ABS Light ON - Left Rear Wheel Speed Sensor "Open"

[VehiGAZ]

mdwyer's analysis sounds right. I would definitely try to replace the LR speed sensor. They are not necessarily prone to failure, but there certainly have been some. If the ToD or ABS can't tell what the wheels are doing, they cannot function correctly. Good luck!

[mdwyer]

Well I found a few minutes to go through the manual -- this is the one called IV00_01.pdf. The sensor is indeed a hall effect sensor. The good news is that the tech manual includes tests that can be done with a multimeter.

From page 5A-12:
It says, keep the car turned off and unplug the the cable that goes into the ABS control under the hood.

Set meter to 2k ohm, pins (22, 23) it should be 1.3k to 1.9k Insulation Resistance
Set meter to 200k ohm, pins (22, 15) more than 100k Internal Resistance
Set meter to 200mV AC, pins (22, 23). You should get 200mV while you spin the wheel at 1 RPS.

Page 5A-15 has pictures of the plugs. The one under the hood is a C-4 connector. The one at the wheel is an F-3. You can probably do the 1st and 3rd tests right at the wheel to rule out the cable or the sensor.

Page 5B-4 shows how to replace a wheel sensor.
Page 5A-19 says to look for iron filing stuck to the sensor probe.
Page 4C-3 shows a picture of the sensor's rotor.

Finally, a quick note: The vehicle has at least six speed sensors. I think a lot of people confuse the TOD sensors (two on the drive shafts near the transmission) with the ABS sensors (one on each wheel). Be careful when you're searching that you're looking at info for the correct sensor.

[Tone]

The VX has 3 speed sensors total on the tranny/TOD, 4 ABS sensors and a deceleration sensor on the ABS controller. The two rear ABS (L&R) sensors are only sold as a $400 set as they combine to a single connector.

Solid lit ABS light means there is a problem (short, open, etc) but the ABS system is still working. FLASHING ABS light indicates a serious problem with the system.

ABS does NOT engage until the vehicle travels above 6 MPH and automatically disengages and resets at 3 MPH.

[lasturbo]

Thanks Mdwyer and Tone. My ABS light is solidly lit. $400 bucks is steep for the set so hopefully it is something easy but with 135k (age, mileage etc.), it may be inevitable.

[mdwyer]

Thanks Mdwyer and Tone. My ABS light is solidly lit. $400 bucks is steep for the set so hopefully it is something easy but with 135k (age, mileage etc.), it may be inevitable.

Well, you're pretty lucky. A great many of us (myself included) are driving around with the block under the hood marked bad. That's something like $3000 to replace with OEM parts! So, yeah... My ABS light's been solid since I bought it.

[TheGanzman]

Well, you're pretty lucky. A great many of us (myself included) are driving around with the block under the hood marked bad. That's something like $3000 to replace with OEM parts! So, yeah... My ABS light's been solid since I bought it.

Or $106.00 to have it rebuilt to better than new specs:

http://stores.ebay.com/Digital-Speed...Repair-Service

[WormGod]

Strange enough, my ABS light came on this weekend. I almost didn't notice it since the top of my steering wheel hides that top dash indicator. Came on at startup, stayed on for my 20 mile trip, and when I started it back up to go home, it didn't come back on.

To top it all off, turning on my lights dimmed my radio and dash/gear lights. My VX has come down with a phantom passenger in these last few months. Aside from the other things that are causing my 2 thrown CEL codes, I now think I need to keep an eye on my ABS and alternator. When it rains, it pours. *sigh*

Great info in this thread. *thumbs up*

I just cant win.