3rd Gen Protege/MazdaSpeed/P5/MP3 General/Maintenance Discussion for 1999-2003.5 Models Only (BJ Chassis)

How to tell if ABS?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old July-28th-2003, 04:38 PM
  #1  
Protege Newbie
Thread Starter
 
OKAaron's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Norman, OK
Posts: 2
OKAaron is on a distinguished road
Question 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
OKAaron is offline  
Old July-28th-2003, 05:54 PM
  #2  
Protege Enthusiast
 
jlanger's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Roseville/St Paul, MN
Posts: 300
jlanger is on a distinguished road
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.
jlanger is offline  
Old July-28th-2003, 05:57 PM
  #3  
Protege Newbie
Thread Starter
 
OKAaron's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Norman, OK
Posts: 2
OKAaron is on a distinguished road
thanks, mainly it's to check out used PR5's since I would like that option.

Aaron
OKAaron is offline  
Old July-28th-2003, 06:13 PM
  #4  
Registered User
 
Dermen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Ohio
Posts: 426
Dermen is on a distinguished road
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.
Dermen is offline  
Old July-28th-2003, 06:36 PM
  #5  
Registered User
 
toucci's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 290
toucci is on a distinguished road
if it has abs it has side airbags. if it doesnt have side airbags, it doesnt have abs
toucci is offline  
Old July-28th-2003, 08:02 PM
  #6  
Protege Newbie
 
bizsnatch's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Calgary
Posts: 43
bizsnatch is on a distinguished road
not neccessarily true in Canada.
bizsnatch is offline  
Old July-28th-2003, 08:11 PM
  #7  
Protege Enthusiast
 
Esquire's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Hunstville, AL
Posts: 101
Esquire is on a distinguished road
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.
Esquire is offline  
Old July-28th-2003, 08:39 PM
  #8  
Protege Enthusiast
 
pluto316's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Orlando, Fla
Posts: 313
pluto316 is on a distinguished road
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.)
pluto316 is offline  
Old July-28th-2003, 10:09 PM
  #9  
Registered User
 
toucci's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 290
toucci is on a distinguished road
Originally posted by bizsnatch
not neccessarily true in Canada.
well he doesnt live in canada!
toucci is offline  
Old July-28th-2003, 10:58 PM
  #10  
Certified Sick Individual
 
kc5zom's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Houston, TX.
Posts: 1,141
kc5zom is on a distinguished road
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.
kc5zom is offline  
Old July-29th-2003, 12:18 AM
  #11  
Protege Enthusiast
 
Esquire's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Hunstville, AL
Posts: 101
Esquire is on a distinguished road
Originally posted by kc5zom
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.
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.
Esquire is offline  
Old July-29th-2003, 03:40 AM
  #12  
Registered User
 
Dermen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Ohio
Posts: 426
Dermen is on a distinguished road
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.
Dermen is offline  
Old July-29th-2003, 11:54 AM
  #13  
Certified Sick Individual
 
kc5zom's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Houston, TX.
Posts: 1,141
kc5zom is on a distinguished road
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.
kc5zom is offline  
Old July-29th-2003, 05:14 PM
  #14  
Registered User
 
toucci's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 290
toucci is on a distinguished road
rear wheel lockup causes oversteer which is more dangerous than front wheel lockup causing understeer

but its better to have neither
toucci is offline  
Old July-29th-2003, 07:38 PM
  #15  
has issues
 
cjb200's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Orlando, FL
Posts: 304
cjb200 is on a distinguished road
Originally posted by Dermen
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.
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.
cjb200 is offline  

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:41 PM.