An Alternative issue/solution to VSC TRAC VSC-off/ ABS light

[Billynath1988]

Ill try to keep this brief but informative, since there is a lot of threads and information out there on this topic already. None that I found particularly helpful.

2005 V8 SE with 145k

I recently did a CV boot replacement on the drivers side. For those that dont know, it simply involves taking the cv axles out of the hub and then the diff.. After buttoning it all back up I got the dreaded triple lights plus the ABS light. Everything was completely fine before and then this. I know I was gentle and careful with the wire but its old and original.

visual inspection of the sensor wire and plugs showed no sign of stress but age is a factor and they might of been somewhat brittle. I drove the truck around, unplugged and re plugged the sensor at both ends and reset with the battery with no change.

Multiple threads here would have me believe I must of over stressed the sensor harness during cv replacement and broke some wires internally. I assumed this was a safe bet however did not check for continuity in the harness. I ordered a new OEM harness off amazon for 25 bucks.

Installed harness and no change. I removed the actual sensor and found the tip had been cleanly sheered off. Angry but confident I found the issue I ordered a new sensor.

Installed new sensor onto the new harness and.. Still no change.

I went back to where I started and pulled the hub off the axle. I noticed there was debris that had fallen into the sensor track near the bearing including melted sensor parts and also this took out the second sensor.


I cleaned it all out carefully. and ordered yet another sensor. I assume this will fix it but who knows. hopefully this thread gives people another place too look when chasing these problems.


Solved: replaced hub assembly, debris from ruined sensor destroyed magnetic sensor strip in hub.

 

[Billynath1988]

If anyone knows anything im missing please let me know.. sensor comes in today, hoping to just pop it in and be done with this.

 

[waypoint]

The dust shield plate on the CV hub looks bent at the 2 o'clock position in your pic. Not the cause of your problem, but you'll want to straighten it out or it may drag on the spindle when the axle rotates.

I'd examine the debris and make sure you account for the source(s). Something got loose in there and chewed up the ABS sensor. If that isn't fixed, the new sensor will get damaged as well.

 

[Billynath1988]

The dust shield plate on the CV hub looks bent at the 2 o'clock position in your pic. Not the cause of your problem, but you'll want to straighten it out or it may drag on the spindle when the axle rotates.

I'd examine the debris and make sure you account for the source(s). Something got loose in there and chewed up the ABS sensor. If that isn't fixed, the new sensor will get damaged as well.

good find, that bend doesn't contact the spindle luckily. The debris looked like pieces of the original sensor, it was the OEM and it might have just been extremely brittle from age and mileage, possibly damaged when I reinstalled the CV and the debris from itself is what took out the second sensor. I've thoroughly cleaned it all out in there, Cant think of anything else that would cause an issue.

Side note: what exactly are the circular, small spring bands that sit on the end of the cv. I dont have a pic unfortunately, but if you have pulled a cv you have seen them. They sort of hook together.

 

[waypoint]

Side note: what exactly are the circular, small spring bands that sit on the end of the cv. I dont have a pic unfortunately, but if you have pulled a cv you have seen them. They sort of hook together.

Not sure, can you post a pic of what you're seeing?

There's a hardened steel snap ring on the inboard CV that locates it inside the differential spider gear...and makes removal of the CV a pain.

On the outboard side, I don't recall anything like what you're seeing. Unless the spindle seal failed and the tension spring came out with your CV. In this case you'll want to replace that seal before reinstalling the CV, or dirt/water will get into the wheel bearing and cause early failure.

 

[Billynath1988]

Nope, I know all about the little PITA snap ring.

Heres a picture.. its hard to see but theres like these little spring band type things that sort of sit on the axle. Hooked together. I saw them and just have no idea what they do.. They dont appear to be a seal to anything.

 

[Drunner97]

Nope, I know all about the little PITA snap ring.

Heres a picture.. its hard to see but theres like these little spring band type things that sort of sit on the axle. Hooked together. I saw them and just have no idea what they do.. They dont appear to be a seal to anything.

Looks like the spring from the rear hub seal. Probably need a new seal on that side.

Side note, the cv axle hub cover makes an excellent seal driver for that rear seal.

 

[Billynath1988]

Anyone have any part numbers for that rear hub seal?

 

[Drunner97]

I got 2 brand new ones when I ordered hub assemblies, but I believe it's in one of the CV Axle threads here on T4R. It's like a rear knuckle seal or something. My Google Fu is failing me at the moment.

 

[Billynath1988]

Im probably due for new wheel bearings soon anyway.. these seals come on that? where did you order from? I think I last got from the kid that used to make them and doesn't anymore or something

I saw people using this guy.. seems reasonable https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/wheel-bearings-hubs-4x4-prerunner-165-ea.537080/

 

[Drunner97]

Im probably due for new wheel bearings soon anyway.. these seals come on that? where did you order from? I think I last got from the kid that used to make them and doesn't anymore or something

I got mine from NJ636 like 2 years ago (which are still running great), but I think he's been booted these days. There's a guy on TW that does them and I believe he's still including the seals.

 

[Billynath1988]

So I swapped in a new sensor and the lights remain the same.

I Have now:
Swapped the abs sensor harness
Cleaned out and inspected the abs sensor track in the spindle
Replaced the sensor

Any help is appreciated

 

[Drunner97]

So I swapped in a new sensor and the lights remain the same.

I Have now:
Swapped the abs sensor harness
Cleaned out and inspected the abs sensor track in the spindle
Replaced the sensor

Any help is appreciated

Check the connector at the master. For shits and giggles go check the wiring in the rear too. You never know. I thought mine was the front, turned out I pulled a wire on the rear.

 

[Billynath1988]

its definitely that wheel. there was no issue until I touched the axle for the reboot. I had it scanned twice and it said front left wheel sensor malfunction. Im going to double check the harness but I doubt that as well.. This is definitely one of the more frustrating issues ive dealt with..

 

[waypoint]

After the wiring harness connections have been examined and verified (no bent pins in the connectors), my next move would be removing the bearing and hub assembly to examine the ABS tone ring for damage.

 

[Billynath1988]

I think one of my buddies spotted it in a photo..

Tone ring or ( springged ring I mentioned earlier) slid down off the seal onto the front of the axle.. the sensor reads that for wheel speed. it cant get it where it is. Ill report back in the next few days when I open it back up to fix it.

 

[waypoint]

Pretty sure that circular spring is the seal tension spring as somebody mentioned earlier. The ABS reluctor is part of the pressed-together hub and bearing assembly, last I checked.

 

[Drunner97]

Pretty sure that circular spring is the seal tension spring as somebody mentioned earlier. The ABS reluctor is part of the pressed-together hub and bearing assembly, last I checked.

Yep. The spring has no bearing on the abs sensor. I knocked one out changing an axle and it didn't get replaced until I got my new hub assemblies.

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

 

[Billynath1988]

Is there anyway to exam that toner ring without pulling apart the hub assembly so that it has to be pressed back together?

 

[Billynath1988]

Pretty sure that circular spring is the seal tension spring as somebody mentioned earlier. The ABS reluctor is part of the pressed-together hub and bearing assembly, last I checked.

Your right, but we are getting closer.. doing some more internet digging around, it seems like the debris in the sensor housing front he first sensor might possibly have damaged the toner ring..

So even with new sensor harness, new sensor and a clean sensor track, its just not getting signal.

Correct me if im wrong here,
I cannot see the toner ring without taking apart the hub assembly which will then need to be pressed back together..

at this point a new hub assembly would have all of these pieces including the seals that probably dont exist anymore.

If there any other part of this system that could be bad or worth checking at this point?