Rear Wheel Speed Sensor/Signal Replacement
#16
As soon as you expose the axle end, you can replace it on the car. Just clean the area of the old tone ring really good and apply a light coat of grease before pressing the new one on. Any excess clean up with brake cleaner.
#17
My car is AWD, so the VSC and TRAC lights don't apply.
My first tone ring problem revealed itself when the ABS was coming on inappropriately at low speeds. It makes noise and feels like the brakes are slipping when that happens. There are threads here about it. The ABS light did not illuminate though. It did some time later.
I don't think it's technically hard to change the ring. Remove axle, clean area, heat up the ring, press it in place. It's on my list of things to eventually get around to.
Last edited by maxSteel; 03-24-15 at 05:59 PM. Reason: minor change
#18
Driver
Thread Starter
The speed sensor issue doesn't cause a CEL unless all of them go.
My car is AWD, so the VSC and TRAC lights don't apply.
My first tone ring problem revealed itself when the ABS was coming on inappropriately at low speeds. It makes noise and feels like the brakes are slipping when that happens. There are threads here about it. The ABS light did not illuminate though. It did some time later.
I don't think it's technically hard to change the ring. Remove axle, clean area, heat up the ring, press it in place. It's on my list of things to eventually get around to.
My car is AWD, so the VSC and TRAC lights don't apply.
My first tone ring problem revealed itself when the ABS was coming on inappropriately at low speeds. It makes noise and feels like the brakes are slipping when that happens. There are threads here about it. The ABS light did not illuminate though. It did some time later.
I don't think it's technically hard to change the ring. Remove axle, clean area, heat up the ring, press it in place. It's on my list of things to eventually get around to.
The ABS system does not come on sporadically. However, the CEL, VSC and TRAC OFF lights did come on all at once. From other post and comments, I was told to clean the right rear wheel speed sensor due to all of these lights coming on. Also change air filter and clean the MAF.
Are we talking about two different problems? I don't think I have an ABS problem.
#19
OK, but I have a 2 wheel drive RX300 (front wheel drive).
The ABS system does not come on sporadically. However, the CEL, VSC and TRAC OFF lights did come on all at once. From other post and comments, I was told to clean the right rear wheel speed sensor due to all of these lights coming on. Also change air filter and clean the MAF.
Are we talking about two different problems? I don't think I have an ABS problem.
The ABS system does not come on sporadically. However, the CEL, VSC and TRAC OFF lights did come on all at once. From other post and comments, I was told to clean the right rear wheel speed sensor due to all of these lights coming on. Also change air filter and clean the MAF.
Are we talking about two different problems? I don't think I have an ABS problem.
Cleaning the sensor is fine.
But the sensor is useless without an intact reluctor to sense
Last edited by maxSteel; 03-25-15 at 05:41 PM. Reason: minor edit
#20
Driver
Thread Starter
#21
It's fast and free.
Really fast if it fell off or moves as soon as you touch it.
If it's not obviously bad move on to the sensor.
Or start by changing the sensor.
Up to you.
#22
Driver
Thread Starter
Examine the reluctor visually for cracks, broken or missing teeth, lack of a solid bond to the axle, etc.
It's fast and free.
Really fast if it fell off or moves as soon as you touch it.
If it's not obviously bad move on to the sensor.
Or start by changing the sensor.
Up to you.
It's fast and free.
Really fast if it fell off or moves as soon as you touch it.
If it's not obviously bad move on to the sensor.
Or start by changing the sensor.
Up to you.
Seems like a PITA to remove the wheel, the Axle, etc.
But I am all for saving money by inspecting first.
Thanks again for the info.
#23
Yes. You can see it from the back and, if you unplug the sensor, through the hole the sensor is plugged into.
#24
Driver
Thread Starter
#25
Driver
Thread Starter
OK.....changed brake pads on all four wheels and while in there checked the reluctor/tone ring.
All looked good. No movement at all and pretty clean.
However, I bought a new speed sensor to replace the current one on the RX. After removing the interior trim to get to the electrical connection and removing the sensor, the new one would not fit. The bracket on the new one would not line up with the mounting hole on the car. The hole looks to be about 1/2" to far. The new sensor bracket was to long. In other words, the bracket on the od sensor is about 1" long and on the new sensor, it's about 1.5" long. Every description that I found said this would fit my car.
Here are pics of the old sensor vs the new one.
All looked good. No movement at all and pretty clean.
However, I bought a new speed sensor to replace the current one on the RX. After removing the interior trim to get to the electrical connection and removing the sensor, the new one would not fit. The bracket on the new one would not line up with the mounting hole on the car. The hole looks to be about 1/2" to far. The new sensor bracket was to long. In other words, the bracket on the od sensor is about 1" long and on the new sensor, it's about 1.5" long. Every description that I found said this would fit my car.
Here are pics of the old sensor vs the new one.
#26
OK.....changed brake pads on all four wheels and while in there checked the reluctor/tone ring.
All looked good. No movement at all and pretty clean.
However, I bought a new speed sensor to replace the current one on the RX. After removing the interior trim to get to the electrical connection and removing the sensor, the new one would not fit. The bracket on the new one would not line up with the mounting hole on the car. The hole looks to be about 1/2" to far. The new sensor bracket was to long. In other words, the bracket on the od sensor is about 1" long and on the new sensor, it's about 1.5" long. Every description that I found said this would fit my car.
Here are pics of the old sensor vs the new one.
All looked good. No movement at all and pretty clean.
However, I bought a new speed sensor to replace the current one on the RX. After removing the interior trim to get to the electrical connection and removing the sensor, the new one would not fit. The bracket on the new one would not line up with the mounting hole on the car. The hole looks to be about 1/2" to far. The new sensor bracket was to long. In other words, the bracket on the od sensor is about 1" long and on the new sensor, it's about 1.5" long. Every description that I found said this would fit my car.
Here are pics of the old sensor vs the new one.
#27
Driver
Thread Starter
I guess that is the difference.
Now I wonder if the front wheel sensor is different from the rear wheel sensor.
#29
Driver
Thread Starter
#30
Moderator
With due respect the terms are AWD and FWD associated with RX. There are technical reasons why the term Front wheel drive is used instead of 2 Wheel Drive.
Salim
Salim