Hello - 
Am completely new to both the site and world of the Focus, so please excuse any newbie mistakes!
I recently bought an old (2003 reg) Focus Zetec 1.6L Petrol to use as a daily runabout off Ebay while my main motor is off the road awaiting welding.
Having got it back home and familiarised myself more with the car, I've realised I have a problem...
When I switch on, my ABS warning light does not light up at all. (I've checked and I do have ABS).
I wondered if it might just be a dodgy bulb/led so wanted to check that out.
Having done some googling I found there's meant to be a test menu (press & hold trip reset, turn engine to II or III) which should light up all the panel, but no matter what I do I can't get it to go into test mode.
I've tried holding for ages, holding for a short time, starting the engine, just going to II, making sure the steering lock isn't on, shutting all the doors - everything I could think of but no joy on getting it into test mode.
Is there anything that might stop me getting into test mode that I could sort?
Or is there anything else I could check / fix to get my ABS to light up at start-up like it should?

Should say I've checked all the fuses (both boxes) and they are all there, the right rating and all look good.

Most other things in it seem fine - it runs fine and I haven't encountered any problems yet - fingers crossed! - but any help on the above greatly appreciated!!
Or any other pointers on what I could do / check / fix that doesn't involve taking it to a garage - the car was only £500 and I'll be doing any work that needs doing on it myself (my main car is a vintage land rover so well used to maintaining old cars!)
Thanks in advance
TS

someone may have deliberately disabled the ABS light because it was on and indicating a fault. Of course if the MOT tester knows it has ABS it is part of the MOT test to check the light bulb actually comes on initially and then goes out again. 

How have you checked it has ABS. I know it was not compulsory for cars to have it back in 2003. I mean did you just look up the model on the internet or have you looked at what is actually on the car, wheel sensors, wires, ABS module under bonnet 

Is this the instrument cluster you have (see video):

 

18 hours ago, isetta said:

someone may have deliberately disabled the ABS light because it was on and indicating a fault. Of course if the MOT tester knows it has ABS it is part of the MOT test to check the light bulb actually comes on initially and then goes out again. 

How have you checked it has ABS. I know it was not compulsory for cars to have it back in 2003. I mean did you just look up the model on the internet or have you looked at what is actually on the car, wheel sensors, wires, ABS module under bonnet 

I'm hoping they haven't disabled the light as guess that would mean the ABS is knackered and I'd fail the MOT when I took it in (thankfully not due til march). But as the car was cheap it's a possibility.. I stupidly didn't notice there was no light when I bought the thing. Buyer beware an' all that...

 

I'm pretty certain is has ABS - no expert on these engines but I have the haynes manual and pretty sure I can see the module under the bonnet but it's hard to be 100% sure as it's hard to get to.  Certainly there are ABS fuses in the right place in the fuse boxes.  Be good to check and see if there are wheel sensors - how easy is it to find these? Just take the wheel off and look at the brakes and it's obvious?

 

ta for the reply!

4 hours ago, unofix said:

Is this the instrument cluster you have (see video):

 

Yes that looks like it - though in MPH not KMH.  THat's the test I was looking to run - seems simple enough and would tell me if the bulb was working or not. But no matter how many times I do it the test never runs - nothing happens. Any ideas why or what I could do to run the test? thanks

When you press that button in the centre of the dash does it work for other functions ? or could it be that the button is also not working

 

Well it resets the trip computer every time I press it so assume it's doing what it's meant to?

Thats very odd, the self test is a very simple thing and if the button resets the trip it must be working. I would forget about the ABS light, you know if you check to see if its fitted/working then your going to find that there is a problem with the ABS.

i'm reaching the same conclusion! I fear the old owner knew his ABS failed, covered it up somehow and sold it to me 😟. whatever he did back there to disable the light maybe knackered the test process somehow?

Unless I fix it though it's going to fail the MOT in march so I need to do something about it before then  - or just get rid of the car before the MOT is due (I really only need it to see me through til I can get my Landy back on the road so might be done by then anyway). Annoying all the same...

2003 is the cross over point for mandatory ABS fitment, but it's 2003 built not 2003 registered.

Are you absolutely sure this vehicle has ABS?

No warning light, no ABS.

Unless, as mentioned someone has deactivated the warning light because there is a fault.

OK, so I am now certain is has ABS. Just checked and can see wires to each wheel. 

Not only that but am also now pretty certain that the issue is with the dash bulb as I disconnected one of the wheel wires and still no ABS warning light showing on the dash, with or without engine running.

Presumably if the dash light was working, when I disconnected the wheel sensor wire and started the engine the ABS light should be lit.

Could be just a blown bulb behind the dash (if I'm lucky). Or it could be the ABS doesn't work at all and the previous owner disabled the bulb so it wouldn't be noticed and the stupid buyer (ie me) would just assume there was no ABS as no light pre-start and be none the wiser until MOT time when it failed.

I'll get the instrument panel off sometime and take a look round (this seems a simple enough job - is it?)

A mate of mine had an issue with his ABS light staying on on a '04 Focus a few years ago and didn't want to fork out for further investigation as he was getting rid of the car shortly after, so was advised to just get someone to smash the bulb !! I believe the guy just used a small drill bit to do it ?? It could be that this is what has been done to yours too ??

Have you tested to see if the ABS works ??...if you don't have access to a diagnostic then find an isolated, quiet wide road then drive at 20-30 mph, MAKING SURE NO ONE IS BEHIND YOU, then slam on the brakes and see if the ABS kicks in or any of the wheels lock up and skid on the road surface but be aware that if there is a problem it could pull sharply to one side hence the reason for using a wide road !!

Yeah, I'm afraid there's an ABS fault and the previous owner had removed or destroyed the bulb.

I'm sure they switched to LEDs around this time too so it would be a costly fix

UPDATE....

So I took off the instrument cluster and took a look. There was a mixture of bulbs and LEDs. Of course it had to be that the ABS light was one of the LEDs so it wasn't simply a blown bulb. But least the LED was there and I could see no signs of tampering to disable it.  Nor could I see anything obvious that would stop it from working though..

Still, thought I'd clean it all up while I was there - no sign of corrosion or white gunk but thought I might as well while I had it out. Gave it a thorough clean with PCB cleaner and turns out it was quite mucky judging by the state of the cotton buds.

Stuck it back it without much hope of anything changing and low and behold the ***** thing worked! I now have an ABS light at the start which happily goes out soon as the engine starts!  All seems to be well.

Not just that but my 'test' procedure works now too and I can cycle through the menu as t'internet says I should.

That test through up a couple of DTC error codes (9318/9359/262) which in due course I may chase down. Anyone recommend a *cheap* code reader/reseter that works?

But for now - job done. Thanks for replies. Have posted update in case others have a similar issue one day and want to see how it was resolved for me at least.  With luck the car will stay OK and I won't need to pester people here again (much!).

Cheers.

51 minutes ago, ts23zetec said:

That test through up a couple of DTC error codes (9318/9359/262) which in due course I may chase down. Anyone recommend a *cheap* code reader/reseter that works?

Very well done !! 👍

Good result, ABS light and Self Test both working.

As far as reading codes, get yourself a Laptop and download ForScan (its free). https://forscan.org/download.html

You will need an ELM327 lead which you can get from eBay for about £10, or a good lead from TunnelRat, for about £22

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/392854636120?hash=item5b77f60658:g:gUkAAOSwysFcAOo-