Maybe Accord is the same as Civic? Out of nowhere this started happening. I haven't driven my car since Thursday due to all of the snow we've been having so I've been working from home instead of going out to the office.


So last Thursday we had a huge snowstorm here. Then on Friday I start up the car for a few seconds just so I can back out of the driveway. Turned the car off and shoveled the snow that was on the driveway. Then started the car up and drove it back on to the driveway.


Then we had another snowstorm yesterday. Today I start the car up to do the same thing only I realize that after the engine is on the ABS light would usually be off by this point but it's still on. After waiting five seconds or so the light goes off. I shoveled and then when I started the car up again to move the car back the light was on and then off just like before.


I did almost nothing to this car for days. We've had two snowstorms. Anyone have any idea why the ABS light would just come on all of a sudden? Could it have something to do with snow or ice building up near the wheel sensors or something? I'd check the ABS code but I don't think these newer models have a service connector I can just jump they have those datalink connectors and I don't have an ABS reader.


Could a dying battery cause this? My battery is pretty old, factory battery for an 09 car.

 

After sitting for a couple days, measure how low the battery voltage gets WHILE cranking the starter. Low system voltage can cause all kinds of confusing things in newer cars.

 

How would I measure that? No fancy tools at my disposal except a multimeter. Would I need a load tester for that?

 

No, a load tester would be needed to test your battery with a load. This check, the starter itself is the load.

Use your multimeter set for DC volts. Autorange or pick something bigger than 14-ish volts. Red probe on the positive battery post, black probe on the negative post.

Before anything, the meter should read higher than 12. Maybe 12.6 or so??

Watch the meter WHILE a helper cranks the starter. Don't get caught up in the spinning parts of the engine...

While the starter is cranking, the voltage will drop because of that load. What's the lowest voltage you see? Probably don't want it to get below 8 or 9 volts.

 

I had this happen to me in Alaska. Had something to do with the sensor being dirty if I remember correctly. And yes it was due to the snow. So I don't think you really have anything to worry about. The brakes still functioned correctly and there were no leaks, fluid levels were fine.

 

Thanks JimBlake, I've been meaning to test my battery because I'm getting a little worried about it due to age so I will try that out.


bayn8v did you end up having to replace the sensor or did the problem just go away on its own? I'm wondering if an ABS system failure is intermittent does it erase it on its own when the problem goes away or am I going to see an ABS light every time I start my car? I hope it doesn't store these codes forever otherwise I can't tell if there was a problem and it's now resolved.


Do you guys think I can wipe it and force it to re-assess the ABS if I pull the negative and drain the system of any electricity? I know OBD2 doesn't allow you to pull and erase like OBD did but not sure if ABS is the same. I hope it doesn't store on some kind of hard storage because then I'd be screwed.

 

Which Accord is this?
1995 would erase the error by pulling the fuse.

2009 probably not. Even 2003 (I used to own one) had non-volatile memory for that.

In any case, I'm pretty sure it DOES re-evaluate the error status each time you start the car. After a couple times starting without error, it'll quit throwing the error lamp but it should stay in memory.

 

To be honest this was about 10 years ago now. I know I took it in to the dealer and Im sure they checked/cleaned the sensor and cleared the code. Only happened once though. I had a Jetta at the time

 

Why hasn't anybody come up with the most sensible answer take it to a dealer and get them to read the code, as ALL new vehicles have to have an on board diagnostics plug by law. it possibly could be that ice and snow build up have damaged one of the sensor wires but unless you get it checked out you will be clutching at staws

 

Because the dealership charges almost 90 dollars just to get the codes. No thanks. I'll do that as a last resort.


Just wanted to update that the issue was still there this morning (ABS light on then off after five seconds). After it went off I pulled out and drove to work. It never lit up again during the whole commute to work. On the way home when I started it up in the parking lot ABS light didn't come on this time and hasn't come on since. Looks like the problem is resolved and everything is back to the way it was before. I'll feel even better if it's not on tomorrow morning.


I hope it stays that way...