'Trac Off' and 'Anti Lock' dash lights

[hawkjet]

I made a round trip from northern California to Seattle. While driving through Seattle on the way there, my 'Trac Off' and 'Anti Lock' dash lights came on. When I shut down and restarted to get on the ferry, everything was fine again.

On the return trip this happened about four or five more times. Each time, shutting down and restarting made everything fine. I noticed the idiot lights came on while driving on rough roads or when I hit a bump in the road. It seemed to be sensitive to bumps on the right side.

I vaguely remember (from the old site) that the wheel speed sensor connectors can be temperamental. Has anyone had similar experience.

[Rusgreim]

I had the exact same thing happen after a panic breaking situation when I darn near got sideswiped.

The lights would come on at random times, but not as often as you describe.

My case may be unique, but I did not have any more problems after I replaced my brakes and rotors. There is a good chance I may have knocked a connection back to a firm state though. I'd check the connections in on your ABS sensors and the condition of your rotors.

Otherwise, I'd say you are looking at an ABS sensor (hub assembly) or a wheel speed sensor.

[J-ROD]

Try spraying the inside of the wheel speed sensor's on all four corners of the car with electrical cleaning spray. They may not have good connection between the harness and the sensor itelf.

[hawkjet]

I have narrowed down the source of the problem. It is the right front wheel. It has gotten to the point where I can cause the error by turning the wheel lock to lock while the car is stopped.

I disconnected the connector and noticed the contacts were corroded. So I cleaned both sides with electrical cleaner, then connected and disconnected the connector several times to wipe off the oxide from the contacts.

After reassembly I get no lights but if I flick the wiring close to the connector, the idiot lights come on. This is very repeatable. I tried this on the pigtail from the sensor to the connector with no problems. I don't know if the contacts are so corroded now that it cannot make a reliable contact or if the wires themselves are bad. At any rate, I think I'm going to attempt to disassemble the connector or see if I can splice on a connector from the junk yard. But first I need to get to a junk yard.

Any other ideas?

[Archon]

Try bending the 2 pins just slightly. Just enough to make a bit snugger connection, and see if that helps.

[harofreak00]

I had corroded wiring on the rear sensors of my 00. I replaced the entire harness to fix it. Strip back some of the insulation to see if the wiring is black.

[hawkjet]

I had corroded wiring on the rear sensors of my 00. I replaced the entire harness to fix it. Strip back some of the insulation to see if the wiring is black.

I finally went to the junk yard and got a section of wire harness to splice in. I first cut a few inches back from the connector and found the copper was so corroded that it disintegrated when I tried to strip away the insulation. So I went back another foot or so and found the wire in good enough shape to manage a splice.

To keep moisture out of the splice, I put silicone inside the heat shrink tube and put a couple layers of tubing on the splice. We'll see how long this lasts. It's definitely more of a band-aid than a real fix. But the ABS works (for now).

[harofreak00]

DOH! I could have just sent you the entire harness!

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d61/b ... G_6498.jpg

[2003 SSEi]

Hawkjet, i recommend the entire harness replacement from Haro. Our ABS systems are very picky.

[hawkjet]

DOH! I could have just sent you the entire harness!

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d61/b ... G_6498.jpg

Tell me more about your harness. Is it used? How old? How much? Is it easy to install?

[harofreak00]

Its used, from Beast00's 2000 SSEi that I parted out. 146k on it, and he was not having any Stability issues with his car.

$20 plus actual shipping (should be around $5-7 to Canada)

Its not super easy to put in, but it is possible, I did it in my car a couple months ago. You need to be sure not to lift the car by the rear subframe, or you will not be able to reach the wires.

[2003 SSEi]

Andrew he said he had the issue in the front of the car, and would be easy to do this replacement of the section of harness.

[harofreak00]

Whoop! Hold everything. That harness is for the rear wheels. The front wheel connectors are part of the main body harness I believe. This will not work for you, sorry.

[hawkjet]

Hey thanks for all the help though. As of now it works so I'll keep my fingers crossed.