If the brake is not locked when you go to pull away again after the full stop then that pretty much rules out anything physical at the caliper end.  (Piston, slide pins, pads). 

I'd be suspecting a fault inside the ABS unit personally.

Yes the minute the car comes to a complete stop the breaks release and I can pull away again. So the ABS unit must have detected that the speed is zero and released. So yes must be ABS unit. Your right.

There are no error codes on the ABS though.

What do you suggest. should i look into replacing the whole abs unit? or is there any sense in taking it to someone to check it out? who would look at abs units, is that a ford specialist thing or a autoelectric thing

16 minutes ago, jon-2009fiesta1.6tdci said:

Yes the minute the car comes to a complete stop the breaks release and I can pull away again. So the ABS unit must have detected that the speed is zero and released. So yes must be ABS unit. Your right.

There are no error codes on the ABS though.

What do you suggest. should i look into replacing the whole abs unit? or is there any sense in taking it to someone to check it out? who would look at abs units, is that a ford specialist thing or a autoelectric thing

There are electronics companies who specialise in repairing faults like this.  You may be able to find a local one through Google, or post the unit to a company further away.

This is just one example - Remanx | Expert Automotive Electronics Repair and Exchange – Remanx Ltd

Ford dealerships will not be able to repair it cheaply.  They would only replace the whole unit with a brand new one, at high cost.

If you're unable to remove the unit yourself, then an independent garage or mobile mechanic could remove it for you.

It is not possible to simply replace the unit with a used one, as they are coded to each vehicle and even form part of the immobiliser on some Fords.  So having your own unit repaired is generally the best option.

23 minutes ago, jon-2009fiesta1.6tdci said:

who would look at abs units

Ford would only want to sell and fit a whole new ABS pump assembly which on a 2009 vehicle would just not be cost effective.

Also remember that on many Ford vehicles the ABS pump is included with the vehicle immobiliser so they are not a plug and play item.

Use Google or similar and search for ABS refurbishment companies. Get your own unit serviced to avoid problems.

Example: https://controlunits.co.uk/

2 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

So having your own unit repaired is generally the best option.

Like minds 🤣

You just type faster than me !!

Look what I found. Sounds like exactly the fault I'm experiencing:

 

https://www.ecutesting.com/common-faults/ford/brakes-locking-fiesta-b-max-and-transit/

 

Quote

Common ABS pump malfunction for Ford Fiesta, B-Max and Transit will cause one or more brakes to bind/lock-up after depressing the brake pedal.

It is commonly known for one wheel to fail and cause the brake to lock on, however, opposite wheels can fail at the same time for example near side front and offside rear, or near side rear and offside front.

Internal component failure of the ABS, caused by a manufacturing defect, will prevent the brake calipers from releasing, making this a potentially highly dangerous fault.

 

To resolve this brake locking on issue, you may have been told that you need an expensive new replacement from the manufacturer. However because the defect has not yet been worked-out at factory level, these replacements are prone to fail in exactly the same way, and you only get a short 1-year warranty.

 

We offer a more cost effective solution – test and rebuild of your own ABS pump within 2-3 working days, complete with an unlimited mile Lifetime Warranty.

We will rebuild your ABS pump to a higher specification than OE standards to ensure that the fault does not return.

theres a video as well. Although they do say that it's the 2013-2018 Fiesta, but the fault he's describing is exactly as I'm experiencing.

Alright thank you. I will look for an autoelectric repair company in staffordshire. hopefully they will know what im on about!!

On 3/16/2024 at 5:29 PM, jon-2009fiesta1.6tdci said:

I replaced the breaks and disks to because they were bit discoloured from heating. The sound seems to be gone!! Unforutantely though i tested the abs and it locked up again. So there must be a second issue.

When you replaced the discs and pads, you or someone must have pushed the pistons back into the caliper.....    was this smooth/easy, and go back in all the way?

If it was, then yes it's likely to be the ABS system.

If you do get the brakes to lock-up, but take your foot off the pedal, I assume the brake pads move off the discs whilst the car is still moving forward - so they DON'T stay on all by themselves?

  

19 hours ago, orangecurry said:

If you do get the brakes to lock-up, but take your foot off the pedal, I assume the brake pads move off the discs whilst the car is still moving forward - so they DON'T stay on all by themselves?

Actually they DO stay on all by themselves, that's the whole problem.

If I slam breaks, hard enough so that the ABS kicks in (especialy if on wet or loose road) then the left front wheel locks and skids.

Lifting my foot from the break pedal and even pressing the axelerater (sp) doesnt make the car go - the car continues to break and stop.

No matter what i do, the left front wheel locks and skids and the breaks only release once the car has come to a complete stop. but once the car has stopped the breaks do release immediately.

 

19 hours ago, orangecurry said:

pushed the pistons back into the caliper.....    was this smooth/easy, and go back in all the way?

The garage replaced the breaks so i dont know if it was smooth/easy to push the piston back but i told them about the problem and they said they couldnt find any fault so I would hope they would have noticed if the piston didnt go back in easy. im realising that i should have done it myself. Want a job doing right and all that. 🥴

Just now, jon-2009fiesta1.6tdci said:

If I slam breaks, then the left front wheel locks and skids.

oh i should also clarify that its not about slamming breaks. its specificaly when the abs engages. so it doesnt happen 99% of the time. Its only if i hit the breaks especially hard or if its wet or on loose stones. so i do think its specificaly an ABS issue.

1 hour ago, jon-2009fiesta1.6tdci said:

Actually they DO stay on all by themselves, that's the whole problem.

If I slam breaks, hard enough so that the ABS kicks in (especialy if on wet or loose road) then the left front wheel locks and skids.

Lifting my foot from the break pedal and even pressing the axelerater (sp) doesnt make the car go - the car continues to break and stop.

No matter what i do, the left front wheel locks and skids and the breaks only release once the car has come to a complete stop. but once the car has stopped the breaks do release immediately.

That implies the piston is not sticking on corrosion when extended, so yes an ABS fault... but an unusual one.  

And yes you should change your own pads - not only is it very easy (if you can support the car safely), but you can inspect/check the braking sorry breaking system especially the movement of the pistons, plus hub/bearing movement, state of springs, clean out mud-traps, inspect the inner face of wheels/tyres etc etc 🙂

Never mind the cost.