Second Opinion] Last night I was driving about 45 miles p...


Second Opinion] Last night I was driving about 45 miles per hour. Approaching a free way exit. When I lightly tapped on my breaks. Immediately all the lights of my dash came on and my wheels locked. My break pedal became unrespons...

Second Opinion] Last night I was driving about 45 miles per hour. Approaching a free way exit. When I lightly tapped on my breaks. Immediately all the lights of my dash came on and my wheels locked. My break pedal became unresponsive and I began to slide. It took several seconds for my cars breaks to respond. Finally they did and they released. After my car finally gained traction. My car started driving normally but all the lights on my dash continued to stay lite. Except my parking break light. It was blinking. Mechanic's Assistant: Have you checked your brake fluid? The reservoir is located under the hood near the dash. Yes. It is slightly below the max line Mechanic's Assistant: What is the make/model/year of your car? Subaru Legacy 2015 Mechanic's Assistant: Are you fixing your Legacy yourself? What have you tried so far? I took it in to a dealership. They told me they checked the ABS system. That it is functioning the way it should. That, it detected too much slippage. And as a safety feature. When there is too much slippage the ABS system will cause my tires to lock. Mechanic's Assistant: Anything else you want the Mechanic to know before I connect you? They say my front tire tread is 3 32nd and rear tires are at 2 and 32nd. So they are telling me I just need to replace my tires. That there is nothing wrong with the ABS system.

Automotive Expert
Hello! Welcome to JustAnswer. Thank you for contacting us for assistance with your Legacy. My name is \*\*\*\*\* \*\*\*\*\* I'll be helping you today. I'm so sorry you are having this issue with your Legacy, I know it can be frustrating. If the lights came on, that would indicate that there were trouble codes in the system, so I'm surprised they said they didn't find anything. If the tires are 2-3/32" they definitely need to be replaced and having the treads that low would cause slipping for sure. The ABS system should not cause the tires to lock, ever, unless it is malfunctioning and turns off. The whole point of the Antilock Brake System is so that the wheels DO NOT lock and so you DO NOT slide. It sounds to me like the ABS activated, had a malfunction, and turned off. That is why the lights came on, and that is why the wheels locked. I would bring it to a different shop for a second opinion, and definitely replace the tires.

Okay. That’s what I told them. That my understanding is that the ABS should have prevented the lock. The guy told me. With minimal slippage my tires should do the stop break stop function. However with too much slippage. My tires will lock up. And that should be normal.
Automotive Expert
Yes, ABS prevents locking. He is wrong.

Also the mechanic says there weren’t any error codes or anything. That my ABS system worked as it should have. When I first pulled over the lights on my dash remained on. I actually turned off my car. When I Turned it back on. All the lights were still on.while talking to the dealership. They had me turn my car off. Apply the emergency break. Turn it back on and release the parking break. That caused the lights to turn offBut they are trying to convince me there were not Issues.no issues.
Automotive Expert
I've never seen a car with lights come on after an ABS activation and have there be no codes. For now, I would get new tires and just monitor it. If any lights come back on, get it scanned again.

Okay. Thank you. Truly. They are making me feel like I’m over exaggerating. I drive for the power company here in Utah. Have a CDL and take winter driving safety every year. I explained, if they are locking like that. It’s not safe. Had I had control of my car. I would have released the break. To get traction. But it was unresponsive and locked.
Automotive Expert
No problem, glad to help!

Just to show you what my dash looked like.
Automotive Expert
Wow

with all that happening. In your opinion. Shouldn’t there be an error code?
Automotive Expert
Yes there should be

Last question. The whole. Turn your car off. Apply your park break. Turn your cat back on. Release the park break. And all the lights on my dash turning off. Would that have cleared the error codes?
Automotive Expert
No it would not have, the only way to clear them is with a scan tool or disconnecting the battery for a while and sometimes that doesn't even work depending on what kind of codes they are and in what system.

Thank you! I’ll ask you more questions in the future! You were great.
Automotive Expert
Anytime, glad to help!!

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