ABS/VSC Lights (no check engine)

[Zero0575]

Hey All,

I have seen some threads about this and have been attempting to troubleshoot my issue with no success so I'm hoping for some assistance here.

Intermittently while driving, my ABS/VSC/TRACK/BRAKE lights will come on the dash. When you stop driving, park the car and turn it off and then back on the lights are no longer there. This makes it impossible to take it somewhere to get the codes read! I have a bluetooth code reader, but it doesn't read ABS codes - only check engine codes.

Aside from the lights, the brakes are working fine. I have tried the following:

Bleed all 4 calipers and topped off fluid
Replaced brake light switch
Checked for stuck caliper pistons
Cleaned front wheel speed sensors (will be cleaning the rears this evening)
edit: Also have done ZPC (zero point calibration)

I am actively trying to resolve this. One thing I found this past weekend was a slide pin not moving very freely on a rear caliper. After loosening the slide pin, I had to pry it out of the bracket to actually remove it. I've ordered new slide pins and caliper brackets for the rear (should be delivered this week) hoping maybe that is my issue and will be posting back here if that resolves it. I'm not even sure if a binding slide pin might cause the abs light - wondering if someone here might know that?

Any other ideas? It's driving me INSANE! I hate just throwing parts at it not knowing if they're actually faulty (again, can't read codes to confirm anything because any time they appear they go away when the car is shut off). My next future step might be to just replace all 4 wheel speed sensors if nothing else works.

 

[SparkyWalnuts]

I am having the same issue. Every time I exceed roughly 40mph, the VSC lights come on (no CEL, no ABS lights). I would have said it's the ABS wheel speed sensors and I'm still hoping it is because I just ordered two for the front yesterday. I will share what happens after replacing the sensors this weekend.

 

[Zero0575]

I am having the same issue. Every time I exceed roughly 40mph, the VSC lights come on (no CEL, no ABS lights). I would have said it's the ABS wheel speed sensors and I'm still hoping it is because I just ordered two for the front yesterday. I will share what happens after replacing the sensors this weekend.

I will say that I experimented one thing - with the car running, I unplugged a wheel speed sensor and that made all the lights I am seeing (ABS,VSC,TRAC, Etc) light up. Plugged the sensor back in and the lights went off. So I am leaning towards it being a dying/dead sensor. Just wish I could confirm that.

There isn't any consistency to when mine happens. It just happens on some days and not on others.

 

[Zero0575]

I have a trip coming up and am impatient, so I just found a code reader on amazon for $50 that claims it can read ABS codes. It will be here tomorrow, so I'll hopefully be able to read the codes next time those lights come on. I'll update the thread if/when I defeat this issue.

 

[vampwizzard]

It does sound like a speed sensor could be a culprit. Intermittent? maybe you can clean the connection with contact cleaner? eitherway, looking forward to the answer on this one.. good luck!

 

[Zero0575]

Just to update this:

The code reader actually worked! I was skeptical, as most code readers that claim to read ABS are usually a couple hundred bucks. C0210 is my code, indicating an issue with the right rear wheel speed sensor. I'll be inspecting the wiring and cleaning the sensor today.

 

[Zero0575]

Last update, hopefully....

The right rear wheel speed sensor was pretty freakin dirty, so it makes sense that it threw a code for that one. I cleaned it up, cleared the ABS codes and did a ZPC for good measure. Fingers crossed that concludes this issue and I am victorious!

 

[Zero0575]

Final update - it ended up being the abs/skid control harness. Part # 89516-60090.

Somewhere within the harness the wire must have been just barely stretched, hence why it visually looked ok, checked out with a multimeter and only sometimes triggered the lights. I changed the wheel speed sensor, then the lights stayed on permanently which leads me to believe that some of the pulling I had to do to get the sensor disconnected fully broke the wire that was stretched.

Wire harness replaced and no more Christmas lights on the dash