Now although I do have a permanent ABS light showing when the handbrake is on, I'm not entirely convinced I have ABS at all....

Any way I can easily check? I know with the Escorts there's a box on the drivers side of the engine bay with lots of pipes etc coming out of it....how can I tell on the Fiesta?

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In the process of murdering my second Si :'(

on a clear road brake hard if the wheels lock up you dont have abs

I know thats one way of testing it.....but considering I get a light up on the dash, if I do have it, it's probably not working anyway.....

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In the process of murdering my second Si :'(

if the lights on its probably a broken ABS drive belt...easiest way..lift the bonnet. 2 pipes out the master cylinder to a block on the inner passenger wing you have ABS.....4 pipes to the master cylinder...you havent.

the abs fitted to these is shit anyways. it doesnt work at low speed..it only acts on the front wheels..best place for it is the dustbin.

hang on..if its coming on with the handbrake i think thats normal. if the light is on while your driving then you have a problem.

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In the process of murdering my second Si :'(

im pretty sure (95%) that system doesnt have a control unit to probe as its hydro-mechanical. it only senses the front wheel speed and any lock up from that belt drive system that runs off the drive shafts, and wont cut in until about 20mph...and cut out below that...making it virtually useless at low speed and on ice. the back is load sensed so has no correlation to wheel speed. and the electrical switches it does have are to put the warning light on for a broken belt. electronically its not tied into anything, like a modern electronic system..its very agricultural..and very crap..there should be 2 big drive belt housings on the inner ends of the driveshafts...(gearbox end) and thats it.

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In the process of murdering my second Si :'(

youd have to get an ABS cylinder yes...i know happypaul piped his out when he had the RS1800....but that ABS system is toilet..best thing for it is the bin.