I purchased a fully loaded 1992 GXE in near mint condition recently and it needed a new right axle. I had a friend of a friend (who is a legit mechanic) put one in as a side job. Well he got it in in under an hour and the axle feels great. But now the ABS light is on, and when it's not the ABS activates when I hit about 8mph, regardless of the tires locking or not. I told him about this and he said the sensor probably got some grease on it, and it may come off in time or need to be cleaned. I located the sensor and wiped it with a paper towel. Im sure there is a better way to clean this. Has anyone had this problem or is able to help remedy this annoyance? Thanks alot guys.

Gregg

 

not too disagree with your friend but, that symptom is usually caused by having the wrong # of teeth on the ABS ring.

 

well i would use brake cleaner to clean the sensor.
chances are whether the sensor is clean or not, it's on its way out. our abs sensors seem quite fragile. i've gone through a few of them myself. try going to a junkyard and picking up a spare abs sensor.

 

Is the ABS ring part of the axle or is it seperate? Can just the ring be replaced, if this is the problem, or does the whole axle need to be replaced?

 

the abs ring is on the drive shaft. you would have to take out the drive shaft to have a different ring put on.

 

whomever sold you the axle is responsible to get you the correct one (assuming that you bought it "new")

 

Mechanic who replaced the axle failed to remove the sensor. Thus stretching it/damaging the wiring harness.

Do the diagonstic and then tell me it's the right front abs sensor.

 

Bear with me for a second, Im not very much up on front end/tranny stuff. Is the axle the same as the drive shaft? I drove a rear wheel drive car for the last 5 years and I know about the drive shaft on that but front wheel Im not sure of. I looked at the new axle today and there are deffinatly teeth there, so I know he put in an ABS axle, if that makes sense.

 

It was rebuilt.

 

I was reading that you can count the light flashes, but I dont know where the light it located. It says under the boot, I dont know what that means. Is that olde english for hood?

 

trunk....................

 

so then the rebuilder / store that it came from needs to correct it.
Count the number of teeth on the ABS ring, and hopefully someone here will count theirs.
then compare to be sure the correct # of teeth

 

internetautomar:

Good idea

 

Jeff92se:

Thanks for the translation!

 

My GXE had the same issue, if it turns out to be the sensor, (check the number of flashes on the ABS computer, located on the trunk near the speaker) try first to rewire it with new cable. It worked for me. The sensor is expensive here in Mexico, about 500 dollars.

 

Here's an update if anyone cares:

When I got into my car tonight the ABS light did not go on, but whenever I stop the brake shakes hard, right around 5mph and the car pull slightly left. I restarted it a bunch of times and the light still doesnt stay on so I cant get the diagnosis code. I was reading online that grease/dirt on the sensor can cause this. I think I'll take it in tomorrow to my normal mechanic and ask him to clean it and test the sesnor. Thanks for all the info guys.

Gregg

 

mine did this also. I cleaned the sensor and the culprit for my problem was grease also. I think the grease from mine came from a previously slightly torn CV boot that released some grease on the passenger side.

 

Update: I took the car in and the mechanic, who I normally use, said it needs a new Master Brake, which I disagreed with. He said the system had no pressure, so I reluctantly let him put one in ($150 installed, which I thought was fair)...Now the ABS light stays on and I can read the error code which is front right sensor which I been saying from day one. He said he'll see how much a sensor will run. I wish I had a lift and all the tools so I could just do this myself. The majority of mechanics dont know anything about what their doing!

 

Am I good or what? Thing is the mechanic probably broke the sensor wire. He should be paying for it.

 

Absolutely so.

Greg, u brought a working vehicle (ABS) and now its been broken by wrong methods. Then u let this ** smoke u 150 for no reason... Pls, do not go there but with a policeman and only demanding a working sensor that someone else will put in...

 

Thats the thing that gets me I knew what it was all along, but I dont have the tools to repair it.

 

U know, I was once there. Almost got killed... Then I decided that I can destroy my car also, ALL FREE. Started buying tools, kept buying. Have 'all' but still missing most...

A tool to repair is better investment than any other u can make. Buy what u need for this.

'Funny' thing -nomen est omen- the shop that decidedly ruined my car, was named H.Hammer.

 

Wiking:

Very good advice!

 

...btw: I did take that steering rack bearing to the shop so that he could change it. (I thought I could not.) What is typical: the guy did NOT change it , but added shims on the other end (easier) which later bursted all ballbearings off while driving... Life is interesting as u steering wheel becomes merry go around... Before leaving I asked that guy for the old part: "weeelll, I just cleaned, nowhere to be found" was his answer. --->That guy is a killer.

Lesson learned: any time u car is repaired, stand beside. PAYS. If not, mark the parts if possible: dont leave before u have the old ones with you.

Now anybody try to speak to me that "this and that is dangerous to change byyourself". Hah. Cando even better death traps than those "good ol stealing mechanics"...

Anyways, its always good to ask advice before taking on a repair; these kind forums are one of the places to ask. But there is 'no' such job one cannot do in a car after buying adequate tools. After few blown engines, you become a pro... Some say thats expensive - I say its cheaper: not paid for the mech.