ABS electrical woes - Car Troubleshooting


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ABS electrical woes

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Auto Repair Home>> Automotive Repair>> Car Troubleshooting

nickwarner
Veteran / Moderator
nickwarner profile image

Jan 25, 2010, 7:35 PM

Post #1 of 4 (2268 views)

ABS electrical woes	Sign In

98 Mercury Sable with 168k on it. Pulled an abs code for the right rear wheel speed sensor input circuit having an intermittent interruption. Replaced the sensor and cleared the code. Problem has resurfaced quickly but isn't constant and every time I check the wires they have reference signal. I put my scanner on it and drove it. The sensor reads same as the other wheels except once in a while the reading drops for 10-15 seconds to nothing. Then its fine again. This is driving me nuts. The book says to do a pin test but then won't elaborate and gives absolutely no wiring schematic for the ABS system. Makes me wish I could afford to put Alldata in my shop. I'm in right field with the lights out. I have no reference material to work with to find the fault and an irritated customer who considers me incompetent since I can't find the exact location of the problem. Does anyone have a wiring diagram of this ABS system and a troubleshooting flowchart? This car needs to go out on the road quickly.

DanD
Veteran / Moderator
DanD profile image

Jan 26, 2010, 9:04 AM

Post #2 of 4 (2262 views)

Re: ABS electrical woes	Sign In

Here’s a wiring diagram; hope it helps you out.

Now this is where I may get myself in crap.
If you’re running a repair facility; charging customers for the repairs and you cannot afford service information; then you’re not charging enough!
Get with the program and pony up the cash to get the service information required and bill accordingly.
It’s “the want too be” operators that don’t have the equipment; undercutting the shops that do; which makes all of us look bad. You can’t fix it and we’re charging too much; it’s a no win situation. People are willing to pay a fair price; if they know its going to be fixed right the first time.
Sorry; but the most important set of tools I have, are my service manuals.

You don’t have to buy a yearly subscription; you can pay as you go.

Dan.

Canadian "EH"

nickwarner
Veteran / Moderator
nickwarner profile image

Jan 26, 2010, 7:11 PM

Post #3 of 4 (2249 views)

Re: ABS electrical woes	Sign In

Thanks for the help Dan. No offense taken to your constructive criticism. You are speaking the truth and I'm sure a few others will add their "amens" to your post soon. I was able to find the problem using your diagram and there was a corroded pin at the ABS control unit due to a failed weatherpack seal allowing water in. Cleaned and sealed with dielectric grease and reset the computer. Have about 40 miles on it and no new codes. I'll be checking with Alldata about a pay as you go plan as you suggested. I've worked at shops that use that system and it is supreme to other sites in my eyes as it is geared to us techs not backyard mechanics.

Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Jan 27, 2010, 1:34 AM

Post #4 of 4 (2248 views)

Re: ABS electrical woes	Sign In

Nick,

Dan knows his stuff, trust me! You need to pass along the costs it takes to do and have the right stuff. As said, customers and friends don't mind paying a fair price knowing that it's nasty expensive to do this stuff. Now long done with biz of it I can't justify more expense so friends in biz for near 30 years nearby allow me to use their resources. I worked alone since about 1979 - all pre computer with then an insane expense for paper manuals.

Glad you found the flaw in the vehicle you were working on. Corrosion capitol of the world must be right where I am as they salt (the plain sodium chloride) so thick on roads all cars are the same color after an ice or snow situation. Roads must be wet here in no time as there's too many cars on the road in the rat race of metropolitan Boston.

This highly regulated state is so expensive to be in biz it's nuts. A new shop will cost millions for a 4 bay shop! Old ones are allowed till they quit and can't re-open until upgraded so they are all banks or donut shops now. {I can't believe there's so much revenue in coffee and donuts that it exceeds a good shop!}

Even with the economy in the tank shop rates have exceeded $100 per hour now in many shops! Egad! That isn't making them rich either as it costs for place, location and a list of fees, permits that never end and tools and data just have to get thrown into the mix and passed on.

Retired now and won't pay for more stuff as it would be a total loss when I can pay friends in biz if they charge me for the data needed. Be fair but charge enough to pay for what you need to do it right the first time and both you and customer win,

T

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