Chevy Equinox ABS Warning Light On: Reasons and Resetting Options

Chevy Equinox is one of my favorite crossovers due to its aggressive stance and vigorous performance. This vehicle is equipped with ABS, so you can feel safer while driving the Equinox. But in some cases, the ABS light can come up on the dashboard and make you worried.

So, why is the Chevy Equinox ABS warning light on? The ABS light on Chevy Equinox can be on if

• Wheel speed sensors are faulty
• Brake fluid or tire pressure is low
• The ABS fuse is blown
• The ABS module is faulty

Whatever the reason, I will show you how to figure it out and solve the issue. Plus, you will learn how to reset the ABS warning light. Let’s begin.

Chevy Equinox ABS Warning Light On: Quick Guide

Here is a sneak peek of the reasons behind the ABS light and their fixes.

Reasons	Fixes
Faulty wheel speed sensors	Change the sensors
Damaged wiring or connectors	Replace the wiring or connectors
Brake fluid level is low	Refill the brake fluid
Tire pressure is low	Inflate the tires
ABS module is faulty	Replace the ABS module
ABS fuse or relay is blown	Replace the blown fuse or relay

Chevy Equinox ABS Warning Light On: Why Does It Happen and How to Solve It?

The ABS light on your Chevy Equinox can show up for multiple reasons. Here are the most common reasons and their fixes.

1. Faulty Wheel Speed Sensors

Wheel speed sensors are crucial for effective ABS. Each wheel hub has a wheel speed sensor that constantly monitors the wheel speed. The speed data is fed to the ABS control module and the system constantly checks if the rotational speed of the wheels is the same.

If one or more of these sensors become faulty, they can send wrong information or no information to the control module. In such cases, the ABS light will turn on.

How to Fix It?

• To be sure if wheel speed sensors are faulty, you need to take an OBDII scanner and connect it to the vehicle’s OBD II port. If the sensors are faulty, you will get error codes on the scanner. 
• Check your vehicle’s owner’s manual to find what that error code means. For example, the C0050 error code on your Chevy Equinox means the rear right wheel speed sensor is faulty.
• When you find bad sensors, you need to replace them. Each sensor will cost about $20-$30. If you get them replaced by a mechanic, you have to add a $50 labor cost for all four sensors.

2. Damaged Wiring or Connectors

This reason is related to the previous one. In some cases, the sensors might not malfunction, but the wiring can be damaged. Connectors can also be broken and the ABS light will turn on if the control module doesn’t get information from the sensors.

How to Fix It?

• Remove the sensors from your vehicle and test them on another vehicle of the same model. 

1. To remove the sensors, you need to remove the wheels first. The sensors are placed behind the rotor. 
2. Use a 3/16-inch Allen wrench to remove the bolt that connects the sensor. 
3. Then, take the sensor out.

• If the sensors work fine, wiring or connectors can be the problem. In that case, you need to replace the wiring or connectors. While removing the sensor, you also need to take the wiring off. 

The connector can be removed by unscrewing the bolt. This will cost less than $50 if you do it yourself. But if you get it done by a mechanic, it will cost about $100.

3. Brake Fluid Level Is Low

Brake fluid is super important for effective braking, with or without ABS. Under pressure, brake fluid travels to the brake piston and squeezes the brake pads to stop the vehicle. If the brake fluid level is low, the pressure won’t be enough to stop the vehicle. 

In that case, the brake light will also illuminate the dashboard. 

How to Fix It?

1. Open the brake fluid reservoir and check the level. 
2. Top off the reservoir with enough brake fluid so that the level reaches the high mark.
3. Also, check if the brake fluid is leaking from the car. If so, you should get the leaks fixed. It might cost $200-$300.

4. Tire Pressure Is Low

While driving a vehicle, air pressure on all tires should be maintained according to the manufacturer’s guidelines. If any of the tires have low pressure, they will spin faster. As a result, the difference in wheel speed will cause the ABS warning light to come on.

If you have a tire pressure monitoring system in the car, a warning light will also turn on to notify you that the tire pressure is low.

How to Fix It?

• Reinflate the tires and check if they have reached the desired pressure level. The recommended tire pressure is 35 psi.
• Also, you should check the tire pressure before driving the vehicle to be safe.

5. ABS Module Is Faulty

The ABS module processes data from various sensors and controls the movement of the hydraulic components. If the ABS module malfunctions, the actuators won’t be able to release the hydraulic pressure. 

You will see the ABS warning light on the dashboard in this case. 

How to Fix It?

1. To be sure if the problem is associated with a faulty ABS module, you should use an OBDII scanner.
2. Read the error code on the scanner and find the problem using the vehicle’s owner’s manual.
3. If the ABS control module is faulty, get it replaced. 
4. To do this, you need to remove the electrical component first. 
5. Then, remove the fuse box and brake lines. 
6. After removing the brake solenoids, take the faulty module out. 
7. Install the new module and make all the connections in the reverse order.
8. Depending on the brand, the module can cost from $30-$200. The labor cost for the replacement will be about $100.

6. The ABS Fuse Is Blown

A bad ABS fuse can sometimes cause the ABS warning light to come on. When the fuse is blown, the ABS module doesn’t activate even if you press the brake pedal at a high speed. 

How to Fix It?

• Scanning the vehicle and reading the error code is the easiest step.
• But you can also physically inspect the fuse to see if it is blown. 
• Replace the blown fuse with a new one. 

1. To do this, remove the fuse box cover. There is a diagram printed under the cover to show fuse locations. 
2. You need to check and replace fuses 13 and 16. 
3. There is a fuse puller inside the box. Use that to remove the faulty fuse and install a new one.

• It will cost about $100, including parts and labor.

How to Reset ABS Warning Light on Chevy Equinox?

Once you fix the problem that caused the ABS warning light to turn on, the ABS light should go off. But in some cases, the light will still be turned on and you need to reset it manually. Check how to do that.

Use an OBDII Scanner

1. After you have read the error code and fixed the issue, connect the scanner again.
2. Go to Functions and select the ABS. Then, select Clear Faulty Code to remove all error codes from the system. The ABS light should now turn off.

Disconnect and Reconnect the Battery

1. Turn off the car and carefully remove the battery terminals. Remember, you need to remove the negative one first and then the positive one.
2. Wait for some time and then reconnect the terminals. Start the vehicle and the ABS light should be gone.

While Chevrolet Equinox owners have reported concerns about their ABS warning lights, they are not alone in these challenges. For instance, some drivers of the Ford Escape have encountered their ABS light being on. Moreover, unique circumstances such as a tire blowout can also trigger the ABS light in various vehicles. It’s always essential to diagnose the exact cause to ensure safe driving conditions.

FAQs

Check answers to some commonly asked questions about the ABS warning light on Chevy Equinox.

Final Thoughts

Getting the ABS warning light on your Chevy Equinox can be really annoying. To turn the light off, you need to find out the underlying cause and fix it properly. Then, you can reset the warning light if it is still on. The best way to diagnose Chevy Equinox ABS warning light on is using an OBDII scanner. 

It will show the exact error code so that you can fix the problem quickly. If any component of the ABS is faulty, you need to replace that component. Though the ABS warning light isn’t anything scary, you should never ignore it.