2001 CHEVROLET TAHOE SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK Recall Date: 08/29/2005 Summary: CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE UNWANTED ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) ACTIVATION. THIS CONDITION IS MORE LIKELY TO OCCUR IN ENVIRONMENTALLY CORROSIVE AREAS. THIS RECALL WILL BE LAUNCHED IN THE "SALT BELT" STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ONLY. Consequence: THIS CAN CAUSE INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES DURING LOW-SPEED BRAKE APPLICATIONS, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. Remedy: DEALERS ARE TO REMOVE THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR AND THOROUGHLY CLEAN THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR MOUNTING SURFACE ON THE BEARING, APPLY RUST INHIBITOR TO THE CLEANED SURFACE, GREASE THE MOUNTING SURFACE, REINSTALL THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR, AND CHECK THE PEAK-TO-PEAK OUTPUT VOLTAGE TO ENSURE THE WHEEL SPEED SIGNAL IS WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS. THE RECALL BEGAN SEPTEMBER 22, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR GMC AT 1-866-996-9463. Potential Units Affected: 1353718

I`ll start by breaking down what these lights mean: The brake light means one of the following: 1) The emergency brake is on. 2) There is a problem with the brake system. The ABS light means the ABS system is not guaranteed to work. There is a fault somewhere in the system (be it a loose wire, etc) that needs to be fixed. Now, the brake light being on does not mean the fluid needs to be changed. Of course, black fluid should be changed immediately, but I don`t think that was what it was saying. I`m trying to diagnose this mentally, and one possibility I see is a clogged sensor or other brake system component. Black fluid can be sludgy. Therefore, it could be interfering with the operation of the master cylinder valve, brake fluid flow, the brake booster, etc. I would recommend getting the system flushed, then refilled. The fact that the light went off after your service is a good sign, but you say it`s still on. Get the system flushed, as there may be a little bit of sludge left in there that is playing with a sensor or something. As for the ABS light, as I said, it indicates that your truck cannot guarantee the ABS system`s correct function. I had this once on a ford explorer we had. I went under the driver`s seat, unplugged the ABS cable, blew out some dirt, plugged it back in, and the light never came on again. It could be that simple, or it could require the replacement of an entire ABS module on a wheel. If you get a code reader for $50 it will tell you all about the problem so you can decide if you want to fix it or take it in. My general advice would be to take it into a shop, get them to run diagnostics on it ONLY, get a report of the problems, then call around for quotes to get it fixed. Go from there. When you take the truck in for scanning they may try to convince you that you must fix it there, which I`m sure you`re familiar with. Get it checked, then play it by ear. I think I should add that (at least in Canada) your current situation could land you a ticket, technically. It`s an equipment violation. Your vehicle is unsafe (the brake light is the most worrying). So, please get this taken care of soon. Good luck, Hope this helps

I did some research on the problem and Chevy had a recall for that specific model for this problem. The brake line was flushed today and now runs clear. I have to take the car in monday since I was insured that the recalls had all been taken care of when I had bought it. I can't touch the sensors or I will void the fix. If they balk on the fix then I will pull the sensors off and clean them myself. Thanks for the reply.

I have a 95 tahoe and the brake and abs light have been on for like 5 yrs now and haven't had any trouble with the brakes.

If the fluid change caused a change in the way the lights were on I would check the fluid level sensor in the Master cylinder. Low fluid level is the third thing that will turn on the red brake light. The float in the MC can get gunk on it an then not stay at the corect level. You can try to clean the float or you can unplug the connector from the sensor and put a jumper in place to check if it is the problem.

geek860, it is not irrelevant, but quite possibly the true problem with the ABS system and why the light is on to begin with. I have had the same problem...the ABS eventually gives out and you're left with a brake system that may very well put get you T-boned because you cannot stop when you are only going 15 mph and float out into traffic on a busy highway. It happened to me a few weeks ago, but, luckily, I avoided the 'T-boned' part.