3rd Gen ABS Front Wheel Speed Sensor Test and Replacment

[Lugnutz]

3rd Gen ABS Front Wheel Speed Sensor Test and Replacement

Here's an easy repair. I just did it on my 1998 T4R SR5 4WD with 140K. Just thought I'd share.

You can make this POST better by commenting what model years have the same sensors. My 98 got a donor from a 97 and it bolted right on.

The Story:
My ABS light stayed on and the ABS feature did not work. Otherwise the brakes worked fine. I found a spare wheel speed sensor for $10 at the local salvage yard, so this was an easy AND CHEAP repair for me. :frog:

Before I spent a bunch of money at the brake shop or repair shop, I used an ohmmeter to test the front Wheel Speed Sensors (WSS hereafter).
I determined that my DS front sensor was bad. It tested at infinity. The PS tested good at greater than 1500 ohms.

Here's how to test and replace if needed. :driving:

Photos tell the story best. I switch from PS to DS in these photos, so pay attention. The wiring path and brackets are mirror images of the other side, so you shouldn't have a problem following along.

 

[4-Ripcord]

Nicely done!

 

[kmccrate]

agreed, very nice write up.

 

[GottaBeTRD]

K I need some help!!

So I have the infamous abs light after lifting/ front end overhaul. I'm trying to follow this exactly but Im not getting anything! I've tried this on my brother-in-laws sequoia and still got nothing. I checked the ohmmeter and it's good btw.

A couple problems I see with this is the female end used in the picture above is just connected to the brakes, there is no power source that can be measured with the ohm meter. How are you guys getting any reading from this?

Another thing I'm wondering is if I need to have the car running while I test or not. I've tried sticking the needles in both male and female connectors, both with the truck on and off and I'm just getting a 1 on everything. Any ideas?

 

[JayBluShu]

bump.. ^^ also, is anyone else having troubles viewing the pictures?

 

[chimpy]

I can't see the pics either:noidea:

 

[BlackWorksInc]

The pictures are probably no longer hosted by the website...

On a side note, has anyone taken a large quantity of known good sensors to test them for an average resistance value? Otherwise this test at best simply tells you that the sensor isn't open, not whether or not it can perform properly or at proper amplitude due to the nature of the sensor's functionality.

But if you had a large enough selection of known good sensors (i.e. new and/or relatively low use sensors) you could form an average range of resistance that could (I say could because resistance isn't going to be too strong an indicator for an ABS Wheel Speed sensor's functionality) be a useful diagnostic tool.

 

[pb&j]

Where the 10mm bolt attaches the sensor to the wheel assembly, what do you do if the bolt breaks there??

 

[tigerextreme29]

abs problem?

i just replaced my right upper ball joint and had to take off the abs sensor. Put everything back together but every once in a while when coming to a stop there is a noise coming from the brake pedal and a loss of pressure. brake felt soft for a sec the back to normal. There is no abs light on the dash so im confused.

 

[Thewildestjourney]

My ABS Light Experience

Hey so I though I would post my experience from investigating the ABS light that just came on. Just driving around today, I hop in the car and the ABS light comes on and stays on. I check the codes and it throws 31 and 34. This should be front right and back left fault. I check the resistance and clean all 4 sensors.

The front two measure 1500 ohms, the back two measure about 1250.

Nothing seems out of the ordinary, but I'll look more in depth for a short tomorrow. I suppose I'll be replacing the sensors barring any new info. It's just strange that a sensor would measure 1250 and not throw a code.

Anyone experienced anything like this?

Thanks

 

[96RedRunner]

There is a test procedure for verifing operation in the FSM, a very good one.
Have seen a post on here that has pics and text. Search is your friend.

 

[tmarton05]

Went to replace my ABS sensor and it was broken. Now the portion that goes into the hub is stuck. Any tips on how to remove that without doing any damage?

 

[K4SDC]

2000 4-Runner ABS Speed Sensor

My 2000 4-Runner has an issue with the ABS. The light came on and the code was for the PS front sensor (code 31 I think). When the ABS light is on the brakes work fine. When the ABS light goes off, you get a terrible pulsating noise and pedal when the vehicle drops to 20mph and stops pulsing when it drops to 10 mph.

I replaced the sensor with one I got off Amazon to no avail. Still have the same issue.

Any ideas?

:hatsoff:

 

[K4SDC]

I can see the pix just fine

 

[KauriJ]

ABS speed sensor wiring: tool for disconnecting these clips?

Hi folks, is there some sort of tool that would help me disconnect these clips on the ABS speed sensor wiring?

Photos below of the clips on the new part I purchased from Toyota. The grey one on the electrical connector is the worst;I’ve been struggling to disconnect it from the metal piece on the old sensor that’s on my 4Runner and am getting nowhere.

I’m not sure if it’s just me having trouble with this? I’ve tried searching the forums for info on this, but it looks like most folks haven’t had issues with the clips.

It seems like there might be a tool of some sort that would help me pop this plastic clip out? Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

 

[Bad Luck]

Hi folks, is there some sort of tool that would help me disconnect these clips on the ABS speed sensor wiring?

Photos below of the clips on the new part I purchased from Toyota. The grey one on the electrical connector is the worst;I’ve been struggling to disconnect it from the metal piece on the old sensor that’s on my 4Runner and am getting nowhere.

I’m not sure if it’s just me having trouble with this? I’ve tried searching the forums for info on this, but it looks like most folks haven’t had issues with the clips.

It seems like there might be a tool of some sort that would help me pop this plastic clip out? Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

If you can get to the back side use pliers to compress the clip tabs together and pull out. If not try using one of these: Amazon.com: Lisle 35260 Plastic Fastener Remover : Automotive

 

[KauriJ]

If you can get to the back side use pliers to compress the clip tabs together and pull out. If not try using one of these: Amazon.com: Lisle 35260 Plastic Fastener Remover : Automotive

Thank you!!

 

[Devbot]

Hi folks, is there some sort of tool that would help me disconnect these clips on the ABS speed sensor wiring?

Photos below of the clips on the new part I purchased from Toyota. The grey one on the electrical connector is the worst;I’ve been struggling to disconnect it from the metal piece on the old sensor that’s on my 4Runner and am getting nowhere.

I’m not sure if it’s just me having trouble with this? I’ve tried searching the forums for info on this, but it looks like most folks haven’t had issues with the clips.

It seems like there might be a tool of some sort that would help me pop this plastic clip out? Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

Do you happen to still have a Toyota part number?

 

[KauriJ]

Do you happen to still have a Toyota part number?

Yes, the part number is 89543-35050.

You can also go to parts.toyota.com, input VIN or model/year/etc. then search on ABS and look at the diagrams to find the part number (and can order through different dealerships there too; I shopped around for the cheapest local dealer price).

Here’s a link to the page for the sensor I ordered:

1999 Toyota 4Runner Abs wheel speed sensor (left, front). Electrical - 8954335050 - Genuine Toyota Part

 

[Stephen941]

ABS light

We were driving around with the ABS/VSC lights on for years. We had pulled a code for the "master cylinder pressure sensor" and replaced it, but it did not fix the problem. One mechanic suggested replacing the entire ABS assembly. That is one expensive repair - and there is no guarantee it would resolve the problem. I took apart the dash and crushed the bulbs for the ABS and VSC lights. I know it's not a repair. But we grew weary of looking at the lights. If we hit the lottery and can afford to replace the entire ABS system we will, but for now, we're just happy not to see that darned light.