Anti-lock brakes

[sylvar]

So. My usual mechanic says that the anti-lock braking circuit is draining the battery. Pulling the fuse for that circuit stops the problem, but disables ABS.

According to the service manager at my garage, ABS is not all that important anyway: it rarely even gets used, and when it does get used, it can often increase your stopping distance. He dislikes ABS, and says that if I have to pay more than $200-300 to get it fixed, he'd suggest not getting it fixed at all -- if nothing else relies on the ABS fuse. If Mazda says that the ABS system can be disabled without causing additional problems, and it's expensive to fix, then the mechanic I trust says "leave the damn thing broken".

The jury is still out. Jodi and I can't make that decision until we have information from the dealership. Speaking in generalities, I'm inclined to take my mechanic at his word. I learned to drive on a car without ABS, and the braking system felt firm and powerful when I tested it on the way to the dealership.

Comments

[fizzgig-bites.livejournal.com]

My car when we bought it was listed as a car with ABS. I did the insurance paperwork and told them it did not. The VIN number says it does. I know it does not. It does not drive like one that does, it doesn't sound like one that does, and it doesn't have the hardware in place for one that does. I had the insurance guy write up a letter saying that I notified Allstate that my car does not have ABS and that was that. Until the day that Allstate was canceled my car was listed as having ABS. When we changed, our new company didn't recognize it as a discount because ABS has proven itself to not help in many situations. Maybe it is a state by state thing.

Since Nina brought it up, ask your insurance agent and see. Maybe it isn't a big deal in Florida, maybe it is. It wasn't for me.

[fizzgig-bites.livejournal.com]

I have no idea of my posting is set for tomorrow, but I posted it about the same time as Ben replied.