How to tell if ABS?
 

How could one tell if the PR5 has ABS/Side airbag package? Is it on the seats or anywhere else?

Thanks,
Aaron

There should be a side air bag symbol on the side of the seat. This shoudl be quite visible as EMS needs to see if you have airbags there or not that could go off and hurt them. I don't know how one could check about ABS. Some Cars used to have a check light that says ABS but I don't know about the protege as I don't have either. You could check on Carfax or go to a dealer and ave them run your vin. But those are rather extreme.

thanks, mainly it's to check out used PR5's since I would like that option.

Aaron

Test drive the car and slam the brakes. You should always do this and never believe a car salesman. Most the time they have no idea what is on the car. I test drove a car and the salesman told me it had ABS. I drove it and left a long skid mark on the road. When we got back I told him it has to have ABS. Then this loser salesman comes over and says, "You want ABS, go like this." Then he started stomping his foot on the ground. Then I turned around and left without saying anything to that jackass.

if it has abs it has side airbags. if it doesnt have side airbags, it doesnt have abs ;)

not neccessarily true in Canada.

Easy NON DANGEROUS way to check for ABS. Open the fuse box and look at the chart. If there's no fuse in the slot for ABS, then there's no ABS.

My MSP shows the ABS light light up when I start the engine. So, check for that.


(Also, I got ABS w/o side airbags.)

well he doesnt live in canada! ;)

Yeah, I was wondering why all the stupid tests when there is an idiot light on the dash for any vehicle with ABS. If it lights up, there is an ABS system present. This holds true across all vehicles manufactured in the United States. ABS brakes (especially crappy older systems) can still leave skid marks, trust me. :)

:rolleyes: I had my stupid test because I didn't know there was a light on the dash since I've never owned a car with ABS...

But what are you gonna do when i spraypaint your dash black? huh? How are you gonna check that you have ABS then? since you definitely won't remember...

Really, I painted your dash, go check. :D

Some vehicles come standard with 2 wheel ABS and 4 wheel is an option. In that case there is an ABS light but you still dont have 4 wheel ABS. My Ranger was like that. It might only be trucks that have that though.

The Protege only comes with 4 wheel or nothing though, so you don't have to worry about that.

Yeah, back in the day there were a few vehicles that came with rear wheel only ABS. Nothing in the United States is made that way anymore though. It is basically useless since the front wheels are going to be the ones locking up in a panic stop.

rear wheel lockup causes oversteer which is more dangerous than front wheel lockup causing understeer

but its better to have neither :D

Riiiight. Or you could just read the window sticker.

Things like that are why I always order a new car from the factory when I buy new, I hate knowing my car was abused by test drivers.