My ABS and brake lights on the dash were driving me nuts. They were on they were off. I knew the brakes would stop the vehicle whether the ABS was working or not....but it really bugs me when things don't work as they should. I was going to send the module off to be repaired...I had it in my hand and about to head off to the post office and I thought since I'm going to send it off I might well try opening it up to look for something obvious. I had nothing to lose.

I wiggled the six round solenoid cylinders soldered to the module that slide over the pump rods on the pump housing. Three were loose.

I used a #8 torx to pull the aluminum cover off of the black plastic base. After all of the tiny screws are out you must use a single edge razor blade to cut through the gasket. It will not pry apart without cutting along the edge. After getting the pieces split this will expose the back of the circuit board where the solenoid cylinders are soldered to. I re-soldered both legs on each of the six cylinders using a digital, heat controlled, soldering iron. (didn't want to burn the board)

Put it back together and now the ABS and brake light on the dash light up when the key is turned on and then turn off as they should when cranked.
After checking there are no more codes popping up.

I suppose the solder joints break loose from vibration over time causing the intermittent problem.

 

Good thinking! Did you use anything to seal the housing where it was cut after the solder? My neighbor is having the same intermitent ABS problem on his 97. Might have to give this a try!

 

As a matter of fact I did not put any sealer on it. When I cut the seam I cut it clean leaving sealer on both halves. I believe it will be OK. I guess I'll find out down the road aways. Cutting the seal would have been easier with a #11 exacto knife blade. I just had a single edge razor laying on my work bench...convenient and at hand. Good luck!

 

I'm going to try this tonight... Hopefully it works.

 

Thanks for the tips! Were definetly gonna giver it the ol' college try lol