I like ABS. I hate traction control. My truck freaks out at the slightest hint of wheel spin...and if the rear end gets a little loose (slides) it goes nuts...although it does a pretty good job of reeling it back in. I would defeat stability and traction control but I'd loose the ABS too. No matter what happens, let the first shop owner know exactly what happened and how much it cost you to fix it. You don't have to ask him to pay...just tell him your story...and tell him you'll tell your story to others too. If he doesn't offer to make it right, be done with him...
I'll agree that a repair is quite possible and personally if it were mine I would be fine with a repair. My guess would be the reason the dealer doesn't want to repair is because there is some liability issues involved with doing wiring repair on ABS or SRS systems.
For those who have been following the thread. The shop in Campbell River (Seymour Services) was able to fix the problem. A 15 minute Diagnostic test, a $500.00 dollar part (ABS Computer) and 1/2 hour to install. Basically the Toyota Dealership did not have the expertise necessary to work on the older ABS system in this 15 year old truck, so to cover the need for the 2 hours shop time with no clue as to what was wrong, they blamed the other small shop for their short comings. The first small shop did no damage, just lacked the experience to diagnose the problem. The Shop Computers of the first 2 shops were unable to talk the ABS's computer, so the problem had to be either in the computer or outside. If the shop computer could not read the ABS computer, a differential test was the next step to determine if the problem was the ABS computer or else where, and this test said the ABS computer. I really do not know what the differential test was but it worked.
I just had an ABS problem on my 2007 F150. Turned out to be a bad wheel bearing. When the bearing goes the speed sensor can't tell how fast the wheels are turning causing the abs system to engage. Those bearings are expensive for four wheel drives. ($175) All of them are made in China or S Korea. I went with the S Korea one.
I really dislike all this supposedly safety stuff, when they become intermittent or nonworking it causes other problems that are anything but safe. I my area there are only 2 shops that have the equipment needed for diagnostics on Ford abs systems. 1 of those is a stealership the other is private. All the rest are just puffing smoke screens, and just toss parts at it until it maybe goes away.
