1 of our drivers had this last week on every trailer turns out was his fuse
098Joe:
I ripped out the ebs lead (the big one) the other day. The on call manager called MAN breakdown and they said it was legal to drive with amber lights as braking performance and abs would still function correctly.
A yellow abs light,as with a yellow air bag light on a car means that the system is disabled and the system has gone into default.
This stops the faulty abs reducing brake power or the air bag blowing out due to a misread input.
Ross v stobart:
If A B S is yellow the abs system has a fault.
The normal breaks work like as always.
But the benefit of assisted breaking is lost.If its E B S then thats electric break system.
I sure that is more important than abs.
In both cases if its faulty it needs fixing.If before departure fix it.
En route then book it in before next departure
why are your brakes going on a break 
cav551:
Wheel Nut:
Whether they know jack [zb] or not, this is what they put in writing, and unless you are 100% correct, it don’t really matter what the apprentice thinks does it?Good old VoSA the advice is 11 years old. How many generations of ABS and EBS since then?
This is the latest advice to Vehicle Examiners.
fta.co.uk/export/sites/fta/_ … bition.pdf
You can see why it is important to use a defect book, and not run all week with the ABS light on 
axletramp:
We have some old trailers which do not have an ABS socket at all.
So the unit’s ABS lead stays in it’s hidey hole.
Why does the orange light come on and is it ok to use?
If the H G V trailer has no ABS socket then yes you can stow the dormant ABS lead.
The unit should show A B S not attached.
As the trailer is not fitted with A B S then no breach occurs
these type of trailers are on the way to a farmers yard soon
If its a A B S trailer and it shows a fault before you leave it should be fixed
In reality its up to the driver as they do it to suit themselves often not defecting the fault at all.
This is called leaving it for the other driver
green456:
"gazzah:
"We have even spoken to Vosa about it and they wont put anything in writing regarding this problem.they put this in writing
VOSA Memo 12 /11
Memo No 12/11 Title IM 38 HGV/PSV ABS Warning Lamp Prohibition Issue Subject area Revised procedure for Prohibition Issue for ABS Malfunction Indicator Lamp illumination From Simon J Griffiths Contact details Simon.Griffiths2@vosa.gov.uk 07967 126518 0117 954 3468 To (Action required) VEs, SVEs TE’s STE’s AM Copy to (for information) Testing Staff, SMs, QA&I officers, Training Services, RM’s, Press Office. RHA, FTA. CPT and SMMT Expiry date N/A Supersedes Memos N/A
Purpose: The purpose of this memo is to define the procedure for Delayed Prohibition Issue requirements applicable when an illuminated ABS Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) is found
Process Users: Vehicle Examiners
Initiating Inputs: An illuminated ABS MIL is found at roadside inspection
Outputs: To ensure VOSA applies a consistent procedure in accordance with the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 Regulation 18, that does not compromise road safety
Procedure — General Rules: - C&U Regulation 18(1A) & (1B) gives dispensation for the sanction level applied for an ABS MIL defect if the defect occurs “during the journey or is being driven to a place where the ABS is to undergo repair” - It is acknowledged that it is not possible for an examiner to independently determine whether a MIL has become illuminated during a journey, at the start of which the ABS system was functioning correctly - This procedure therefore shows the process to be used in order for the Examiner to decide, to the best of his ability using the evidence supplied, whether or not the dispensation (as specified by C&U Reg 18) can be applied to the specific circumstance in question, e.g. an illuminated ABS MIL. - This procedure applies to Anti-Lock Braking System MIL only, and not Electronic Braking System MIL - By “this journey” it is meant, the current journey which must have been started within the day. For practical purposes a day is defined as any 24 hour period that begins when a driver starts work after a daily or weekly rest. It is not a rolling period.
- This Procedure applies to domestic and non-domestic vehicles Procedure: Responsibility Procedure Notes 1. Vehicle Examiner Examiner finds ABS MIL illuminated 2. Vehicle Examiner Establish if the MIL is coloured red or yellow/amber 3. Vehicle Examiner If lamp is coloured red the normal prohibition sanction level as specified by the Categorisation of Defects is applied 4.Vehicle Examiner If the ABS MIL is yellow/amber but a secondary red (Stop) warning lamp is illuminated, this must be treated the same as a red lamp 5. Vehicle Examiner If the lamp in coloured yellow/ amber the examiner will need to obtain evidence from the vehicle driver that the MIL became illuminated during this journey 6. Vehicle Examiner Evidence for 5 above must consist of the following and be available at the time of inspection: 6. (i) Walk around check sheet correctly completed indicating correctly functioning braking system The check sheet may be electronic. The check sheet may specify ‘ABS’ 6. (ii) A defect reporting log which must include date, time, location, mileage (at time of incident), details of action taken (including any rectification if applicable) Note. ‘Action taken’ must contain information such as driver checked no visible defect evident or OBD interrogation occurred and note that brake performance and operation appears to be normal. 7. Vehicle Examiner If the examiner is satisfied that, from the evidence provided, the defect occurred within the present journey, and/or the vehicle is en route to a place of repair (or a repairer is travelling to the scene) and that no other obvious braking defect is present then an Inspection Notice is to be issued
if you need to see it in writing just ask.
The F T A and V O S A have agreed that if the A B S light is on before the driver leaves the depot it needs to be fixed before the journey.
If en route then book it in for repair on your return to base or V M U
simple.
i have that in writing.
would you like me to scan the documents.
or just believe it.
whats the problem.If the drivers defect it and get it sorted then the H G V will be A B S defect free.
better brake performance.
Ross v stobart:
axletramp:
We have some old trailers which do not have an ABS socket at all.
So the unit’s ABS lead stays in it’s hidey hole.
Why does the orange light come on and is it ok to use?If the H G V trailer has no ABS socket then yes you can stow the dormant ABS lead.
The unit should show A B S not attached.
As the trailer is not fitted with A B S then no breach occurs
these type of trailers are on the way to a farmers yard soonIf its a A B S trailer and it shows a fault before you leave it should be fixed
In reality its up to the driver as they do it to suit themselves often not defecting the fault at all.
This is called leaving it for the other driver
Look on the trailer plate to see if the trailer has abs.If the Dpt number ends in a K or a 7 eg 311977 or 31777K the trailer is fitted with abs modulation.
This may have been put up before but whats the answer to driving with the yellow ABS/EBS warning light on.
We use Daf cf’s and when we hook up to some trailers the yellow abs/ebs warning light comes on. After trying all the obvious things like turning the lead around etc etc, it sometimes still satays on. Now when we report this our training staff say we should not pull the trailer and call out breakdown. But breakdown say its ok to drive on a yellow amber and report it when we get back. I know driving on a red warning light is a NO NO!! Problem is what would happen if you had a RTA and the vehicle showed up with an abs fault. As im sure the on board computer dont say that it had a yellow or red warning light come on. Can anyone give me some advice on this please.
I drive with it on and defect it when i get back
WD40 seems to always work for me, give the abs socket a good soak. Doesn’t necessarily mean there is a problem its just the unit and trailer aren’t talking properly.
C-Kay:
I drive with it on and defect it when i get back
Defect it before you drive it. Untill then, in the eyes of vosa scum, you are driving a defective unit/trl and have done nothing about it.
thanks for those replies.I ve never tried the WD40 solution. My one concern though is how would it stand if the worse case senario happened.We have even spoken to Vosa about it and they wont put anything in writing regarding this problem.
Depends on the age of the trailer, some older trailers will put a yellow light out, until you get to 10mph, I think? If it goes out when you start driving, then you have no ABS fault, if it doesn’t, then you do.
These trailers normally have a green light near the front marker lights, this should flash a few times, if you apply the brakes when you 1st turn the ignition on, then go out.
If the light stays on all the time your brake lights are on, you have an ABS fault, and you will get a gv9 if you get stopped.
It is a bit frightening, that I have just had to explain this to the Foreman fitter at my local DAF workshop, before they started ripping everything apart in search of an ABS fault 
got pulled in at pathhead for a check off vosa just before xmas.i had been having months of problems with my daf cf yellow ebs/abs warning lamp(turns out it was caused by rusty exciter rings on the unit drive axle).fortunatley,the week before i had it fixed properly.
asked vosa the crack driving with amber warning light on and this was his reply:
red and you would be getting towed out of this lay by.
amber you would recieve a prohibition notice(trouble is i cant remember id he said delayed or immediate?).
Cheers Renaultman. It does normally happen with our older trailers so i will check that out in future.
I would normally put the trailer or unit out with a defect if it happens on site but sometimes it can happen when were doing a trailer exchange when were out and about and thats when the breakdown services are called.
gazzah:
Cheers Renaultman. It does normally happen with our older trailers so i will check that out in future.
I would normally put the trailer or unit out with a defect if it happens on site but sometimes it can happen when were doing a trailer exchange when were out and about and thats when the breakdown services are called.
Like I said, as long as the light goes out when you start to drive, then it won’t be a problem.
renaultman:
Depends on the age of the trailer, some older trailers will put a yellow light out, until you get to 10mph, I think? If it goes out when you start driving, then you have no ABS fault, if it doesn’t, then you do.
These trailers normally have a green light near the front marker lights, this should flash a few times, if you apply the brakes when you 1st turn the ignition on, then go out.
If the light stays on all the time your brake lights are on, you have an ABS fault, and you will get a gv9 if you get stopped.
It is a bit frightening, that I have just had to explain this to the Foreman fitter at my local DAF workshop, before they started ripping everything apart in search of an ABS fault
an abs green light works with the brake lights,
if u touch the footbrake down just to so the brake lghts come on with the ignition on it should illuminate, u should hear the valve blow off, the light should go out for a few seconds then come back on and stay on
you would get a delayed prohibition amber abs/ebs light on dash from vosa and as buck said if it red then it tow away job, at this time of year specialy dafs you will get a lot of abs/ebs faults appearing when salt water finds it way into the wiring
mark h:
renaultman:
Depends on the age of the trailer, some older trailers will put a yellow light out, until you get to 10mph, I think? If it goes out when you start driving, then you have no ABS fault, if it doesn’t, then you do.
These trailers normally have a green light near the front marker lights, this should flash a few times, if you apply the brakes when you 1st turn the ignition on, then go out.
If the light stays on all the time your brake lights are on, you have an ABS fault, and you will get a gv9 if you get stopped.
It is a bit frightening, that I have just had to explain this to the Foreman fitter at my local DAF workshop, before they started ripping everything apart in search of an ABS faultan abs green light works with the brake lights,
if u touch the footbrake down just to so the brake lghts come on with the ignition on it should illuminate, u should hear the valve blow off, the light should go out for a few seconds then come back on and stay on
Yes, but on a DAF it only does the green light flashy thing when you turn the ignition on before you’ve hit the magic 10mph, it’s a system check. on a Freuhauf it should go out when it has done this, not stay on.
renaultman:
mark h:
renaultman:
Depends on the age of the trailer, some older trailers will put a yellow light out, until you get to 10mph, I think? If it goes out when you start driving, then you have no ABS fault, if it doesn’t, then you do.
These trailers normally have a green light near the front marker lights, this should flash a few times, if you apply the brakes when you 1st turn the ignition on, then go out.
If the light stays on all the time your brake lights are on, you have an ABS fault, and you will get a gv9 if you get stopped.
It is a bit frightening, that I have just had to explain this to the Foreman fitter at my local DAF workshop, before they started ripping everything apart in search of an ABS faultan abs green light works with the brake lights,
if u touch the footbrake down just to so the brake lghts come on with the ignition on it should illuminate, u should hear the valve blow off, the light should go out for a few seconds then come back on and stay on
Yes, but on a DAF it only does the green light flashy thing when you turn the ignition on before you’ve hit the magic 10mph, it’s a system check. on a Freuhauf it should go out when it has done this, not stay on.
rr right av gotcha !!