Honda CRV ABS Warning Light On: Reasons and Resetting

Honda CRV ABS can help the car be stable by adjusting the brake forces on each wheel. However, if the system finds a problem in the ABS control unit, it’ll show a warning light on the dashboard. Earlier detection of the meaning of this light can ensure the proper functionality of ABS. 

So, why is Honda CRV ABS Warning Light On? This could happen due to several reasons, including

• Insufficient brake fluid
• A damaged fuse or relay
• A faulty wheel speed sensor
• A problem with the ABS control unit or low tire pressure

We’ll see the reasons for the ABS warning light and talk about the possible solutions in this guide. While talking about the solutions, we’ll discuss the ways to keep the problems from happening from time to time. 

Why is the Honda CRV ABS Warning Light on? Reasons and Solutions

There are 5 types of issues commonly found in a Honda CR-V car that is responsible for the ABS warning light to show. Let’s discuss them below along with solutions. 

1. Insufficient Brake Fluid

For the best braking performance in your Honda CR-V, the brake fluid reservoir should be filled in with the liquid to an optimal level. At least the fluid level has to be close to the high marking in the reservoir. 

Anything below that is risky for the car and may trigger an ABS light in the car. 

Solution

Refill or top off the reservoir with new brake fluid and the problem will go away. 

However, if you want to make sure that this problem doesn’t persist, check the brake pad and brake rotors for any damage. Broken parts in these components will reduce brake force and will put pressure on the brake fluid force. 

Afterward, check the brake fluid piping on the wheel hub and under your car. A leak in the system will keep draining the brake fluid reservoir. If you can stop the fluid pipes from leaking and the brake pad and rotors are in good condition, this brake fluid problem won’t be an issue anymore.

If you notice your brake fluid leaking and are unable to reach a mechanic now, use rescue tape to tape over the leaked pipe. Drive slowly and don’t brake hard as it’ll put more pressure on the brake fluid pipe. Once you reach a mechanic, he’ll decide the best fix to your brake fluid leaking problem.

2. Faulty Relay or Damaged Fuse

Fuses and relays are used to protect components from any possible electrical surge. If a surge happens, a fuse or relay will blow itself and prevent the electrical current from passing to any component. 

Solution

Check your car’s user manual to know where specific fuses and relays are and check for the blown ones. Replace the fuse or relay with a fresh one and the warning light will go away. 

Replacing these is actually very simple. You can do it on your own.

1. Turn off the car engine
2. Find the blown fuse or relay
3. Take it out and put a new one in its place 

3. Faulty Wheel Speed Sensor

In the Honda CR-V ABS, there are four sensors located on the 4 wheel hubs and a central ABS control unit. If one of the wheel sensors fails to send correct data or sends no data at all, the ABS warning light will turn on. 

Among the several reasons for the ABS light getting turned on in the information cluster on the dashboard, faulty wheel sensor is quite common. 

The wheel sensors are located right beside the wheels and they go through quite a lot of vibrations, making them susceptible to some damage. Sometimes the ABS sensor works fine but the warning light still shows on the information cluster. If this happens, it could be a problem with the wiring. 

Solution

You should check the connection points of the faulty sensor’s wires for any damage. In case of damage, you have to get it repaired. However, if there’s no damage, the problem could only lie in the sensor. 

The best way to check whether an ABS wheel sensor is problematic is by using an OBD-II scanner. 

Checking ABS sensor faults with the diagnostic tool is easy. 

1. Connect the OBD-II tool through your vehicle’s diagnostic link connector located on the dashboard. Once the device connects, you’ll be able to see the diagnostic code for the ABS problem. 
2. Diagnostic codes vary from car manufacturer to manufacturer, so check your vehicle’s user manual. But it could be something like “U0121” which is a generic code for an ABS sensor to control unit module connection failure.
3. Check that to know the code and see whether the OBD-II tool shows the code or not. 
4. If the scanner shows any of the ABS codes, it’s time to take your car to a mechanic’s garage. You’ll have to replace the faulty sensor to fix the problem. 

4. Malfunction in the ABS Control Unit or Pump

The ABS hydraulic control unit or the ABS pump controls the brakes using an electronic and a mechanical part. As the wheels lock after braking at high speeds, the ABS sensors on the wheels send data to the control unit. 

The control unit afterward sends electrical signals to hydraulic pressure sensors to lock the wheels. When a control unit is faulty, it’s unable to send the right signals to lock the wheels, and thus, the ABS warning light shows. 

Solution

Any vehicle diagnostic tool such as the OBD 2 will be able to determine the exact problem in a case like this. 

1. Connect an OBD 2 scanner with your car’s diagnostic link connector situated under the dashboard. 
2. Input the vehicle model and manufacturer’s name in the scanner and it’ll automatically scan and show the problem codes. 

5. Low Tire Pressure

A wheel’s diameter is reduced when there’s not enough air inside its tire. An underinflated tire makes the wheel spin faster than the other wheels of a car, making the car’s movement unstable. 

The ABS sensors located on the wheel hubs will send the rotational speed of each wheel to the main control unit. As the control unit finds a difference in the speeds, it’ll show the ABS warning light. 

Also, you can check for this low tire problem using a diagnostic tool since the ABS control unit will activate specific ABS codes for low tire pressure. To do that,

1. Connect an OBD 2 scanner with your vehicle’s diagnostic link connector and check the DTC (Diagnostic Trouble Code). 
2. Low tire pressure DTC codes are 11, 13, 15 and 17 for tires no 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively. You can learn more about low tire pressure diagnostics here.

Solution

A few Honda CR-V vehicles come with built-in TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System) which can help you notice tire pressure issues easily. In TPMS cars, when there’s low tire pressure in any of the wheels, a yellow warning light will be shown. 

The warning icon looks like a tire cut in the middle with an exclamation point. However, in newer Honda models, the warning is explicit and says “Tire pressures low”. 

While there’s no permanent fix to this tire pressure reduction problem, regular tire pressure checking with a tire pressure gauge can be helpful. Take the pressure gauge’s end hose and plug it into the tire valve’s stem. 

The optimal tire pressure should be at least 32-35 PS. If the pressure is low, pump the underinflated tire(s) using a tire pumper. 

If your Honda CR-V’s ABS warning light has caught your attention, don’t worry – we’ve got you covered. Our article on Toyota Corolla ABS light concerns offers insightful guidance on addressing similar issues. And if you’re also an owner of a Toyota Tacoma facing ABS-related challenges, our guide on Toyota Tacoma ABS light issues is here to assist you. Safety on the road is paramount, and our comprehensive resources are designed to help you troubleshoot and resolve any ABS-related concerns you may encounter.

FAQs

Let’s look at a few commonly asked questions about the Honda CR-V ABS warning light.

Final Words 

While you can still drive comfortably without the ABS working, it’s better to check your vehicle for the underlying issue and fix it. Manual checking is enough sometimes but using the OBD 2 scanner for finding the right fault codes can give you specific results. 

Afterward, you can take your Honda CR-V to a mechanic’s garage. However, problems like low tire pressure and low brake fluid can be detected early if you’re cautious enough while driving. Checking tire pressure from time to time and checking brake performance can help you detect potential problems with them beforehand.