Results 1 to 5 of 5

Thread: ABS light just came on, how to clean wheel speed sensors?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2002
    Location
    Tampa, Fl
    Posts
    1,354
    My Cars
    96 328is, 99 540i

    ABS light just came on, how to clean wheel speed sensors?

    My ABS light just came on as I was driving normally, I tested it by braking harder than usual and ABS didn't work and the wheels just locked up!

    Anyone know how to clean the wheel speed sensors?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2003
    Location
    Pittsburgh, PA
    Posts
    1,146
    My Cars
    What makes you think they are malfunctioning due to being dirty? Have someone scan the ABS for a code to see what the failure is.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2002
    Location
    Tampa, Fl
    Posts
    1,354
    My Cars
    96 328is, 99 540i
    I don't know anybody with a code reader!
    Is it that hard to clean them? I thought it would be worth a shot unless it's really hard and complicated to do.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2003
    Location
    Pittsburgh, PA
    Posts
    1,146
    My Cars
    Get some contact cleaner and spray them.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Location
    Houston, TX
    Posts
    53
    My Cars
    94 318is
    Here's what I did just yesterday.

    Remove the ABS sensor from the wheel hub. Push a strip of cloth (old towel) into the opening and firmly against the spoked lugs. Use screwdriver to push the cloth in place. Turn wheel hub both directions until nice and clean. Clean end of ABS sensor and re-install.

    I would also check each sensor abs sensor resistance w/ good VOM. I used a piece of fine wire to make a "wrap spiral" that I could sleeve over one lead, and then probed the second lead. It's a bit tricky because the sensor prongs are recessed about 1". Resistance should be about 1000 ohms. I got about 1.15kohms on all mine at 95F (it was hot yesterday!). If you get very low resistance (perhaps under 100 ohms) or infinite resistance, the sensor is bad.

    good luck
    See you down the ROW

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •