Rear ABS Sensor - Coincedence?

P

Philip

Member
As per my other thread, I had an inside rear brake pad split from its backing plate. Before I had looked to see what had happened, the ABS exclamation mark made an appearance, and is still doing so after replacing the pads and disc.

It resets with the engine off and appears again above about 15 mph; code reader says “00287, ABS Wheel Speed Sensor: Rear Right (G44): Sporadic” (it’s the corner where the pad fell apart). Clearing the code lasts until the next time past ~15mph.

Is this a coincidence, or could it be related to the pad incident? Wiring looks good as far as I can see.
 
Haven’t checked with VCDS - from memory that distinguishes between mechanical and electrical faults.
 
OK - VCDS says “Mechanical Failure - Intermittent”. Will try to get it out and give it a clean, there’s quite a lot of ground metal dust from the disc under there.
 
It is unlikely to be coincidence, go for a full strip down and clean up. Look for mechanical damage. Then swop sensors left to right and see if the problem moves. I think they are the same left and right but I work on so many different brands.
 
I
Philip said:
Fitted a new ABS sensor, problem solved. Everything came apart very easily, but getting the sensor to click into the connector was a nightmare - think the old sensor may have been stuck to the seal and dislodged it.
Click to expand...
I was thinking there may be some debris somehow jammed in there. Pleased it is sorted 👍
 
I haven’t changed one before, but after (easily) disconnecting the original sensor, neither that or the new one would then click home into the connector. There’s a squashy orange seal with a purple plastic ring around the internal female connector - not sure if the purple plastic piece should be visible or not. I gave it a good clean with brake and contact cleaner and put some silicone spray on the plastic, but it only clicked tight after some minor persuasion with water pump pliers.
 
EDIT
Incase you ever break a connection like I have before......

That squashy seal and purple clip are removable on most, if not all, VW connectors.
There a truly beautiful bit of design work.
The purple collar locks the pins into place.

I'll try and find one and take some photographs to explain.
Edit
Couldn't find the correct connectors
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EDIT

A scenario I have found myself in...
A broken electrical connector.
You can buy new connectors and swap the broken body for the new body using the terminal removal tool and pictures as a guide. No messy cut wires or soldiering.
 

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Philip said:
I haven’t changed one before, but after (easily) disconnecting the original sensor, neither that or the new one would then click home into the connector. There’s a squashy orange seal with a purple plastic ring around the internal female connector - not sure if the purple plastic piece should be visible or not. I gave it a good clean with brake and contact cleaner and put some silicone spray on the plastic, but it only clicked tight after some minor persuasion with water pump pliers.
Click to expand...
Force like that shouldn't be necessary to join two connectors. They slide into place then a push compresses the seal. The problem could be with the alignment of the terminals? Unless it looks particularly bad, it works, I would leave well alone.
 
I fully agree.

Don't mess. :) 👍

Edit
i.e I wouldn't disturb the work now its fixed.

Here's a bit of information for next time

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Does your new sensor have the latch on the sensor and the tab on the electrical connector in the same place?
If you heard a 'click' I think that answers my question, just checking.
I found these clips to be problematic when the parts are non - OEM.
 
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Yes - I know how the VW connectors work, and no issues with pin alignment - just a resistance to either new or old sensor sliding far enough into the female connector to click under the tab.

Not sure if the internal purple plastic ring should be visible or not, can only assume the original sensor was pulling on the seal as it came out for the first time after nineteen years.
 
This is a pad wear sensor connector. The purple locking ring in this case is not pushed fully home. It, when fully fitted, would be inside the female connector above the orange seal. I don't have a male connector to hand but I can't see how the purple locking ring would be visible when the two connectors are correctly connected and sealed:

IMG_0967.JPG


Edit, it is visible above the seal when pushed home. The male connector would cover it:

IMG_0968.JPG
 
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Any use? As you can see its the front end. But I'm guessing there similar if not the same?
 
philward said:
This is a pad wear sensor connector. The purple locking ring in this case is not pushed fully home. It, when fully fitted, would be inside the female connector above the orange seal. I don't have a male connector to hand but I can't see how the purple locking ring would be visible when the two connectors are correctly connected and sealed:

View attachment 118533

Edit, it is visible above the seal when pushed home. The male connector would cover it:

View attachment 118534
Click to expand...
That makes sense - I meant does the purple locking bit sit above the orange seal (which it should as per the photo).
 
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