Hello, I have a 96 Ranger 4X4 with a 4.0. My ABS light came on. My first guess is a sensor. Is there any way to test the wheel sensors. I put a scanner on and I did get a reading on live data from the VSS. At 55 mph the reading on the VSS was 88 and at 60 mph the reading was 98. I don't know if the reading is supposed to be mph. Also, is there a way to test the front wheel sensors?

Thanks in Advance for any help!

 

Good idea to have used a scan tool to have a look at live PID feeds. Might be helpful to know which scan tool you have.

Have it scan for & Post up All trouble code clue Numbers, as they can help focus a trouble shoot. Sounds like the rear ABS speed sensor, or its wiring or electrical connections may have problems.

After a dead end ABS light on trouble shooting test drive, looking for speed-o, auto tranny shifting & cruise control set, or drop out problems, (as all of those things use the rear differential mounted ABS speed sensor to do their thing) But finding no problems in those systems, I moved my rear ABS speed sensor low down my suspect list.
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Then I pulled my front wheel ABS speed sensors for physical inspection, cleaning & a resistance check all to no avail, so I was at a trouble shooting dead end. It was then that I decided to come by & use the inexpensive but powerful combo of ELM scan tool & running FORScan, a powerful diagnostic freeware that's tweaked for Fords, on my laptop viewing device choice, to help me successfully trouble shoot my 99 Ranger ABS woes that suddenly popped up about this time of year back in 2013.

The ELM/FORScan combo can query all of the vehicle computer/controllers sensors, so It quickly found set trouble code clues for the Rear ABS speed sensor in the GEM controller, that my Actron CP-9145 scan tool couldn't access, that suggested my rear ABS speed sensor was open circuit, or shorted to ground, so belonged High up on, not low down my suspect list, where I had placed it after my uneventful trouble shooting test drive that led my ABS trouble shoot astray.

After removing & testing that puppy I found it open circuit. How in the world all of those test drive systems that use it's PID output, could check out ok on the test drive, is still beyond me, unless they can default to the front wheel speed sensors on 4WABS vehicles. Anyway the ELM/FORScan combo quickly got my trouble shoot back on track, rear speed sensor replaced, ABS light out & the vehicle ready for state inspection, all for less than $40!!! for the ELM & a BWD speed sensor with a online Advance Auto 40% off discount code.
Some ABS trouble shooting experience & thoughts for consideration. Post up All trouble code Numbers & let us know which ABS system & scan tool you have & maybe the forum can make some more useful ABS system trouble shooting suggestions.

 

Hi Pawpaw, thanks for the reply. I looked on Youtube and found a way to test the front wheel sensors. I looked in the wheel well to find the connection of the abs wiring from the wheel and found that the wires were broken. I soldered them back together, taped them up, and the light went out. This one was an easy fix. Thanks again for your time and post!

 

OK, good find, fix, feedback & to hear all seems well & your ABS woes trouble shoot were so easy to find & fix. I never seem to be that fortunate with my vehicle troubles.

 

Thanks! It's a few days later and no problems with the light. I wish they were all easy too. I'm also dealing with a couple of issues on my van in the van forum. Those haven't been too easy to remedy.

 

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