The Volvo Anti-Skid system protects against skidding or losing control due to poor terrain. It prevents the wheel from locking up during heavy braking, maintaining stability and traction on sloppy roads.
Furthermore, the system relies closely on sensors such as the Anti-brake Sensor to achieve its aim.
When you see the “Anti-skid Service Required,” it means that a fault has developed with the ABS and Ant-skid system.
Let’s examine the meaning, causes, and fixes of the “Volve Anti-Skid Service Required.”
What is Volvo Anti Skid Service Required?
The “Volvo anti-skid service required” is a warning message when the anti-skid system or ABS is not working correctly.
Anti-skid service is peculiar to more recent Volvo cars. It uses the brake system and other sensors, like the Yaw rate sensor, to ensure your vehicle does not lose control or skid while driving.
Driving on a wet or snowy road can be very dangerous, as vehicles can quickly lose control, and a collision would be inevitable.
Furthermore, with the help of the sensors like speed, yaw rate, and other related sensors, the system can determine the vehicle’s position and moving rate.
Once the system detects the vehicle has lost control, ABS is activated. The throttle input is reduced to minimize the skid and allow the driver to gain control of the car.
In addition, once there is a problem with the sensors or the system itself, the service will not work. When this happens, the error message will be triggered.
What Causes of Volvo Anti-Skid Service Required?
Below are some of the possible causes of the “Anti-skid Service Required”:
1. Faulty wheel speed sensor
The speed sensor is responsible for tracking the movement of each of the wheels. The information is then sent to the ABS control module. The data obtained from the speed sensor is one of the most critical factors that will determine if the anti-skid service is required.
There is no data transfer to the module when the sensor is damaged or malfunctions. Now the system cannot determine the speed of each wheel. A warning message will be triggered when your vehicle is in this condition.
2. Failed Yaw sensor
The yaw sensor is a gyroscopic device that measures and monitors the angular velocity around the vehicle’s axis. In simple terms, the yaw sensor determines the possibility that the car spins around the vertical axis.
Information obtained from the Yaw sensor is also transferred to the ABS module. When the sensor is damaged, it will also trigger an error message.
3. Defective ECM
The Engine Control Module (ECM) is the computer system that monitors and controls a large part of the vehicle’s functioning, including the Anti-Skid system. When the ECM is damaged, in most cases, a large majority of the vehicle’s systems are affected.
A damaged or malfunctioning ECM could trigger an anti-skid service required, even when there is nothing wrong with the ABS or anti-skid system.
4. Damaged anti-skid or ABS module
The ABS module collects necessary data and determines if the system will be activated. Many factors could make the system; it could be software issues or contamination in the module.
When the module is not working correctly, it triggers the “anti skid service required” warning message.
5. Worn-out brake pads or rotors
The brake pads are essential in restoring your vehicle’s control when it loses power. The system applies the brakes, and this reduces the throttle input.
When the brake system is bad, the ABS or Anti-skid system will not work. The error message is then triggered alongside other warning signs.
6. Wiring issue
Wiring connection plays a huge role in carrying electrical currents and moving information from one component to another. For instance, when there is a wiring issue between the speed sensors and the ABS module, data obtained from the sensor cannot be shared with the module.
Wires get damaged due to many factors. It could be exposed to contaminants that cause corrosion in the wire. Also, pests could chew through the wires, causing a disconnection.
How to Fix a Volvo Anti-Skid Service Required?
Once you can determine the cause of the problem, it is easier to solve your Volvo anti-skid service required issue. To get the cause, you may need a proper diagnosis on your Volvo.
You can perform a diagnosis using a scan tool. Once you scan your vehicle, you can figure out the failing parts of your car that could cause the warning message to appear.
Below are ways you can fix a Volvo anti-skid service required issue.
1. Change the speed sensor
Firstly, there are two types of speed sensors. There is the engine speed sensor and the wheel speed sensor. For this fix, locate the wheel speed sensor.
The wheel speed sensor is located on the knuckle arm on four wheels. Once you can get to the speed sensor, you can replace it with the exact type of sensor. New sensors usually come with their cables and are straightforward to install.
You can do the same for the Yaw sensor if it is the source of the problem. The yaw sensor is located under the passenger or driver seat. It is installed on the floorboard, which gives it access to your car’s center of gravity.
2. Reprogram or replace ECM
Two significant damages could happen to an ECM. It could be a software issue or a damaged module. To solve a software issue, you may need to reprogramme your ECM. Doing this requires professional tools which you may not have access to.
If, after reprogramming, the ECM is still faulty, then you may have a damaged module. It would help if you got the module replaced as soon as possible.
3. Replace brake pads and rotor.
The brake pads and rotor comprise an essential part of the brake system. The thing is that replacing the brake pad is not that hard. The brake pad is located in the wheel of your vehicle and is held in place by the calipers.
To change the brake pad, you must take out the tires, remove the slider bolt, and pivot the caliper up. Once you can do that, you slide out the old brake pads, replace the retaining pins and slide in the new ones. Position the caliper well and install all the bolts back.
Once you finish that, you can put in your tire and are ready.
4. Wiring issue
When it comes to wiring issues, they are tricky to solve because the vehicle uses so many wires. With the help of the vehicle’s manual, you can find the wire related to the anti-skid or ABS.
Examine the wires for corrosion, disconnection, and other forms of damage. If you can find any damaged wires, you must replace them.
Final Thought!
Sometimes, you can solve the Volvo anti-skid service required with a simple scan tool. If the problem is an ABS malfunction, you can reset the ABS using an OBD 2 scan tool. It does require some special skills, and it is straightforward. After doing this, the warning message should disappear.