Hello all,
I keep getting the three amigos from time to time and I was wondering if anyone could shed some light on the situation. What happens is that the three lights will come on for no reason every once in a while. However, once I shut the car off and turn it back on the lights go out will not come back on. I did change my brake pads a few months ago and did use alot of brake quiet but they were beginning to squeel. So, as I have read in other posts, I took all the wheels off and cleaned everything out. This caused the problem to seemingly go away for a while but it is now back again. Here is a strange thing that happened recently though ....... I was out waiting for my friend to come out of a store with the truck on but in park. As luck would have it, the lights came on right then and there. I didnt have my foot on the brake or anything!! I was simply idling. So does anyone know what the problem could be? Thanks.

PS I know I have to get the codes read but Im really tied up over the next couple of weeks and wont be able to get it to the shop so I am just looking for suggestions in the mean time. Thanks again.

 

Well I would have to say that you need to clean everything again. Brake dust will set off the "3".

 

Do your brakes squeak, if so this can cause your problem.
Go to a hard panic stop from 30MPH plus and see if you can still feel the ABS pulsation thru the brake pedal?

 

Update: Ok so I went and did the emergency brake test and heres what I came up with. When the three amigo lights are off the system will kick in as I start to lock up (however the lights on the dash will not come on signaling that the system is active). On the other hand, when the three amigo lights are on, the system does not seem to work (at least I couldnt feel anything in the pedal). So... any thoughts. Thanks a lot

 

You will have to go and have the trouble codes read. Could be a bad wheel sensor, thin brake pads, could be almost anything.

 

"YUP"!!!

 

The lights will not come on when the abs is activating(controlling the braking), they will come on when there is a fault. The traction control light will flash during tc operation. You will need to check faults to be able to diagnose this issue. Based on the "on and off"
action of the lights and happening when sitting and idling, it sounds like you might have shuttle valve fault/faults logged.

 

Ok well when I get the truck in the shop I will let you guys know what the deal is ....... hopefully over the next couple of weeks I will be able to do so. One question though ........... are fault codes logged in the system? I guess what I am asking is if the lights need to be on when the system is checked. Thanks for the help

 

The lights need to be on for full access to the problem.
Try to find a small shop to check for the codes, a dealer will be way to expensive and try to sell you lots of unneeded parts.