1998 Ford Ranger Owner Guide 1st Printing - Page 65

Driving RABS warning lamp The ABS warning lamp in the instrument cluster illuminates if a RABS fault is detected. Have your vehicle serviced as soon as possible. Normal braking is still effective unless the BRAKE warning lamp is ! also illuminated. BRAKE Using RABS • In an emergency, applying full pressure may cause the front wheels to lock. If the front brakes lock, the vehicle cannot be steered. You should apply the brakes with steadily increasing force, as if "squeezing" the brakes. If you feel the front wheels begin to lock, momentarily release the pedal and repeat the "squeeze" technique. • We recommend that you familiarize yourself with how the RABS performs. However, avoid unnecessary risks. Four-wheel anti-lock brake system (ABS) (if equipped) On vehicles equipped with an anti-lock braking system (ABS), a noise from the hydraulic pump motor and pulsation in the pedal may be observed during ABS braking events. Pedal pulsation coupled with noise while braking under panic conditions or on loose gravel, bumps, wet or snowy roads is normal and indicates proper functioning of the vehicle's anti-lock brake system. If the vehicle has continuous vibration or shudder while braking, felt mainly in the steering wheel, the vehicle most likely needs service. The ABS operates by detecting the onset of wheel lock up during brake applications and compensating for this tendency. The wheels are prevented from locking even when the brakes are firmly applied. The accompanying illustration depicts the advantage of an ABS equipped vehicle (on bottom) to a non-ABS equipped vehicle (on top) during hard braking. 65