Ok car guys I need some help.

[Beefcake]

I've been trying to figure out a problem I've been having but doing searches on the internet has just led me in circles.

On my old 1998 Dodge Ram the ABS amber light has started flashing every so often when I drive the truck. It doesn't do this all the time but it's started to become more frequent and I have no idea what it means. The brakes on the truck aren't that old and we had the master cylinder replaced a couple of years ago, also the fluid is good and I haven't seen any leaks.

Does anyone have any idea what this warning is?

[MaSonZ]

check your fuse... cant imagine its the fuse, but try the cheap things first. if your fuse is good, check the wires from your ABS doo-dad to wherever it connects to your engine (CAP can explain that better). a wire may be loose. if all else fails bring it to a mechanic.

[PFactorDave]

I would take it to a mechanic who can hook it up to a computer and figure out what is going on...  But I'm extra careful with brakes.  About 15 years ago, the brakes on the small truck I was driving failed and I only narrowly got stopped with the hand brake before crashing into a car in front of me which would have probably pushed him into a very busy intersection.

I don't take chances with the brakes.

[icepac]

It's cheapest to top off the master cylinder and see if the light goes away before trying anything else.

I think that year ram can display codes on the odometer....if it's digital.....or another information center if it's a higher trim level truck.

Turn the key from off to on (not start)...then back off three times each 1 second apart and leave it in the "on" position on the third cycle.

It should spit out codes but abs often needs a dedicated scan tool to get real information other than "abs failure" which is a catch-all for "something is not right" rather than a code that details what is wrong.

[MaSonZ]

or drive the truck like you have no ABS...uber careful... 

[AAJagerX]

Probably a wheel speed sensor going bad.  They're not terribly expensive, so get it checked out!  There's nothing worse than not being able to stop.

[smoe]

If ur ABS sensors are built into the wheel bearings assemblies then one may need replaced. It is common for the ABS light to come on when a bad bearing assembly is present. I had a 98 Buick Lasabre. It was a nice car except I replaced 5 wheel bearings in 2 years. Once I had a bad bearing and the ABS light would come on when I was accelerating while trying to turn at an intersection. I noticed the light would come on when I accelerated or decelerated on a bumpy road surface. Probably a good idea to have a mechanic wiggle the tires and check for a bad bearing. They are not cheap, but better to be safe.

[Dichotomy]

'Paging Dr Cap... Dr Cap to ER.. STAT'

[clerick]

Probably a wheel speed sensor going bad.  They're not terribly expensive, so get it checked out!  There's nothing worse than not being able to stop.

This, or the vehicle speed sensor.  They work together.  Have you noticed any weirdness in your speedometer?

[vorticon]

Probably a wheel speed sensor going bad.  They're not terribly expensive, so get it checked out!  There's nothing worse than not being able to stop.

 if you need ABS outside of bad winter or emergency conditions your doing something wrong. having it is obviously better than not having it but...really how often do you need it?

of course, as mentioned it might be a symptom of actually serious issues and it should be checked out.

[F22RaptorDude]

I'm guessing simply dragging your heels won't work 

[clerick]

if you need ABS outside of bad winter or emergency conditions your doing something wrong. having it is obviously better than not having it but...really how often do you need it?

of course, as mentioned it might be a symptom of actually serious issues and it should be checked out.

ABS in the dry actually increases stopping distance BUT it allows you to maneuver the vehicle under hard braking as opposed to locking the binders up.

[phatzo]

It would check the brake fluid level in the master cylinder first as icepac said, it makes the light go out on my old daihatsu.

[Skyguns MKII]

most likely a sensor but when in doubt...

Manuals have never let me down.

[rpm]

All of the above... OR... it's a Dodge and there's a short in the dash.