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ABS and traction control trouble lights on dash 2001 Chevy Cavalier
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umjorge2
New User
Jan 25, 2014, 10:51 AM
Post #1 of 4
(3193 views)
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ABS and traction control trouble lights on dash 2001 Chevy Cavalier
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I am having issues with my Cavaliers ABS system. It all started last week when the lights just came on. Its cold and snowy here and there was a large built up of snow and ice by the tires. I kicked it off and sure enough the lights turned off. They stayed off for a day or so and then while I was driving the next day, going to accelerate all the lights came back on again and I had no ABS or traction control.
I got a friend to use a code scanner that reads ABS codes and got these three codes
C1222....... RF Wheel Speed Sensor Input = 0
C1226....... Right Front Excessive Wheel Speed Variation
C1233.......RF Wheel Speed Sensor Circuit Open or Shorted
So it points to the passenger front wheel speed sensor as the culprit. I jacked up the car to have a look at the wiring for the sensor. Nothing seemed out of place and I didn't see any broken or chafed wires and the connection seemed fine to me. I took the sensor out and gave it a good cleaning as it was pretty gunked up. Thinking that for sure was the problem I cleaned it with a wire brush and hooked it back up. The trouble lights didn't come on at first but then I started driving and boom back on again. So now I figured its a bad sensor. I go and pick up a replacement one and put it in. Lights still come on and ABS and traction still don't work.
Yesterday we had a bit of a warmer day and I noticed it was acting more intermittently when the lights would come on after the car has been turned off. I would go to start it with the lights off, drive for a bit and then the lights would come on moments later with one of a few things would happen. They would come on when I turned the wheels, come on when I hit a small bump or dip in the road, come on when I would use the ABS by hitting the breaks on ice or when the tires would spin activating the traction control, or just come on their own without really doing anything. Sometimes the ABS would just come on its own without me hitting the breaks and I can feel the break pedal and steering wheel vibrating and hear the ABS working. So the ABS and traction control itself still operate when the lights aren't on but as soon as they come on, they're in-operatinal.
So it could be a wiring issue but like I said I couldn't see anything physically wrong with the wires going to the sensor from what I could see. The main thing is it acts more intermittently on a warmer day, with the lights not staying on at first when I start the car and then go on with one of the various things I mentioned above. On colder days the lights just come on right away when I start the car. I tried resetting the computer by unplugging the battery for 10 minutes. The lights were off when I started the car but then I turned the wheels in park and they came on. Hope someone is familiar with this issue and can point me in some sorta direction. I've tried a lot of the basic trouble shooting stuff and even replaced the sensor and nothing works.
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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jan 25, 2014, 1:05 PM
Post #2 of 4
(3175 views)
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Re: ABS and traction control trouble lights on dash 2001 Chevy Cavalier
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Are the same codes showing up after you had replaced the WSS (wheel speed sensor)?
If so, you have a circuit code present. That usually indicates you have a wiring or connection problem.
Watch this vid for how to troubleshoot the wiring by using the bias voltage that comes from the ABS controller.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPdPhGcZOe0
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
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umjorge2
New User
Feb 9, 2014, 9:47 AM
Post #3 of 4
(3107 views)
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Re: ABS and traction control trouble lights on dash 2001 Chevy Cavalier
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That video was very helpful. And I have fixed my problem. There was a broken wire close to the sensor that I didn't see right away (it was broken underneath the plastic covering). Spliced and soldered in new wires and its working good again. I'm thinking a built up of snow and ice might've pushed the cable down and caused it to split and eventually sever completely
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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Feb 9, 2014, 10:25 AM
Post #4 of 4
(3102 views)
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Re: ABS and traction control trouble lights on dash 2001 Chevy Cavalier
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Happy to read that you got your problem solved  and thanks for the follow up. You never know, your follow up may help someone else in the future. Thread closed as solved and can be reopened upon request by the OP.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
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