Getting rid of ABS light after 9" rear end install
by Michael Hawk

To relieve yourself from that annoying ABS light, after installing a nine- inch rear end, follow the following instructions. This was done on a 1996 Camaro Z28 Convertible and 1995 Camaro Z28 without traction control. These instructions may or may not be accurate for other years as I do not have a Helms manual for those years to check. Some of the directions below may sound trivial to some and helpful to others. After the following was done to my car, and another 1995, the ABS light now comes on when you turn the key to ON, then goes out approx. two seconds later. AND STAYS OFF! This is the way it worked before you put in the nine-inch. The braking, and brake pedal effort does not change. The only difference is NO ABS LIGHT. Also be aware you DO NOT have ANY ABS function. Please read ALL instructions. Install is about one hour or less depending on skill.

 

Any questions can be sent to hawkstr@pe.net

Michael Hawk

Tools needed: wire cutter/crimpers, 13mm and 8mm open end wrench, small screwdriver, phillips screwdriver, right angle phillips screwdriver, pliers

Parts needed: One 16-14 gauge butt connector, electrical tape, 12-18 inches of 16-14 gauge wire.

The following is for information ONLY. You accept the responsibility if you decide to install on your car.

  1. Disconnect battery with 8mm wrench.
  2. Remove instrument panel insulator. (plastic panel that separates your feet from under dash wiring) It should be held up with two push-pull plastic connectors, one on each end. Grab it with a pair of pliers and pull. Pry the panel out from under the dash panel. It only sticks under a small amount. Set aside.
  3. Remove drivers-side kick panel. This is the panel that surrounds the hood release lever and runs along the seat to retain the carpet. Four screws along the side and one at the foot rest. One screw next to the drivers seat will need a very short or right angle phillips screw driver. Lift from the end of the panel near the back seat and rotate up to clear hood release and where it interlocks with A-piller panel (next to fuse box cover). Set aside.
  4. The Electronic Brake Control Module (EBCM) is at the top, left corner. It is approx. 4 inches by 7 inches in size. Two electrical plug-in connectors are connected to this unit next to each other. The plug-in connector on the left side is the one you will need to locate. It contains more wires than the connector on the right and the wires are of smaller size in diameter.
  5. This connector has a "blue" wire retainer on it. Press up on the blue wire retainer and at the same time pry with a small screwdriver the connector out of the EBCM. Do not force this connector out without releasing it first! Pull connector down to get better access to the wires. It should come down approx. 6-8 inches.
  6. For 1996 models: Locate the "light green" wire. The blue part of the connector has each cavity numbered from left to right with number 1 thru 12 on the top row of wires. We are only concerned with 1 thru 12. Number 13 thru 24 is the bottom row of wires. The light green wire is in cavity number 7. For reference, cavity number 6 has a "dark blue" wire in it and cavity number 8 is EMPTY. If you cannot locate the light green wire STOP and re-install panels.
  7. For 1995 models: Locate the "light green" wire. The blue part on the connector has each cavity numbered for the top row. For this model year we are only concerned with the BOTTOM row. The light green wire is in cavity B2. Which is the second from the left on the bottom, with the connectors holes facing you.
  8. Separate the light green wire from the others. Locate a spot about halfway between the connector and the wire loom. At this point you have two choices, both of which accomplish the same thing. One is to cut the light green wire at this middle point. Strip the insulation back on both wires. Twist both wires back together and install a small diameter, 16-14 gauge, "end or butt connector". Strip the end off a length of 16-14 gauge wire and connect to the other end of the butt connector. Be sure and crimp all connections tight. The second way to do this without cutting the wire is to "splice into" the wire making sure you do not cut through the wire. Strip a length of 16-14 gauge wire and connector to the light green wire. Tape up any exposed wires. Re-install the connector to the EBCM, be sure it is fully seated.
  9. Locate the stud and nut that is to the left and slight above the hood release lever. It should have a couple of wires all ready grounded to it. Use a 13mm wrench and loosen the nut approx. ¼ -inch. Take your length of 16-14 gauge wire that is connected or spliced into the light green wire and measure off the distance needed to reach this grounding point. Approx. 8-10 inches. You can ground this wire anywhere you may think that is best, but this is the closest and easiest place to do it. Strip the insulation back and connect to the ground point. You can use a "ring or spade connector" to do this, but may hard to locate one to fit the 13mm stud and still crimp to the small 16-14 gauge wire. Tighten up the 13mm nut.
  10. Re-install the drivers side kick panel making sure that the panel goes under the A-piller panel (next to fuse box cover) and lies along carpet as before.
  11. Re-install instrument panel insulator. It will fit into a slot above the go-fast pedal. Pry or push by hand back under the dash and press in the two plastic connectors.
  12. Now under the hood to the "Under hood relay box". Remove fuse-relay cover. You will see two rows of relays one row above the other, as well as, approx. 12 push in fuses.
  13. Locate the row of relays that is closest to the front of the car. This row has four relays next to each other. Pull out the relay that is SECOND from the left. This is the ABS ASR/TCS relay.

    14. On the left side (passenger) of the relays is a row of fuses and on the right side (drivers) of the relays are two rows of fuses. You will remove 3 fuses from the drivers side of the relays on 1996 models. Two fuses for 1995 models. The first is in the row next to the relays and closest to the front of the car. It is the ABS-IGN fuse. Number two and number three are in the next row. Number two is the one closest to the front of the car ABS-VALVE. The third is the next one up ABS-BAT. 1995 models will be two fuses, both on the right side, at the bottom. Diagram below for models years. ****** denotes fuse XXXXX denotes relay

    1996 Models

    ****** ****** ******

    ****** XXXXX XXXXX XXXXX XXXXX ****** ******

    ****** XXXXX REMOVE XXXXX XXXXX ****** Remove

    ****** Remove Remove

    1995 Models

    ****** ****** ******

    ****** XXXXX XXXXX XXXXX XXXXX ****** ******

    ****** XXXXX REMOVE XXXXX XXXXX ****** ******

    ****** Remove Remove

  14. Re-install fuse-relay cover.
  15. Re-connect battery.