When I start up my 2000 Ranger, the ABS light comes on and then turns off. It can run all day, and the ABS light does not come back on. After I have used the brakes the ABS and brake light come on and stay on until I turn the engine off. When I start it up again, the whole process repeats.
Any ideas? Thanks for your help!

 

ABS resets each time you turn off the key, just FYI

Check brake fluid level in Master as the first step, there is a fluid level sensor in the master

Do you have Rear ABS(RABS) or 4-wheel ABS(4WABS)?

Look in the engine bay on drivers side, near Master on inner fender, for a unit that has 5 brake lines, thats the 4WABS unit, very large and easy to see
If you don't see it then you have an RABS system

 

Yes, RABS, rear-wheel drive.
Checked brake fluid, full.
When this problem first started, the lights would only come on after I had applied the emergency brake. Now, as I explained above, they come on after applying the brakes.

 

The Red Brake light on dash should come on when E-brake pedal is down, even a little, there is a switch on it

So are you saying the ABS light also comes on when e-brake pedal is down, when stopped?

ABS system does a bulb test AND a self-test with key on so ABS light should come on with key on and then go off

If red brake light is on and speedometer is not on 0 MPH then ABS light would also come on after driving a bit because RABS wouldn't/couldn't work right with E-brake applied
So your problem could just be the e-brake switch, or pedal is not coming up all the way when released, so loose e-brake cable

1998-2000 Ranger use the rear ABS sensor for speedometer signal, I assume speedometer is working like it should, so sensor is not the issue, its the only ABS sensor in a RABS system

Just FYI, rear wheel drive and RABS have no connection, 4WABS can be on rear wheel drive, front wheel drive or 4x4s
4WABS have 3 or 4 sensors that can cause ABS light to come on

 

1. No 4WABS unit.
2. When I start truck, ABS light comes on, then goes off (as it should). ABS and Brake lights come on after the brake is depressed.
3. Sometimes the Brake light comes on when E-brake is depressed, sometimes it doesn't.
I'm also wondering if the problem is in the E-brake system.
Thanks!

 

E-brake and ABS have no connection except the red brake light on dash

I would look at replacing or cleaning the e-brake switch, simple 2 wire switch that grounds the brake bulb on dash
Should work every time e-brake pedal is pressed down(key on of course)

Drawing here on its location: https://www.2carpros.com/images/ques...9/original.jpg

So closer to firewall just above where the cable comes in

 

Check the two rear abs sensors. If one of the e-brake springs comes loose, it can damage a sensor causing the light to come on.

 

2000 Ranger has drum brakes in the rear and just has 1 ABS sensor on the rear differential

 

OK, the truck is in the shop. They have determined that it needs an RABS valve XL5Z2B373AARM. Ford has discontinued part. They have contacted 3 salvage yards, no luck.
Any ideas where I can locate one?
Much appreciated!
Mike

 

try https://www.car-part.com/

2000
Ford Ranger
Anti-lock brake computer
YOUR Zipcode
SEARCH

Then select "ABS, gasoline, 2 wheel ABS, (center dash)"
search

It will show Rangers in your area with RABS in matching year ranges and hopefully you can scavenge what you need
You were searching for the RABS "computer", not the valve but..........................they will also have the needed RABS valve if it hasn't been taken yet

 

I’d go on car-part.com, find a junk yard that has your truck, and call them to see if they have the part.

 

Interesting thread. My 2000 3.0 2WD when driving the ABS and Parking Brake light come on and stay on. I Googled around and was directed to either the ABS module as the problem, don't recall what the other option was. I did shop the truck and they said it was the valve between the MC was not functioning as it should. Would this be the same as what you all are speaking of? If I remember, been a few weeks, they want to replace the MC. $900. Uh... no.

 

My local brake shop told me that it needed the rear brake proportioning valve. This is a RWD 3.0 2000 Ranger.
Is there a way to tell if it is the MC valve before I pay for another rear valve? As a side note, this valve is extremely hard to find. Haven't found one yet.
Thanks Ferd.

 

OK, totally confused here. On my 2000 Ford Ranger 3.0 RWD, shop has determined that I need brake proportioning valve. Mechanic showed me module, mounted to driver's side of engine compartment.
I told him that I thought valve was on top of differential. He said that was speed sensor. What does speed sensor do?
Are there any abs sensors on the wheels?
I may have found the part I need. The supplier asked me if my truck was 2 wheel abs. I have to assume that it is since it's a rwd vehicle.
Can someone explain all this to me. Is my truck 2 wheel abs?
Does it make sense that the brake proportioning valve in engine compartment is the culprit?
Thanks!!
Mike

 

Look in your engine bay, driver's side, on inner fender next to brake master cylinder, do you see this: https://www.ranger-forums.com/attach...10226-1819.jpg

That's the 5 brake line 4WABS module, can't miss it, its large, lol

RWD or 4x4 doesn't matter either can come with 4 wheel ABS, 4WABS, or RABS

If you don't see that then you have Rear Wheel ABS, RABS
RABS does have a proportioning valve and it is in the engine bay

RABS doesn't have individual wheel sensors, just a rear axle sensor on the differential

4WABS on Rangers had just that one rear sensor until 2010/11 when rear wheels got Disc Brakes

 

This is what I see.

 

So not 4WABS

 

Well, thanks for the help everyone. The supplier that I thought could help me out only manufactures 4abs modules, not 2abs.
My local brake shop diagnosed the problem as a bad brake proportioning valve, but I'm starting to think what else it could be.
I remember when the brake/abs light first started coming on, it was when I had the emergency brake on and the truck was at an incline, front of truck higher than back. After parking the truck on the level street, the lights would not come on until I used the emergency brake on the incline again. Now, the lights will first come on when backing out of the garage and enter the incline. The lights come on randomly, but it seems to come on more often when the truck has not been run. ??
I'm trying to think outside of the box here.
Could the sensor over the differential have anything to do with this? Would a possible clog in the brake line do this?
Thanks!
Mike

 

The RED brake light being on will cause the YELLOW ABS light to come on but after you are driving

YELLOW ABS light coming on will NOT cause RED Brake light to come on

So if RED brake light always come on first then thats the issue, Park Brake pedal switch, or Master cylinder switch

YELLOW ABS coming on on its own could be the Rear ABS valve, AKA Proportioning valve

 

Thanks RonD! When I start truck, all lights are off. As I back down driveway both lights come on at the same time.

 

When you back down the driveway do you press the brake pedal, regular brakes, and is THAT when the lights come on
Or does just rolling backwards cause lights to come on

 

Applying brake pedal.

 

Could the problem be the rear speed sensor?

 

Rear ABS sensor wouldn't turn on the RED light, just the Yellow light