Most likely the ABS light is the vehicle speed sensor in the rear end(very common issue), but would need to know the code to be certain. As for teh O2 sensor, I did a quick parts check and it appears as though that vehicle uses 4 of em. So saying it needs an oxygen sensor can be costly as they normally cost about $70 EACH(X4 is $280 for a guess as to which one it is). And at 158K miles there is always a chance that one of your cat converters is going bad and that is popping the code. Does your exhaust have any rattles in it? If so then I would be suspect of a cat converter. Also if you have a bad O2 and continue to drive it you can burn a cat converter out as the PCM has no way of knowing how it is running the cat converter, and they tend to melt down once you get beyond about 1580 degrees(1480 is what you normally want to maintain as the upper limit for longevity though). And as stated, it could simply be a heating element gone out. This kind of failure is the most common, but can lead to problems as well.

FERM, I want to hijack this thread a little!!
"97 Jeep Cherokee, ABS light stays on and it ain't ABS'n no more. What should I look for?

CY if you get the trouble code, we might be able to narrow it down to just one O2 sensor.

Tsubaki, are you sure it ever was ABS? Reason I ask is I have a 1998 Jeep Cherokee Sport w/4.0L engine. I also have an ABS light on my dash, but I don't have ABS. Never did. From what I can find, ABS was not a standard item until 2000... before that it was an option. But the dash panel is standard for several years, and they just didn't hook the light up in the dash if the buyer didn't get ABS. :head:

Well, I thunk I do!
Till the light came on the tires wouldn't slide.
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w...herokee001.jpg
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w...herokee002.jpg
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w...herokee003.jpg

Anyone have access to Ondemand5? If not let me know the code, and we can get a clear picture of the fault, i.e., R or L front sensors, or rear, or a faulty ABS pump/module.

The ABS system used later on was a KELSEY HAYES I believe and they are pretty much bulletproof for the pump and module. Most likely you have a wheel speed sensor or something malfunctioning. I can't remember if you need a breakout box or a bidirectional scanner to read ABS codes on that one.

My abs light in my town car stays on also, my auto mech said its some sort of pump ( Im dont know anything about it) but he said I have brakes like the old days and it was nothing to worry about, That was a couple yrs ago and at the time i think he quoted me a price of 5-6 hundred to fix, but he honestly told me to save the money.

Thanks FERM, I was worried about it being the pump.
I first tried blowing the wheel sensors, no difference.
The code reader I had didn't pull up anything.
Been doing the same thing as lumber for a couple of years.

Cool!!!... I have none of that stuff on my 98'.. except for the ABS icon on my dash, which does not light up since there is no light behind it.

My tires slide all the time... LOL