ABS and deep water

I have a 2001 GUI with ABS and I just pull the fuse in the panel under the driver's right knee. A switch in series with the power output would do the same thing. I expect, like a lot of little mods, will be technically illegal.
Graeme

Friend next door doesn't have a 4wd but a falcon.
Went through water knee deep and got stopped (another story here).
Water got into the engine computer under the dash.

After 3 months getting the car running OK (under insurance and the lot replaced in the end), still had issues with ABS working some time and not others, and ABS warning light displaying on the dash.
Ended up replacing the whole ABS system , sensors in each wheel and control module, under insurance luckly.

My car still has manual ABS, I modulate the brake pressure by foot as I was taught when I started rallying 35 years ago. :o)

So it would be interesting if the nissan went through water deeper than recommended in the manual, and problems occured.
Makes me also think about the airbag sensors.

Water should not affect ABS. In my Jackaroo, water does not affect it at all.

Most ABS sensors are exposed to water spray when driving in normal rainy conditions on a highway, where they would be continuously saturated. Dunking them in a creek crossing would have no more wetting effect than driving in rain.

In the Jackaroo, when driving in low range below a certain speed, tha ABS is automatically not acive, so I don't have to resort to pulling fuses which will invalidate your insurance claim if you have to make one.

I have never had a situation where I wished the ABS wasn't there, so the thought of de-activating it is the last modification I would ever consider.

ABS sensors won't be affected by water, they are inductive type sensors. however the connections, if they aren't sealed properly will be affected and over time may become corroded.

Blacky,

I've said this before and, copped a lot of flack.

I'm prepared to do it again.

ABS has no place in the bush. It's good on the black top, but can be a serious problem for people offroad.

Car makers need to address this problem by providing an on/off switch.

In a perfect World all 4WD drivers (new to game), should go through a drivers course.

However, nothing will prepare you for the first, second, third....response from ABS on gravel roads or bush tracks. This is a particularly hard thing to teach people. At the end of the day, you become very wary of ABS.

Going through creeks should be your last concern with this technology.

Regards

Kim

Thanks for all your comments
I like the idea of the "gizzmo", inline fuse and dash switch, any chance of a photo of the "gizzmo" (I am not that electrically minded, sorry)
re any insurance claims, I agree with the comments about ABS in the bush, and so it would (partially) do some manufactures, but why would you only choose low 1?? a lot of my low stuff is low 2 & 3, rarely 1.
Again Thanks

Buy a fuse of an identical type to that used in the ABS. Using a couple of temporary wires connect it directly across the battery terminals - fuse will blow, wise to wear safety glasses, just in case.

Keep blown fuse in glovebox and replace good fuse with it when off-road.

Insurance??? You didn't know the fuse had blown, did you?

Mike Harding

The original question was about ABS and deep water. From my experience, deep water has no effect on my ABS.

The other subject mentioned (ABS and gravel roads) is a serious issue though. It can be very disconcerting hitting the anchors and getting little response when the ABS 'thinks' it is in a skid when it is not. Someone will get killed one day due to poor braking from a system meant to improve braking. The resultant law suits may lead to some action from car manufacturers.

On balance though, I'd rather have ABS than not. For the moment, my response is to drive slower and with increaed care on gravel roads.

Norm,

To some degree your right. I've come across quite a few incidents in the bush where ABS has given drivers a hell of a fright, or considerable panel damage.

To be fair though, the under lying cause is generally speed (in most cases).

However, the system can be quite dangerous even at low speeds under certain conditions. I'm not knocking technology, but the driver should have the final say with vehicle control.

To give you an example. In 2004 we road tested a V10 diesel VW along the Tanami where we experienced some of the worst mud conditions (in some areas) that I've been though in many years. The VW sailed along (using its technology) whilst I struggled to keep my car on the road.

Two days later in different, but still muddy conditions, things changed. The VW had all sorts of problems which the driver couldn't address because he had no option.

I guess the philosophy I'm trying to impart, is that driver input is still the key element of vehicle safety. ABS or any other technology doesn't diminish that responsibility. It has a key part in vehicle design, but by no means the final driving decision. Therefore, it should be a drivers choice rather than being locked into design.

I'll await the moment whereby I'm ripped to shreds on this topic (I didn't have much of a life anyway).

Regards

Kim