Traction control and ABS

rictek · **Posted:** Wed Dec 07, 2011 2:04 pm

Can you help me sort out a weird intermittent problem with the ESP, TCS and ABS?

Seemingly at random, I get a chime and all three dash lights come on while driving. They may go out after a few minutes and sometimes they come back on during the same trip. Not persistent. The code clears itself.

Sometimes, in the first few minutes of driving, one wheel brake may drag momentarily. Much more pronounced under throttle. Not always the same wheel and does not always throw up the warning lights like above.

Sometimes during normal braking, I can feel the ABS motor kick in.

Will not tolerate a burnout, donuts, or excitement of any kind, even with the TCS button pushed in. :cry:

papaindigo · **Posted:** Wed Dec 07, 2011 2:27 pm

2006 right? Might check the connections to the 4 wheel sensors and possible chaffing in the main wiring harness behind the fuel filter head.

rictek · **Posted:** Thu Dec 08, 2011 11:41 am

2006 -The twisted pairs look fine and I don't see anything obvious in the harness.

Radman · **Posted:** Thu Dec 08, 2011 4:26 pm

If your brakes are binding and possibly overheating they will melt the wiring that connects to the ABS sensor. Ask me how I know..... check the wire near the brake discs. Other possibilities: failing ABS sensor, uneven tire wear/different tires on one or more wheels, low pressure in one of the tires (your TPMS light should be flashing in this case) Basically anything that causes one wheel to not spin at the same speed as the other will cause the Traction control to kick in.

rictek · **Posted:** Thu Dec 08, 2011 4:43 pm

The brakes and tires are new, less than 10k miles, no drag or bind. The tires are all within 1lb of each other. The wires to the sensors look fine.
The idiot lights stayed on last night and were still on this morning. Does it take a scanner better than the $100 ones at the part stores to get a code?

glaspak845 · **Posted:** Fri Dec 09, 2011 11:42 pm

Just had a similar problem. Check the wiring harness on the firewall. I did, retaped the harness as tight as I could get it and it seemed to fix it. It takes some doing to get at but go from the harness on top the engine along the firewall. I never found my cracked or damaged wire but the retaping seemed to fix my problem.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Sat Dec 10, 2011 8:53 am

rictek wrote:

. Does it take a scanner better than the $100 ones at the part stores to get a code?

Yes

rictek · **Posted:** Sun Jan 29, 2012 1:15 pm

I bought an Innova 3160 to read the ABS code. $193.54 from Amazon.
Bad sensor on driver's rear wheel. $13.76 from Rock Auto.
Fixed.
Wonder what the dealer would charge?

kiwiboatbuilder · **Joined:** Mon Feb 15, 2010 11:38 am **Posts:** 4

Hi, I have a 2006 CRD that has exactly this problem. Dealer told me there is nothing wrong with it (because the codes must have cleard themselves). After reading this I am going to look at wires and sensors. I'm new to playing with the electronics - is there anything special about the sensors? where do I find them? (dumb question sorry but looks like it is up to me since the dealer is useless). Any help appreciated.

Radman · **Posted:** Thu Apr 05, 2012 3:19 pm

I have the same intermittent problem. You cannot check the sensors by looking at them, plus they are hidden behind the brake discs. Wait till the code comes on permanently then go to local car parts supplier, have them read code and sell you the right sensor. Thats my plan anyways.....

AZ CRD · **Posted:** Sat Apr 07, 2012 7:42 am

Mine is throwing a U0121 and U0002 when this occurs. Once or twice it even gave me a P0146--whatever that is.

It's currently in the shop getting some scheduled maintenance--trans filter/fluid, diff fluid change, serpentine belt--and the rear UCA bushings replaced. I've asked them to check out these vagabond codes as well. Should know today if they came up with anything.

DOC4444 · **Posted:** Sat Apr 07, 2012 10:13 am

:seuss: Innova 3160 is the only aftermarket scanner we have found that will read KJ CRD ABS codes. It will sometimes clear codes where the problem has been resolved, but not always. Only other option we know of is Starscan (i.e. dealer).

Sorry,

DOC

kiwiboatbuilder · **Joined:** Mon Feb 15, 2010 11:38 am **Posts:** 4

Update to my earlier post. couldn't find anyone to read the code, every shop said there was nothing, presumably because the code was cleared. so did some thinking, and figured that since the problem was likely to happen in a slow speed tight turn, or under braking, that the ABS/Traction control computer must be thinking that a wheel is spinning outside of tolerance, which would be a signal issue, either from a short or a bad sensor. Since the rear sensors at $14 each at my dealer, I just bought two of them, installed them (5 minutes each side), and the problem has not resurfaced. I'm not saying it is solved (that's tempting fate), but i can say that it happened virtually every time i touched the brakes, at least 50% of the time, and it has not happened in a week.

Radman · **Posted:** Tue May 22, 2012 10:01 am

I think there is a way to check the sensors using an OHM meter, just not sure what the readings are supposed to be. Anyone know??

papaindigo · **Posted:** Tue May 22, 2012 2:39 pm

That I don't know but IIRC there is an old post somewhere about using an OHM meter to check for continuity (e.g. determine if wires are broken inside the insulation) on the 05 rear sensor at a plug somewhere around the back seat.

Drewd · **Joined:** Mon Feb 06, 2006 12:24 pm **Posts:** 902

Lots folks including myself have had the abs sensor wire leading to the right rear (passenger side rear) tire break. In fact, my wire had 3 breaks in it and I wired a thicker gage wire parallel to the wiring harness to the abs sensor. A continuity check is fairly easy to do from the connector plug under the rear seat on the driver's side.

Radman · **Posted:** Mon May 28, 2012 8:46 am

Is this problem only on the 2005 or 2006 also?

papaindigo · **Posted:** Mon May 28, 2012 9:07 am

Any vehicle with wheel speed sensors can have this type of problem although how the problem manifests itself may vary between vehicles. The 05 has 2 front wheel sensors and 1 rear sensor IIRC on top of the differential while the 06 has 4 wheel sensors. A bad sensor or bad sensor wire causes IIRC ABS/cruise/odometer issues on the 05 and the same plus ESP issues on the 06, the latter because the 05 lacks ESP.

Traction control and ABS

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