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ABS Light ON

Tiny
INTELLIGARD
  • MEMBER
  • 2005 FORD EXPLORER
Brakes problem 6 cyl All Wheel Drive Automatic 55K miles

My "ABS" and "ADVANCE TRAC" lights came on and stayed on, in the instrument panel. Furthermore, the "4x4 HIGH" light flashes on and off.

In addition, Prior to the herein describe problem, the brake pedal felt like the ABS was on, even on dry pavement and at low speed. Now, with all lights still on in the instrument panel, it seems that the onboard computer "OC" has disabled 4WD, ABS and Advance Track "AT"(which the OC is saying to service the AT) therefore am now driving 2WD. I even tried to turned off the truck and turned it on right away and it seems that the onboard computer is trying to reset itself (no light in the panel, but the pedal start to feel like the ABS is on (hissing pedal), however, after a few 100 yards of driving, I am back to square one (ABS and AT lights on and 4x4High light flashing with disabled function!)

Anyone has any ideal of what the problem might be?

I have purchase an OBD2 computer to verify what error code I might get. However did not yet received it!

Thanking you in advance for your help!
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Saturday, March 22nd, 2008 AT 4:16 PM

30 Replies

Tiny
MASTERTECHTIM
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,750 POSTS
Your abs activating and traction light are probably because of a faulty wheel speed sensor or hub bearing. You will need to check front hub bearings and you need a scan tool to read miles per hour to determine the bad wheel speed sensor.
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Saturday, March 22nd, 2008 AT 6:59 PM
Tiny
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Hello my friend,

Thanks for the reply.I did give a donation prior you answering this question.

I appreciate you taking the time! However, what kind of scan tool do I need to track the speed. And I have checked the hub bearings and seems to be OK.

One more thing, prior my getting all this light show in the panel. We had a major snow storm and I got really stuck with my truck. In trying to get out of my bad position (in my driveway) I was doing few forward / reverse scheme and when I was pressing the brake pedal it felt very weird like the pedal was pushing back at me and that the ABS WAS ON. Not long after that the light show started.

By the way, please have a look at my original post description. I did revise it and added more content.

Thank in a million
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Saturday, March 22nd, 2008 AT 7:34 PM
Tiny
MASTERTECHTIM
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The cheapest scan tool that I know of is the otc genesys and it costs about 2000 dollars. It really sounds like you have a wheel speed sensor problem. I would start by checking wire harness at the wheels to see if a wire tore loose when the snow storm incident happened. Unfortunately after that theres not much you can do without a scan tool. The generic code readers will not read abs unfortunately.
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Saturday, March 22nd, 2008 AT 7:44 PM
Tiny
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I appreciate the prompted response.

I will leave this thread open till I find out what is the problem. Sometime next week I will know.

See ya later!

Regards.
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Saturday, March 22nd, 2008 AT 7:54 PM
Tiny
MASTERTECHTIM
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Yeah definitely get back to us even if its in a week it will come up on my screen.
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Saturday, March 22nd, 2008 AT 8:00 PM
Tiny
MERLIN2021
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You can check the sensors with an ohm meter, you should come up with a reading of 800-1400 ohms across the sensor, then to check the ring gears, switch the meter to volts, and have someone spin the wheel, you should get a reading, it will vary by wheel rotation speed. Mt Lincoln had the abs and trac light on when I bought it, and after I ohmed it, I found a shorted wire at the passenger side where the wires go thru the firewall.
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Sunday, March 23rd, 2008 AT 8:13 AM
Tiny
MERLIN2021
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BTW you need a scanner that can read ABS codes these are "C" codes. There is one out there for laptops that costs about 250.00.
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Sunday, March 23rd, 2008 AT 8:17 AM
Tiny
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Great tips.I will definitely look into this!

Should you find the link, it would be greatly appreciated!

Regards.
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Sunday, March 23rd, 2008 AT 8:25 AM
Tiny
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Hello Guys,

Finally I did complete inspection of my ABS system, front and rear wheels. Using a volt meter, check all sensors. All seemed to be OK. So from that point on, check the ring gear on the back wheels.

There was one which was cracked and loose (passenger side).I replaced the ring and everything came back to normal.

Thanks for all your tips. It was definitely great help! I will use this service once again when I will need it!

Regards,

Jean
Montreal, QC, Canada :mrgreen:
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Tuesday, March 25th, 2008 AT 3:39 PM
Tiny
MERLIN2021
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I knew me and Tim could do it! Great job!
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Tuesday, March 25th, 2008 AT 4:27 PM
Tiny
PISTOLPETE1111
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You stated you replaced a ring gear, What is the proper name for this part?
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Friday, October 23rd, 2009 AT 12:58 AM
Tiny
MERLIN2021
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Ring gear or reluctor
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Saturday, October 24th, 2009 AT 11:40 AM
Tiny
PISTOLPETE1111
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"Finally I did complete inspection of my ABS system, front and rear wheels. Using a volt meter, check all sensors. All seemed to be OK. So from that point on, check the ring gear on the back wheels. ""

How do I use a volt meter to check to check these sensors? The connections are buried too far down in the sheathing to allow for proper connection of any type of meter.
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Friday, November 6th, 2009 AT 7:19 PM
Tiny
MERLIN2021
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Pistolpete111 you didnt say what kind of vehicle you are working on, can you specify? Sensors if it's a ford, should ohm at 800-1400 ohms, and then switch to volts and spin the wheel, voltage should change with speed of rotation. Some sensors connect in the trunk, others under the back seat. The fronts connect in the wheel wells.
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Saturday, November 7th, 2009 AT 8:40 AM
Tiny
PISTOLPETE1111
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I am working on a 2005 Ford Explorer V6 all wheel drive 4X4. When I spoke to the connections being too far into the sheathing, I mean when I disconnect the sensor from its wire connection, the two prongs that I would need to contact to are 3/4 of an inch into hard plastic and difficult to connect to.
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Saturday, November 7th, 2009 AT 11:25 AM
Tiny
MERLIN2021
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You can try needles, either inert them int the end of the connector, or actually pierce the wires and attach meter.
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Sunday, November 8th, 2009 AT 8:28 AM
Tiny
BILL RODGERS
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If you drive this vehicle with the issue of the wheel speed sensor defective, will it damange your vehicle?
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Sunday, August 14th, 2016 AT 6:15 PM
Tiny
RON12726
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  • 2 POSTS
  • 2005 FORD EXPLORER
6 cyl Four Wheel Drive Automatic 65000 miles

Hi all,
A couple of months ago I started hearing a howling in the front end. It almost sounded like a tire. The other day the abs light, the advance trac light and the 4wd light started to blink every few minutes. The other two lights, abs and advancetrac stay on. It tries to go into 4wd on its own also. Sometimes it feels like a bearing, but the noise seems to be coming right from the middle of the vehicle, maybe front differential. It doesn't pull one way or another. If I'm stopped and then take off it sometimes acts strange alike a bearing then loosens up and away I go. It almost slowed me to a stop earlier today as I was coasting to listen. Then went into 4wd. I took it out and continued.I changed the one front hub bearing. Still does the same thing. Is it the other side hub? The rear ring gears look good as I read in here to check those.
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Monday, December 18th, 2017 AT 9:31 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
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It could be several things. When you say it is trying to go into 4wd, I was thinking a speed sensor, but the noise has me confused. Does the vehicle have the automatic 4wd? Also, have you checked to make sure the ABS sensors haven't come loose and is rubbinb the reluctor ont he hub? Here is what I recommed at this point. Since the lights are on and staying on, take the vehicle to a nationally recognized parts store and have them scan the computer for codes. If the light is on, there should be one stored. Most will do it for free, so there is no money out of pocket. It should at least point us in the right direction. Please ask for the code number they find. I need to know this otherwise, it is a hit and miss situation which ends up costing a lot of money on parts that don't need replaced.

Let me know what you find, and thanks for using 2carpros. Com.

Joe
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Monday, December 18th, 2017 AT 9:31 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RON12726
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Yeah it has the auto 4wd. I was thinking the other bearing if I turn in that direction it gets bettter, away worse. Could the noise coming from the differntial be just things happening because that right side is possibly catching at times? Even though no check engine light is on, but abs light is on I can get a scan? I live in the boonies but I will take a ride to auto zone they do it. Thanks so far. Ron
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Monday, December 18th, 2017 AT 9:31 PM (Merged)

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