How to Bleed ABS Module Without Scan Tool

Every time you make any maintenance/ repair in the brake system of your cars, such as replacing calipers, master cylinder, wheel pistons, or any hoses and lines in your brake system, air can get into the brake circuit. The problem is, the air is compressible.

So, every time you press the brake pedal, the air inside the brake circuit needs to be compressed first. Then the oil will start to compress. This will give you a spongy soft feeling on the brake pedal. Besides, the brake itself will delay responding.

In this article, we’re going to know How to bleed abs module without scan tool as all modern cars are equipped with the ABS.

How do I know if my ABS module needs to bleed?

First of all, we have to know what the ABS is and what is the purpose of an ABS. ABS is the abbreviation of (Anti-locking Braking System). This system gives you the option of turning, or it uses the steering wheel while braking. So that you can have full control over the vehicle in hard situations, and this happens with an unlocked brake pad over the brake rotor when you press the brake pedal.

In other words, this system is sensing the locking up of the wheels using speed sensors on each wheel. When this happens, it applies and releases the brakes rapidly in the form of pulses, which makes the wheel free to spin and not to spill when steering the car.

If you felt that the brake pedal is so spongy or soft, then this is the first sign that your ABS module and the whole braking system needs to be bled to get rid of the excess air that in the brake system. This may occur some problems to the ABS system or it may get weaker.

Read Also: Brake Pedal Goes to Floor When Engine Running [Causes and How to Fix]

How to bleed abs module without scan tool: Step By step.

Bleeding the ABS module is not that hard to perform. But it might take some time because you need to bleed each wheel separately. So, In order to know How to bleed abs module without a scan tool, keep reading and doing the following steps.

• First, you need to park the car on a flat level in a place with good lighting and with good ventilation. Then jack up the car and remove the four wheels in order to reach the bleeders easily. After that, drain the brake fluid out of the brake fluid reservoir and make sure it’s empty.
• You have to reach the bleeding port in the brake caliper and remove the dust cap. Do it using the correct wrench and try to loosen the bleeding port instead of removing it completely. Connect the bleeding port to the bleeder using a tube. Reserve the brake fluid using a bottle that comes out while the bleeding process is running.
• Take someone with you as a helping hand to pump the brake continuously. It’ll push the brake fluid and the air inside the circuit towards the bleeder. You have to check the master cylinder continuously. It can’t be empty. You need to add oil whenever it goes down the midpoint. Otherwise, it’ll get new air bubbles.
• After that, tighten the bleeding bold and ask your helper to continue pressing the brake pedal until the press feels firm and hard. Then repeat the process on each wheel, starting from the right rear wheel and proceed with the other in order.
• When everything is done, make sure parts are put together, and there’s no leak in the system. Ask your assistant to press the pedal continuously so that you can see if there’s any leak or not. After that, refill the master cylinder with fresh fluid. Attach the wheels and take a test drive to check your abs are working right.

This is the way of bleeding the ABS module without a scan tool. It’s easy, but a little time-consuming.

Read Also: No Brake Fluid Coming Out When Bleeding [Causes and Fixes]

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: How do you bleed the ABS module with the scan tool?

Ans: If your abs module is not equipped with a bleeder, you have to use a scan tool to perform proper bleeding instead of manually activating the abs pump. Using Autel Scanner MaxiCheck Pro will make the job very easy and save much time.

This tool is connected through the OBD2 port under the steering wheel in most cars. It starts to communicate with the abs module and activates the pump and scan tool to cycle the abs solenoids in order to bleed out air from it.

For more info, watch this video:

Q: Can I drive with a bad ABS module?

Ans: Yes you can drive with a bad ABS module. But you will be missing the functions of ABS that are very important in the hard situations of braking. This system saves you from dangerous accidents.

Q: How much does it cost to fix the ABS module?

Ans: The cost for this may be ranging from 340$ to 1,100$ depending on the kind of fixing that will be carried out on the ABS module and the labor costs.

Q: How long should an ABS module last?

Ans: Like any other part of the car, if it is well maintained, it can last longer. So, it can last as long as the car lasts.

Q: Is it safe to remove ABS fuse?

Ans: No it is not safe to do that, as you will be missing the ABS feature, and it is one of the important brake functions of the car.

Q: Can a bad ABS module cause transmission problems?

Ans: Yes, the ABS can affect transmission performance. If it’s locked all the time, it’ll make it harder for the transmission to move the car.

Final Words:

When you finish bleeding the ABS module and the whole brake circuit, you need to make sure that everything is in place, and there is no leak. Ask the helper to continuously press the brake pedal to detect if there’s anything wrong.

So, this is How to bleed the abs module without a scan tool. It’s easy and safe. But you have to keep in mind that, if you feel that anything is missing or you do not understand something, you have to go to an expert mechanic or go to a garage. They’ll take good care of your vehicle.