What Does the ABS Light Mean?

What ABS does during braking

ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) prevents the wheels from locking up during hard braking, which keeps the car controllable. When the light comes on, it means the system itself is limited or not working at all — regular braking usually still works normally.

The most common causes

Often it comes down to a dirty or damaged wheel-speed sensor, a fault in the sensor's wiring, or a low brake-fluid level.

Why it's not worth putting off

In a hard-braking situation on a wet or slippery surface, the absence of ABS can directly affect your control of the car. That's why this is one warning light you shouldn't ignore.

What diagnostics checks

The specialist checks the ABS module's fault codes and each wheel sensor's readings individually, to pinpoint exactly where the fault is.