Lincoln LS Gen 1 V8 ABS Bleeding with scan tool

DaleGrib

DaleGrib

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I tried to use a few different tools to bleed my ABS system and it fails to do so. I also tried with forscan with the same result. I am not having any braking issues with the car but I have seen time to time in the codes that ABS module had invalid data/ and or bad PCM but I checked the codes with Motorcraft website they match. So does anyone think this could be the sign of a failing ABS module? I have cleared that code and it has stayed away for quite some time but I know the car should do the ABS bleed as I have done it on other LS's in the past. I was thinking of grabbing a used ABS module of eBay and programming it with ForScan and give it another shot. I just changed my rear calipers and all the cars rotors and brake pads and none of that helped. I kinda didn't figure it would help bleed the abs module but it was not something I could rule out because I suspect these rear calipers had been failing since I purchased the car. I grabbed a used PCM on ebay for $20 in case and being that parts is getting harder to find for these older Ls's I figured having a spare PCM is not a bad idea since it only cost $20. I know ForScan won't do the PCM programming but I have a copy of Ford IDS and I plan to get a good cloned VCM soon for things like that. I would rather spend the $150 on a good cloned VCM vs paying the dealer $150 to flash the PCM.
 
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DaleGrib said:
I tried to use a few different tools to bleed my ABS system and it fails to do so. I also tried with forscan with the same result. I am not having any braking issues with the car but I have seen time to time in the codes that ABS module had invalid data/ and or bad PCM but I checked the codes with Motorcraft website they match. So does anyone think this could be the sign of a failing ABS module? I have cleared that code and it has stayed away for quite some time but I know the car should do the ABS bleed as I have done it on other LS's in the past. I was thinking of grabbing a used ABS module of eBay and programming it with ForScan and give it another shot. I just changed my rear calipers and all the cars rotors and brake pads and none of that helped. I kinda didn't figure it would help bleed the abs module but it was not something I could rule out because I suspect these rear calipers had been failing since I purchased the car. I grabbed a used PCM on ebay for $20 in case and being that parts is getting harder to find for these older Ls's I figured having a spare PCM is not a bad idea since it only cost $20. I know ForScan won't do the PCM programming but I have a copy of Ford IDS and I plan to get a good cloned VCM soon for things like that. I would rather spend the $150 on a good cloned VCM vs paying the dealer $150 to flash the PCM.
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Hey Dale, just read your post ...My first question.... Did you flush out the old brake fluid when you bled the brakes? ...My second question is....after you cleared the code ....Did you drive the car around for a good 20 minutes or so to see if it comes back at all? I know it could come on sooner or later but a good 15-20 minute drive usually will spark a faulty señor or module ....(not to mention restarting the car a few times will also usually trigger the fault code)....some good clean brake fluid pumping through those solenoid a is always a good thing for this testy little ABS system
 
AmsterDutch said:
Hey Dale, just read your post ...My first question.... Did you flush out the old brake fluid when you bled the brakes? ...My second question is....after you cleared the code ....Did you drive the car around for a good 20 minutes or so to see if it comes back at all? I know it could come on sooner or later but a good 15-20 minute drive usually will spark a faulty señor or module ....(not to mention restarting the car a few times will also usually trigger the fault code)....some good clean brake fluid pumping through those solenoid a is always a good thing for this testy little ABS system
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Yes I have flushed the fluid out I did a complete flush other than the abs pump which I couldn't do with a scan tool it just fails as soon as it starts. And yes I have cleared it several times and it's not something that comes back fast but I have seen it a few times. I guess part of me is just guessing that the ABS module or pump is on it's way out and I would most likely just suspect the module itself is going bad. I think if I am not mistaken these ABS pumps rarely go bad it's just the modules that usually have the problems. I am sure someone will correct me here if I am wrong on that. The ABS code is not something I am seeing right now and it's been a while since I last seen it but I was just stating what I already knew about the car history.
 
DaleGrib said:
Yes I have flushed the fluid out I did a complete flush other than the abs pump which I couldn't do with a scan tool it just fails as soon as it starts. And yes I have cleared it several times and it's not something that comes back fast but I have seen it a few times. I guess part of me is just guessing that the ABS module or pump is on it's way out and I would most likely just suspect the module itself is going bad. I think if I am not mistaken these ABS pumps rarely go bad it's just the modules that usually have the problems. I am sure someone will correct me here if I am wrong on that. The ABS code is not something I am seeing right now and it's been a while since I last seen it but I was just stating what I already knew about the car history.
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C1289,C1288,C1286?
 
DaleGrib said:
No I believe if my memory serves me correct it was C1805. But I have checked the data in the module before and the data is correct so it's not mismatched.
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Have you changed anything recently? This is related to the ABS module and PCM mismatching ...would updating something with Forscan make the module and PCM not correlate? Not sure if this is true but I heard that different tire sizes on the front and back will possibly throw this code also...kinda sketchy though
 
AmsterDutch said:
Have you changed anything recently? This is related to the ABS module and PCM mismatching ...would updating something with Forscan make the module and PCM not correlate? Not sure if this is true but I heard that different tire sizes on the front and back will possibly throw this code also...kinda sketchy though
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Nope have not changed anything at all recently other than the brakes and rotors and rear calipers. But it was throwing that code randomly long before that. I checked all the modules in the car except for the PCM because Forscan does not give access to that, and all matched what the motorcraft showed so I know the modules are programmed correct. And my tires match the sticker on the door and all 4 tires are matching
 
Also to update anyone that was wondering it does support ABS Service Bleed for all LS models.
+ Service function "ABS Service Bleed" for:

Expedition 2003-2004 model year
Explorer 2002-2003 model year
Thunderbird 2002-2005 model year
Lincoln Aviator 2003-2005 model year
Lincoln LS 2000-2006 model year
Lincoln Navigator 2003-2004 model year
Mercury Mountainer 2002-2003 model year

So that leads me to suspect I have something going on with the ABS module or PCM like the code said them few times that I saw it. I will lean more toward the ABS module because I had this same exact code on my 2006 LS and had no ABS light on the dash and it was a code that did not always pop up but in the end it was a bad ABS module on my 06. I will see if the debug mode can shed any light now first, but my gut says the Module is the issue.
 
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