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Dear Jim,

I drive a 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier (2.4L, 5-speed), and I'm having a problem with the ABS light.

It comes on sporadically, for apparently no reason, and it usually goes off when the engine is restarted. After that, it may not come on again for a day or two, but it always returns.

I took the car to two mechanics and then to the Chevrolet dealer, where they replaced the ABS sensor and hub bearing assembly. That seemed to work for a few days, but then the light came back.

When I first had the trouble, some "bad" wires around the battery were replaced and this worked for almost a year before the trouble came back.

What's going on here? The only pattern I can see is that this seems to happen only after the engine has warmed up for a while.

-- Ken Tavner

Normally, bro, I'd advise you to take that anti-lock braking system (ABS) light seriously. Most of the time it means something real, such as the electronic braking control module (ECBM) isn't responding as it should, as was the case with one reader several months ago.

But you mentioned bad wires around the battery, and that's a different story.

If replacing those wires was really the only thing done by the first mechanic, I'd say it's likely that the same thing is happening again.

Are you still using the same battery from before? If so, it's possible the battery is leaking acid all over the new wires -- just as it did with the old ones -- and that's the source of your problem. In other words, the acid-corroded wires aren't getting enough power to the ABS system, and that's what's causing the warning light to come on.

The other scenario is a little different: If you're only seeing this light come on when the car is hot, the problem could be with a sensor that sends the ABS warning signal to the dashboard.

Still, brother, I'd take a look at those wires first. If having them replaced kept the light off for nearly a year, something about that solution must have been right.

Tip of the Week:

Speaking of brakes, drivers, keep an eye on your master cylinders. Many late-model vehicles now have a master cylinder made of semi-transparent plastic that lets you check the fluid level easily. Look for possible leaks around the unit too -- if there's any sign of brake fluid near the brake lines or elsewhere, have a mechanic look over the system.

Buffalo Jim, owner of Allstate Auto & Marine Repair in Las Vegas, writes a weekly column. Send your automotive questions to him at buffalojim@lasvegasniftynickel.com. If Jim picks your question to answer in Nuts & Bolts, you'll also be the proud recipient of a deck of official Buffalo Jim playing cards, presented in a classy, tin box bearing his hairy image.