ABS sensor removal question
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2003
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From: Raleigh, NC
ABS sensor removal question
Anyone with some "hands on" in disconnecting/removing an ABS speed sensor?
According to Haynes manual I have a RABS I type ABS sysem, and the sensor is located on top of the rear axle housing. I can see where the cable goes to that area, but I can't seem to figure out how to disconnect it-the connector style doesn't look familiar. Probably a simple thing and just my inexperience.....
My ABS light has been on (with the parking brake light) steady for a couple of months and I wanted to check the sensor. For now I have just disconnected the ABS module under the dash to eliminate the warning lights glaring at me all day.
Thanks for any suggestions...
-rlp
According to Haynes manual I have a RABS I type ABS sysem, and the sensor is located on top of the rear axle housing. I can see where the cable goes to that area, but I can't seem to figure out how to disconnect it-the connector style doesn't look familiar. Probably a simple thing and just my inexperience.....
My ABS light has been on (with the parking brake light) steady for a couple of months and I wanted to check the sensor. For now I have just disconnected the ABS module under the dash to eliminate the warning lights glaring at me all day.
Thanks for any suggestions...
-rlp
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2003
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From: Raleigh, NC
Steel,
Well that was easy .. makes a difference when there's still daylight left. Got it out, inspected, cleaned (not much to clean -looked Ok), and re-installed. Checked as many connections for this sensor cable as I could find.
Ran fine for a day, now the same problem is back- emergency brake light and ABS lights stay on.
I don't have a reader for pulling codes - would that be something to try next? Thanks in advance for any comments.
Well that was easy .. makes a difference when there's still daylight left. Got it out, inspected, cleaned (not much to clean -looked Ok), and re-installed. Checked as many connections for this sensor cable as I could find.
Ran fine for a day, now the same problem is back- emergency brake light and ABS lights stay on.
I don't have a reader for pulling codes - would that be something to try next? Thanks in advance for any comments.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 315
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From: Miami
If the Ebrake (brake warning) light is on in addition to the RABS light, I would tend to check the conventional brake system first. It is likely the problem lies there and the truck is just disabling the RABS system in response to the conventional brake problem.
Start with the Master cylinder.
Is there enough fluid?
Is the float in the resovoir moving freely, or is it stuck?
Is the float buyoant? or is it saturated with fluid and "sinking"
check the connector for the float on the side of the brake resovoir. There are three cables, on is ground, the other goes to the brake light on the dash, and the third goes to the RABS computer.
finally, check the Ebrake pedal. is it all the way up? is the switch working correctly?
The Rabs system will not light the Red brake light. the red brake light is ONLY connected to the ebrake pedal, and the master cylinder, if it is on, then it is being turned on my one of those two things.
Good luck and let us know the outcome.
Start with the Master cylinder.
Is there enough fluid?
Is the float in the resovoir moving freely, or is it stuck?
Is the float buyoant? or is it saturated with fluid and "sinking"
check the connector for the float on the side of the brake resovoir. There are three cables, on is ground, the other goes to the brake light on the dash, and the third goes to the RABS computer.
finally, check the Ebrake pedal. is it all the way up? is the switch working correctly?
The Rabs system will not light the Red brake light. the red brake light is ONLY connected to the ebrake pedal, and the master cylinder, if it is on, then it is being turned on my one of those two things.
Good luck and let us know the outcome.
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Joined: Jun 2003
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If the ABS light is on you should be able to pull codes for the Brake system - these are different from the engine codes. According to the Haynes, there is a test connector under the dash near the Emergency brake pedal. The book says it is connected to another wire and that it has to be unhooked to do a test. I found the wire but it was not connected to anything else. I remember a topic a while back in which a bunch of people said the same thing about their test wire. Anyway, if you ground out that wire, the ABS light should flash a code. If you have the Haynes you may want to look this procedure up. I hope this helps.
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Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Miami
Originally posted by Talyn
just disconect it under the dash behind the ciggarette ash tray.
thats the main controller.
just disconect it under the dash behind the ciggarette ash tray.
thats the main controller.
But in his case,
1) Disconnecting the RABS controller will make the RABS light Go Away, but the initial problem that is lighting the Regular brake light will still be there (and the Red Brake light will still be lit)
2) I suspect there may be nothing wrong with RABS. The Rabs light is a symptopm of the other problem, Therefore, he wiould be disabling a perfectly good rabs system.
But yes, in the end, if it ends up being a RABS problem and you are not going to fix, you can put the light out of it's misery by disconnecting the connector on the RABS module.
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From: Raleigh, NC
Hi all .. couple more things to add:
From my first thread above - "For now I have just disconnected the ABS module under the dash to eliminate the warning lights glaring at me all day". When I did this BOTH the ABS and also the Emergency Brake light went out..
I only intended to disconnect it temporarily unless, as suggested, it gets too costly for my budget. I really would like to have the ABS work - saved my rear a couple of times in another vehicle during panic stops. I know my wheels would have locked otherwise and I would have rear ended the car in front of me at the scene of a freeway accident. Once you've experienced it you get a different perspective.
So I'll keep working on this and I'll keep you all posted. Thanks again for all the advice. I'll post again in several days.
-rlp
From my first thread above - "For now I have just disconnected the ABS module under the dash to eliminate the warning lights glaring at me all day". When I did this BOTH the ABS and also the Emergency Brake light went out..
I only intended to disconnect it temporarily unless, as suggested, it gets too costly for my budget. I really would like to have the ABS work - saved my rear a couple of times in another vehicle during panic stops. I know my wheels would have locked otherwise and I would have rear ended the car in front of me at the scene of a freeway accident. Once you've experienced it you get a different perspective.
So I'll keep working on this and I'll keep you all posted. Thanks again for all the advice. I'll post again in several days.
-rlp
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