Deep snow wheeling now ESP/BAS, Trac, and ABS lights all on

MoreTorque06 · **Posted:** Wed Feb 25, 2009 5:54 pm

I was up in the Superior National Forest area and found some pretty cool minimum maintenance roads (unpaved, unplowed) that I put about 200 miles on and now my dash is pretty lit up. It happened after about 25 miles in the deep snow and they all came on at once.

The ESP/BAS, Traction control, and ABS lights are all on along with the cruise control not working. I know the cruise goes out when the ABS goes out. From the reading I have done, it appears to be a wheel speed sensor. What I would love to know is if it is the front set or the rear set. I am really hoping it is the rears as they are cheap and super easy to replace.

So... front, rear or maybe even the diff sensor???

The truck is an 06 Sport 4x4, v6 with 85,000 miles.

Any input would be great!

Thanks in advance!

RED_KJ_666 · **Posted:** Wed Feb 25, 2009 6:47 pm

Try Washing out the wheels around Brakes real well. then Disconect the battery Reconnect and go for a drive that should work. I dont have ESP but I drive in snow alot and I get the ABS light ALOT my trick to avoid the previous Disco battery option is too just backing up on a hard surface then drive forward fast enough to make the doors auto lock turns the ABS sensor off with out any Hassle. not sure if this will help with your ESP but worth a try.

daspes · **Posted:** Wed Feb 25, 2009 10:53 pm

Besides the above it is possibly the clock spring also.

MoreTorque06 · **Posted:** Thu Mar 12, 2009 9:50 pm

New mopar rear wheel sensors are now in. All the lights still on. Still no codes.

I am going to try the diff speed sensor next.

Any other ideas?????

daspes · **Posted:** Thu Mar 12, 2009 9:51 pm

daspes wrote:

Besides the above it is possibly the clock spring also.

MoreTorque06 · **Posted:** Thu Mar 12, 2009 10:00 pm

daspes wrote:

Besides the above it is possibly the clock spring also.

Can you explain how that would take all the systems down? Never really heard of one going bad until now.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Thu Mar 12, 2009 10:04 pm

Do you have a ABS scanner? If not you will not be able to pull the codes,the key on/key off trick will not show ABS codes,you need the higher end scanners(Snapon,MAC,Gynesis) or the DRBIII/StarScan to pull ABS codes.Time for a trip to the dealership sadly.Just throwing parst at it will get costly and it seems it's always the most expensive part that you replace last is the fualty part.

MoreTorque06 · **Posted:** Thu Mar 12, 2009 10:09 pm

Thanks for the tip. A guy at work has the Snapon scanner with all the add-ons (his bill was about $3500) so I am assuming that should work.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Thu Mar 12, 2009 10:11 pm

MoreTorque06 wrote:

Thanks for the tip. A guy at work has the Snapon scanner with all the add-ons (his bill was about $3500) so I am assuming that should work.

Maybe if he has the correct software to scan CAN protocol and has the '09 software installed.It's hit or miss with anything but the OEM specific scanners.

daspes · **Posted:** Thu Mar 12, 2009 10:14 pm

MoreTorque06 wrote:

daspes wrote:

Besides the above it is possibly the clock spring also.

Can you explain how that would take all the systems down? Never really heard of one going bad until now.

The clock spring is what the steering wheel angle sensor takes it's measurement from. If the spring is broke, the ECU can't tell when your wheel is turned or going straight. Missing that critical piece of info the ECU disables ABS, ESP and BAS for safety.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Thu Mar 12, 2009 10:16 pm

daspes wrote:

MoreTorque06 wrote:

daspes wrote:

Besides the above it is possibly the clock spring also.

Can you explain how that would take all the systems down? Never really heard of one going bad until now.

The clock spring is what the steering wheel angle sensor takes it's measurement from. If the spring is broke, the ECU can't tell when your wheel is turned or going straight. Missing that critical piece of info the ECU disables ABS, ESP and BAS for safety.

The Airbag light would be on also and the Horn would not work either if the clockspring was broke.

Oh by the way it's not a ECU,the KJ uses a PCM.

daspes · **Posted:** Thu Mar 12, 2009 10:19 pm

tjkj2002 wrote:

daspes wrote:

MoreTorque06 wrote:

daspes wrote:

Besides the above it is possibly the clock spring also.

Can you explain how that would take all the systems down? Never really heard of one going bad until now.

The clock spring is what the steering wheel angle sensor takes it's measurement from. If the spring is broke, the ECU can't tell when your wheel is turned or going straight. Missing that critical piece of info the ECU disables ABS, ESP and BAS for safety.

The Airbag light would be on also and the Horn would not work either if the clockspring was broke.

Oh by the way it's not a ECU,the KJ uses a PCM.

When my lights came on post Moab (ESP/BAS/ABS no Airbag light, and horn worked). Replacing the clock spring fixed the issue. So... Dunno.

DaveKJ02 · **Posted:** Thu Mar 12, 2009 10:25 pm

Sucks but not many scanners read the ABS codes. Check the wires for obvious damage on the front wheel speed sensors from the deep snow. You can probably replace both sides for the cost the dealer would charge you just to pull the codes, but without the codes its nothing but guessing. The code will tell you which side is faulting. Also a faulty speed sensor may throw trickle down faults like a bad controller but replace the $20 sensor before you start buying new ABS CAB controller. My $750 estimate from the dealer to replace the CAB after paying $40 for the scan was solved with a $20 sensor.

MoreTorque06 · **Posted:** Mon Mar 16, 2009 9:41 am

I'm going to take a look at the fronts today. The Snapon scanner would only read up to an 05 ABS system.

Thanks for all the info.

BVCRD · **Posted:** Mon Mar 16, 2009 4:10 pm

Mine did this just once last year. All the dash lights came on and stayed on. Went off next time I starteded. Someone on here said it was a BCM glitch. Hasn't happened again.

MoreTorque06 · **Posted:** Wed Mar 18, 2009 11:40 am

Finally got it narrowed down. Left rear sensor isn't reading at all. I just replaced it with a new one so it has to be the wiring somewhere. Time to trace some wires...

MoreTorque06 · **Posted:** Wed Mar 18, 2009 3:07 pm

yellocoyote wrote:

MoreTorque06 wrote:

Finally got it narrowed down. Left rear sensor isn't reading at all. I just replaced it with a new one so it has to be the wiring somewhere. Time to trace some wires...

Did you have to take it somewhere to find out? Dealer? I still have the ABS light on in my kj too. :oops:

My buddy works for a dealership so he took it there and just had one of the techs scan it.

MoreTorque06 · **Posted:** Fri Mar 20, 2009 10:43 am

Still cant figure it out. Wiring all looks 100% new. Sensor is new.

Maybe connector? I don't know whats left.

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

Seems to be a common problem. Any ideas out there if it is a common wiring issue? I've got the same dreaded slew of lights on the dash and a new right rear sensor didn't fix the problem. I'm glad I only spent 25 bucks for the ABS scan at a local shop considering the dealership wanted $120 for for a diagnostic scan.

zarinKK · **Posted:** Sat Jan 30, 2010 6:10 pm

Encoder motor?

Deep snow wheeling now ESP/BAS, Trac, and ABS lights all on

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