Women looks bummed and holds up a piece of cardboard with the word "Help!" written on it

How do I reset the ABS warning light on my vehicle?

The ABS light represents your Anti-Lock Break System. This system will pump your brakes if things get hairy, in order to prevent your ride from going into an uncontrolled skid. If something’s wrong with the system, the ABS light should turn on.

Once you fix the problem with your ABS system (if there is one), you’re probably wondering: how do I reset my ABS dashboard light?



To reset the dashboard warning light, follow the steps below. At the most, you’ll need a replacement ABS sensor, a screwdriver and an OBD code reader.

Note: Only do the following after you’ve already remedied the problem with your ABS system. If you take your vehicle into a shop, they should reset the light for you. But if you do maintenance yourself, you’ll have to reset the light as well. If you’ve fixed your ABS problem, follow the steps below.



Resetting Your ABS Dashboard Warning Light

A mechanic smiles and fills out a form.

Step One: Disconnect the positive cable from your car battery. Then, hold down the brake pedal to drain the vehicle’s electrical system. This will result in a reset of the car’s central computer. Plug the cable back in to restore power. If there’s no remaining problem with the system, this should reset the light.

Step Two: If the light comes back on after the reset, you may need to change the ABS sensor. To do so, unscrew the housing for your sensor (you should find it mounted to the wheel hub) and unplug the wire. Then, attach and mount a new sensor. You may still need to reset the computer again via the method described above.

Step Three: If the light still comes on, you should use an ODB code reader to diagnose the problem, as the vehicle believes there is still a problem warranting the light. If you don’t have an ODB code reader, take the vehicle into a shop to have the problem diagnosed and dealt with.