Cleaning ABS Sensor

Ald

Hi,

I have a warning light coming on for the ABS system. I went to garage and know exactly what sensor. The mechanic said it needs replacement. I read online that sometimes this light comes on due to dirt on the sensor and it may just need a clean. I tried remove the sensor to do this but had little joy. It needs a bit of force I think. Having little experience I didn't want to tempt faith. Just out of curiousity(I like to be able to do things myself) what are the chances it is dirt? Should I try again and how much force would you normally have to give to get an ABS sensor free? It's from a chevrolet aveo btw. Or should I just give in and get the mechanic to do it? What's your advice?

Cheers!

Atlantic Dawn

You can buy brake cleaner for about €5 a can, it's used to clean brake pads and discs, should be fine for the ABS sensor, however if the mechanic says it needs replacing maybe it does. You could try a 2nd opinion from another mechanic.

Jesus Shaves

don't believe everything a mechanic says, some are only in it to make money off an easy target, clean the sensor yourself first but you will still have to get the light reset which is going to cost about 30 quid anyway

Plug

darokane wrote: »

don't believe everything a mechanic says, some are only in it to make money off an easy target, clean the sensor yourself first but you will still have to get the light reset which is going to cost about 30 quid anyway

In fairness to remove a sensor and clean it is going to be roughly the same labour as replacing it? I don't think he would be making much more money unless it was a main dealer(parts section). I've seen cars full of oily muck around the sensor and wondering how the hell is it still working. But it does.

Jesus Shaves

Plug wrote: »

In fairness to remove a sensor and clean it is going to be roughly the same labour as replacing it? I don't think he would be making much more money unless it was a main dealer(parts section). I've cars full of oily muck around the sensor and wondering how the hell is it still working. But it does.

i was suggesting for the OP to clean the sensor, or a private garage, ironically main dealers tend to be "cowboys"

biko

Give cleaning a go. The sensor can be a b1tch to get out but cleaning it may well work. If you break it, well you were getting a new one anyway...
Depending on car the light will reset itself at startup or you may have to get it done for you. I had a quick google there but nothing popped out.
Let sit overnight with plenty Liquid Wrench or WD40.
Then more lube and and lots elbow grease.

Also see if you can find any sites for your make and ask there too. Aveo seems to be an unusual model in Ireland/UK but there are American sites.

Slidey

If the mechanic checked the sensor and it has an open circuit or short to earth then it is fcuked and no amount of brake cleaner or wire brushes is going to fix it.

A lot of the time the sensor that is bolted in can be a b**tard to get out and you may well break it in the process

Nissan doctor

Agree with the above, unless a piece of metal somehow got stuck on the end on the sensor then dirt won't effect its performance.

couldntthink

Why does nobody trust mechanics.

Nissan doctor

couldntthink wrote: »

Why does nobody trust mechanics.

Because, unfortunatly, there are far too many morons out there causing hassle for customers and the decent mechanics out there.

Jesus Shaves

Are there any mechanics on here and where are ye based?
Might be a good idea to get a thread started off all the mechanics on here and areas they're in
I'd use one if there was one near

Plug

darokane wrote: »

Are there any mechanics on here and where are ye based?
Might be a good idea to get a thread started off all the mechanics on here and areas they're in
I'd use one if there was one near

Mods make a sticky?

Slidey

There is already a thread in here with posters tellin their speciality areas

Jesus Shaves

Slidey wrote: »

There is already a thread in here with posters tellin their speciality areas

i didnt say that, i said a thread where mechanics who would give some details about their location and a bit about themselves etc.

eg mechanics who would get a bit of work from us

biko

Not everyone are willing to connect their real name and place of business to a boards account. Anyway if you ask for suggestions you'll get local names.

Also, you should be able to do some stuff yourself in this forum.

Jesus Shaves

biko wrote: »

Not everyone are willing to connect their real name and place of business to a boards account. Anyway if you ask for suggestions you'll get local names.

Also, you should be able to do some stuff yourself in this forum.

yep this forum is great for learning how to do things, let's just say, some people get stuck sometimes!

horse7

how did you get on with the sensor.a week ago i started getting an esp abs light while driving.i think its a sensor fault.when i restart the car its fine,but an odd time while driving the same happens. the car is a c5 and just 13,000kms on the clock.its 3 years old so out of warrenty.

Ald

Hi horse7,

We're going to get it replaced next week with a mechanic. I'd like to have a stab at replacing it myself but as I've only ever changed light bulbs and it's Dad's car we're gona get mechanic to do it. I'm going to ask if I can watch and learn to do it myself. When talking to this mechanic he said it's unlikely to be dirt as there's some 2/300 spokes that the sensor is reading so even if dirt got into 5 of those it would still read the others. He said he resets the car computer to remove all faults and lets you drive it until it comes back again to make sure it's not a glitch in the computer which sounds sensible to me!

On a side note I was watching a BBC consumer show the other day and it had a piece on it about garages and how dodgy some can be for not replacing parts at all. Make sure to ask for the old part back and get an itemised receipt saying exactly which sensor was replaced! .... Our garage replaced ours when it was serviced 6 months ago and now this one has gone. Only when the mechanic went to see what one he replaced it came up that he did fault reset on it. I don't trust him and won't go back again so like I said go with someone you know is 100% or ask for part back.

Good luck!

Row

horse7 wrote: »

how did you get on with the sensor.a week ago i started getting an esp abs light while driving.i think its a sensor fault.when i restart the car its fine,but an odd time while driving the same happens. the car is a c5 and just 13,000kms on the clock.its 3 years old so out of warrenty.

Sounds like a faulty sensor...it could also be the brake pedal switch...
A diagnostic check is the only way you are going to find out for sure...maybe
post your location and someone here with the right diagnostic equipment maybe able to help...;)

horse7

Ald wrote: »

Hi horse7,

We're going to get it replaced next week with a mechanic. I'd like to have a stab at replacing it myself but as I've only ever changed light bulbs and it's Dad's car we're gona get mechanic to do it. I'm going to ask if I can watch and learn to do it myself. When talking to this mechanic he said it's unlikely to be dirt as there's some 2/300 spokes that the sensor is reading so even if dirt got into 5 of those it would still read the others. He said he resets the car computer to remove all faults and lets you drive it until it comes back again to make sure it's not a glitch in the computer which sounds sensible to me!

On a side note I was watching a BBC consumer show the other day and it had a piece on it about garages and how dodgy some can be for not replacing parts at all. Make sure to ask for the old part back and get an itemised receipt saying exactly which sensor was replaced! .... Our garage replaced ours when it was serviced 6 months ago and now this one has gone. Only when the mechanic went to see what one he replaced it came up that he did fault reset on it. I don't trust him and won't go back again so like I said go with someone you know is 100% or ask for part back.

Good luck!

thanks for the info, heres a link to help/show the sensor being replaced on utube,there is loads of stuff if your ever in trouble. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aieqpQjRqK8&feature=related

Row

This is an abs sensor been replaced on a 407 which should be much the same as a c5....The can very difficult to remove due to rust building up around the
sensor.
Remove the allen head bolt soak it in wd40 and get a good grip on it with a vicegrips and wiggle/pull on the sensor...its can be a slow process.
Do not twist the sensor in the hub to much as the tip of the sensors are flat and can damage the magnetic pickup ring.
If the the sensor breaks then you will need to drill it out but again be very careful as if you drill it in to deep again the magnetic pickup ring can be damaged.....Best of luck with it...:)



If you need to dril it out then wrap some insulation tape around the drill bit to act as a dept gauge...:)

horse7

nice photos,thanks.im going to give navan rd citroen a try first,as the milage is so low.if they read the fault code ,they should know if it is a sensor and which one it is.

ZENER

Sometimes low tyre pressure can cause an ABS fault. The system counts the number of pulses from the modulator spikes around the CV joint, a flat tyre would introduce a difference because each wheel would now be rotating at different speeds because one is now reduced in diameter. The system will see this as a fault and throw a code. Did the appearance of the fault coincide with a flat tyre by any chance ?

This happened to me on a Honda Prelude, resetting the ECU cleared it once the tyre was repaired and inflated.

Ken

horse7

no such luck,tyres ok.thanks.

horse7

turned out to be a brake pedel switch fault.

Jesus Shaves

horse7 wrote: »

turned out to be a brake pedel switch fault.

is that the blue switch near the front passenger wheel, my brake lightzs dont work at the moment and i think it's due to this

did you sourse one?

horse7

Row wrote: »

Sounds like a faulty sensor...it could also be the brake pedal switch...
A diagnostic check is the only way you are going to find out for sure...maybe
post your location and someone here with the right diagnostic equipment maybe able to help...;)

you were bang on with the brake switch being faulty.the dealer i bought the car from fixed it no problem.(even though the warrenty is a year out).

Row

horse7 wrote: »

you were bang on with the brake switch being faulty.the dealer i bought the car from fixed it no problem.(even though the warrenty is a year out).

Glad you got sorted and better again to get it replaced for free...:cool:
I think the dealers are coping on alittle.....only for the customers none of them would have a job..:)

Jesus Shaves

so would this be the same green sensor that would control the brake lights?

deergrove

my esp light come on ... stays off a while [odd time ] comes on stays on .... wont turn off on the switch . why ?

any ideas would be super as i want to sell soon

Row

deergrove wrote: »

my esp light come on ... stays off a while [odd time ] comes on stays on .... wont turn off on the switch . why ?

any ideas would be super as i want to sell soon

The only way to find out where the problem is a diagnostic check..post your
location and someone hear maybe able to help..:)