Truck gurus, trying to diagnose brake issues

Guys, I got a 2002 Chevy Silverado from my brother,,, it wasn’t doing anything on Friday when I got it home… drove 15 miles and it sat until yesterday until I got insurance on it.. I started it up and went down the road and brake light started flashing and a constant dinging noise going off, like a seatbelt warning. ( it’s not the seat belt) .
It stops dinging when I stop the truck ( brake light still flashes) I’ve checked the brake fluid, no leaks, brakes are tight, not soft or spongy, rotors look good.
Any advice on what to look for next?
Can i maybe get it plugged in and a code come up?

take it to any commercial shop like auto zone or O'Reilly's they read codes for free and can give you next steps to fixing it.

Is the park brake on?

You'll need to use a scan tool to pull codes, and go from there. (but like k-snow said, check the parking brake first. Grab the release and pull up on the parking brake pedal to make sure it's completely disengaged).

I did check the parking brake.

there is a fluid level sensor in the bottom of the reservoir make sure the cable didn't get un plugged

also if you need a parts truck , let me know I have an 2004 that I am letting go , the radiator , grill , headlighst and hood are no good but engine back is fine

Pull up on e-brake pedel if ya didnt.

Peek under the dash and make sure the single wire connector is still attached to the park brake assembly.

It might be disengaged, but the truck doesn't "know" it.

I’ll check it out,, thanks

First place I went before coming here with the question

Wonder if it’s a wheel speed sensor? Because it doesn’t ping when I’m standing still

Unhook your ground at the battery for 5 minutes and see if it continues.

Is it the red BRAKE light, or the yellow/orange ABS light?

Pull the emergency brake release and manually check the ebrake pedal is all the way up. It just has to be depressed a bit and it will set the brake light to flashing.

Probably an ABS sensor

I drove for years with the ABS light on, no dinging at all. There's a difference between the BRAKE light and the ABS light.

I had oreillys run a scan on it,,, solenoid control monitor error.
I’m trying to YouTube what this is.. everything I’m getting is transmission stuff,, nothing to do with the brakes.
Any one know what this is?

There should be a number with the code, search by that.

Sounds like a possible internal ABS module fault.

This is the read out,,, what is this and were do i find it?


The guys at oreillys wasn’t much help when I asked questions.
I think they just sell parts and not very knowledgeable

Search C0265.

the ABS controler is about under the drivers seat it is an aluminum box with all the brake lines running into it.

On the frame though, not inside the body.

A great place to put sensitive electronics and steel lines.

here is what it looks like

https://blog.upfix.com/dtc-code-c0265-abs-ebcm-light

Ty Pete,, whereabouts is this thing located??

Inside the driver's side frame rail, underneath where the driver sits.

In the pic from Pete, the transfer case is to the left. The shaft below the module is the driver's side torsion bar, going to the from control arm.
That pic is looking to the rear of the vehicle.

Here ya go. The code is caused by an internal EBCM (electronic brake control module aka abs module) failure. The pinpoint test is basically just making sure there's 12V to the module, the ABS motor isn't shorted internally or to ground, and if that's all good, you need a new ABS module.

C'mon LG, no one's got time for proper diagnosis, just tell em what to replace.

Load up the parts cannon and start blastin!

Accuracy by volume.

Really, according to the pinpoint test, as long as you've got 12V to the module and the connector isn't full of corrosion, the only question is whether you need just the electronic side of the module or if you need the electronic side AND the hydraulic side. (The motor is probably mounted in the hydraulic side). According to the workshop manual I have, there's no programming besides tire size. So, you should be okay to just get a whole unit from the junkyard off a vehicle that matches yours and replace it without any programming required.

I'd ask the Brother recent history.
Then I'd take it out and lock it up hard.

Hippie did this n model require
the brake hydros to need equalized after service?

"And they think chainsaws got tuff".

yup , it is tucked up next to the rear bell of the transmission on the drivers side inside the frame rail.

Not a cheap part to replace,, ouch!! No junkyards around here anymore either. Probably get one off eBay for 100 bucks. 300 bucks for the part anywhere else. Rockauto is 200 plus bucks with the core,, but I don’t think I can drive it around without the abs module removed while waiting on the part.Then I’m seeing something about a computer reset,,, I’m I understanding that correctly?

how far south are you in ILL?

Pete, I’m about 35 miles south of Decatur,, lake Shelbyville is my backyard playground pretty much. It’s 2 miles away from my front door

Step 2#1, clear it or as I'd try....unhook the battery for 5 minutes or so.

Had some that were ok after that, some not.

Did it do this for the previous owner?

If the brakes still stop the truck, I’d run it. Maybe not good advice for the populated 48

The flashing brake light and dinging could indicate a few things. You might want to check the brake pads and the brake light switch, as they can cause issues like this when they malfunction. Also, it's a good idea to get it plugged into a diagnostic tool to see if any codes show up, especially since it might point to an ABS or sensor issue. Some auto parts stores offer free code reading, so you might want to try that first.

be about 4 1/2 hours then each way , I don't have a trailer big enough to put it on

Figured out it’s the abs module.

Pete, I was told by a few other folks that I could simply unplug it.
I’m not sure if that would make the dinging noise go away, but I’ll try to find out tomorrow sometime when I crawl under there.

ABS sensor maybe, easy to change on Fords not sure on your Chevy.
Bad hub can also make the ABDS sensor not work correctly.
Unplug it and check the connection then plug back in.

Maybe pull the fuse instead so the ABS module connector doesn't get all nasty being underneath the vehicle, but yeah either way, it's worth a try. The light will still be on and you won't have ABS of course, but it might stop dinging at you at least.

Most scanners wont read anything but a CEL on the older vehicles. If you have an abs light on i domt think it throws a code on something that old.

My Tacoma was acting much the same way. Made an appointment with my mechanic and by the time he could look at it, 4 days later, the light went out and the weird noise it was making stopped. The mechanic checked the codes which indicated a problem with the left front brake sensor. He said run it and if the problem comes back he will put it on the lift. He thought it possible a piece of rust or gravel got trapped near the sensor and I think he guessed correctly as that was 3 weeks ago and the problem never reappeared.