Perhaps somebody else in Reno will take over Zeros one of these days.
-Don- Reno, NV
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Today, since it's not so hot here, I decided to take a better look at my ABS problem of the ABS light being stuck on.
The only thing I found that is a bit strange are the resistance measurements toward the wheel sensors.
From under the seat, at the two wire ABS connector towards the rear ABS sensor, I get a resistance measurement of 48.5 KΩ.
From the connector behind the headlamp for the front ABS sensor, I get an infinite Ω reading.
I don't know if this means anything or not, but I would have expected both readings to be the same.
What should I expect? Turning the wheels make no difference in these resistance readings.
-Don- Auburn, CA
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Infinite resistance = open circuit. Maybe a broken wire inside of insulation that appears intact.
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Infinite resistance = open circuit. Maybe a broken wire inside of insulation that appears intact.
I will compare those SR ABS sensor ohm readings with my DS ZF 6.5 here in Reno. If I find both on this bike to be 48.5K, I will then assume my front SR sensor , or wires to it are really open.
I will post here what I find. I will probably check it tonight. The DS has no ABS problems, it works as it should.
-Don- Reno, NV
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It's beginning to look like it really is a front wheel sensor problem with my SR.
I just checked the readings the same way with the same type of ohmmeter on my DS which has a normally working ABS.
With the DS I get a reading of front sensor as 51.5 K-ohm
On the DS rear, ABS sensor connector, I get a reading of 51.7 K-ohm.
So that's three that are close to the 48.5 K-ohm on the SR rear ABS sensor.
I think it's reasonable to believe that a normal reading will be in the neighborhood of 50 K-ohm, perhaps plus or minus 10% or so.
So with only one ABS sensor reading infinite, I am now totally convinced I have either a bad ABS sensor on the front of my SR or the wire to it is open. I expect the front wheel ABS sensor as the wire and connector have no noticeable damage and all look fine.
BTW, the SR ABS light has been on full time lately. Not intermittent anymore. Perhaps that is good as it makes things a lot easier to troubleshoot when not trying to fix something while it's working.
-Don- Reno, NV
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Thank you @DonTom for sharing this.
My 2017 SR has always shown ABS light ever since I purchased it this June.
I will be taking mine apart soon and intend to check for the same resistance measurements,
or I may just take it in to the dealer.
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Thank you @DonTom for sharing this.
My 2017 SR has always shown ABS light ever since I purchased it this June.
I will be taking mine apart soon and intend to check for the same resistance measurements,
or I may just take it in to the dealer.
It's easy to check the resistance at the connectors. Both are rather large connectors for just two wires, the rear connector is below the seat, near the front. The front ABS speed sensor connector is inside the headlamp assembly. They were clearly labeled in my SR, right near each connector.
But in my DS there are no labels on either connector. I have no idea why the difference. But you can follow the black wire from the wheel sensors up to their connectors. But you will have to cut a few tie wraps to get to these connectors. The male side of the dual connector is going to the wheel sensor so that makes it easy to put an ohmmeter right on those pins.
Unless it is something I cannot do myself, I try to avoid the dealers as much as possible.
In fact, my bikes are still in warranty and I will still pay for parts myself and do my own work. Of course, I cannot do everything a Zero dealer can do, but I will do whatever I can.
You can order Zero parts here. (https://www.af1racing.com/store/Scripts/prodList.asp?idCategory=3103)
I just ordered my front speed sensor there. When I have it installed, I will post the results here. It only cost $36.15.
1 x ZM45-07496 - MPI WHEEL SPEED SENSOR - ZM45-07496 @ $36.15
-Don- Reno, NV
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I completed the replacement of the front ABS sensor today.
Test drive of ten feet or so up the drive way turned off the ABS lamp for the first time in many hundreds of miles. I rode many miles after that with no ABS light lit. So it's now all fixed.
The new front ABS sensor is also well within 10% of 50 KΩ, just as the other three I checked. The defective front sensor was infinite resistance (no reading).
videos of what I did will be posted a bit later.
-Don- Auburn, CA
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I'm having the exact same problem; I've owned my 2016 SR for about 9 months and the yellow ABS light has always been on. (I thought it was normal until I read the manual a few days ago.)
Did you ever make the video of what you measured/changed?
Do you have any photos that show what the sensor looks like, so I know what to look for?
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I'm having the exact same problem; I've owned my 2016 SR for about 9 months and the yellow ABS light has always been on. (I thought it was normal until I read the manual a few days ago.)
Did you ever make the video of what you measured/changed?
Do you have any photos that show what the sensor looks like, so I know what to look for?
Eric or "Shadow" (moderator who has not been here often lately) and I did video it, but it somehow never got posted and he has the info. But look for a plastic thingy on the front wheel axle that has a black cable going to it. That is the ABS sensor. Two wires inside go up into the headlight assembly, IIRC.
I cannot look at my Zero SR right now as I am not home. I am on a ride around Lake Tahoe, Way too hot in Reno (102F) today.
-Don- South Lake Tahoe, CA
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Do you have any photos that show what the sensor looks like, so I know what to look for?
The front wheel ABS wheel sensor is on the left side of the axle. The rear wheel ABS sensor is on the right side of the axle.
Both of the black cables from the ABS sensors go into the headlight assembly. You can measure them both with an ohmmeter--key out. Expect the good one to measure around 50,000 ohms (50K-ohms).The bad one will probably give no reading as mine did. Infinite resistance on my front defective ABS sensor. No problems since I replaced it, ABS light never came on when it shouldn't from then on and that was many years ago.
Below, the front ABS sensor is difficult to get a photo of, but it is where the black cable goes.
The rear ABS sensor is more in the clear. They are both the same in every way.
You do NOT have to take the wheels off to test them, just need to get into the headlight assembly and unplug and test them.
When you find the bad one, that wheel only will need to come off to replace the defective ABS sensor.
-Don- Reno, NV
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how do they work?
are they magnetic pickup or RF interference type?
Aaron
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how do they work?
are they magnetic pickup or RF interference type?
Aaron
magnetic pickup.
-Don- Reno, NV
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Don, are you sure the connectors to both are behind the headlight? My rear one is buggered, it was a while ago when I measured it (still haven't got around to buying a replacement) but I think I remember the connector being under the seat. Also looking at a photo from someone selling a sensor the cable doesn't look long enough to go much past the mid point of the bike.
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Don, are you sure the connectors to both are behind the headlight? My rear one is buggered, it was a while ago when I measured it (still haven't got around to buying a replacement) but I think I remember the connector being under the seat. Also looking at a photo from someone selling a sensor the cable doesn't look long enough to go much past the mid point of the bike.
I cannot say I am sure because that was back in 2018. Perhaps the rear ABS sensor connector was under the seat. Both cables can easily be followed. In fact, I agree the cables were not long enough to make it all the way from the rear to the headlight unless there was an extension of some type. What I do remember is that I was able to measure both and my front ABS sensor was open. And I remember working inside the headlight assembly.
I assume even the front ABS sensor eventually gets to under the seat to get wherever the ABS module is located, which must be in that area. But perhaps it was only the front cable that disconnects in the headlight assembly.
-Don- Reno, NV
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Don, are you sure the connectors to both are behind the headlight? My rear one is buggered, it was a while ago when I measured it (still haven't got around to buying a replacement) but I think I remember the connector being under the seat. Also looking at a photo from someone selling a sensor the cable doesn't look long enough to go much past the mid point of the bike.
You are correct for sure.
From my own reply, message 17 above:
"Both are rather large connectors for just two wires, the rear connector is below the seat, near the front. "
-Don- Reno, NV