Brake / ABS Issues
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,987
Likes: 599
From: NC
Brake / ABS Issues
2015 RX350 FWD with 82,500 miles.
My wife just called me from Athens, Georgia where she has been visiting family for the past week. She was driving earlier this afternoon when the following warnings popped up on her dashboard:
- The red BRAKE icon illuminated and stays on.
- The amber ABS icon illuminated and stays on.
- The display screen alternately shows BRAKE MALFUNCTION and CHECK ABS.
She reports that the vehicle continues to drive and brake normally. My initial guess is that something in the ABS control system malfunctioned but the vehicle remains safe to drive. Could be low brake fluid (the fluid level was normal before she left home here in Raleigh, NC a week ago). Could be a failing battery (the factory battery was replaced under warranty by Lexus in February 2018). Could be a failed wheel speed sensor. Could be some other sensor I am not familiar with. My OBDII code scanners are here at home with me (she has no idea how to use them anyway). She plans to drive home a week from today.
Do these issues sound similar to what any of you have experienced with your 3rd generation RX? Just want her to be able to drive the vehicle home safely next week so I can get my eyes and hands and tools on it.
My wife just called me from Athens, Georgia where she has been visiting family for the past week. She was driving earlier this afternoon when the following warnings popped up on her dashboard:
- The red BRAKE icon illuminated and stays on.
- The amber ABS icon illuminated and stays on.
- The display screen alternately shows BRAKE MALFUNCTION and CHECK ABS.
She reports that the vehicle continues to drive and brake normally. My initial guess is that something in the ABS control system malfunctioned but the vehicle remains safe to drive. Could be low brake fluid (the fluid level was normal before she left home here in Raleigh, NC a week ago). Could be a failing battery (the factory battery was replaced under warranty by Lexus in February 2018). Could be a failed wheel speed sensor. Could be some other sensor I am not familiar with. My OBDII code scanners are here at home with me (she has no idea how to use them anyway). She plans to drive home a week from today.
Do these issues sound similar to what any of you have experienced with your 3rd generation RX? Just want her to be able to drive the vehicle home safely next week so I can get my eyes and hands and tools on it.
Rookie
Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 36
Likes: 3
From: ma
2015 RX350 FWD with 82,500 miles.
My wife just called me from Athens, Georgia where she has been visiting family for the past week. She was driving earlier this afternoon when the following warnings popped up on her dashboard:
- The red BRAKE icon illuminated and stays on.
- The amber ABS icon illuminated and stays on.
- The display screen alternately shows BRAKE MALFUNCTION and CHECK ABS.
She reports that the vehicle continues to drive and brake normally. My initial guess is that something in the ABS control system malfunctioned but the vehicle remains safe to drive. Could be low brake fluid (the fluid level was normal before she left home here in Raleigh, NC a week ago). Could be a failing battery (the factory battery was replaced under warranty by Lexus in February 2018). Could be a failed wheel speed sensor. Could be some other sensor I am not familiar with. My OBDII code scanners are here at home with me (she has no idea how to use them anyway). She plans to drive home a week from today.
Do these issues sound similar to what any of you have experienced with your 3rd generation RX? Just want her to be able to drive the vehicle home safely next week so I can get my eyes and hands and tools on it.
My wife just called me from Athens, Georgia where she has been visiting family for the past week. She was driving earlier this afternoon when the following warnings popped up on her dashboard:
- The red BRAKE icon illuminated and stays on.
- The amber ABS icon illuminated and stays on.
- The display screen alternately shows BRAKE MALFUNCTION and CHECK ABS.
She reports that the vehicle continues to drive and brake normally. My initial guess is that something in the ABS control system malfunctioned but the vehicle remains safe to drive. Could be low brake fluid (the fluid level was normal before she left home here in Raleigh, NC a week ago). Could be a failing battery (the factory battery was replaced under warranty by Lexus in February 2018). Could be a failed wheel speed sensor. Could be some other sensor I am not familiar with. My OBDII code scanners are here at home with me (she has no idea how to use them anyway). She plans to drive home a week from today.
Do these issues sound similar to what any of you have experienced with your 3rd generation RX? Just want her to be able to drive the vehicle home safely next week so I can get my eyes and hands and tools on it.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,987
Likes: 599
From: NC
Yes, that is a possibility. But the last time she was out of town and had an issue (many years ago with her previous 2000 RX300), the kid at the local Autozone she went to in Tampa screwed up the OBDII reading process and managed to get her key stuck in the ignition cylinder.
The local Toyota dealership there in Athens will run a diagnostic procedure for $45 which supposedly is their employee discount price. She will probably decide to do that today.
The local Toyota dealership there in Athens will run a diagnostic procedure for $45 which supposedly is their employee discount price. She will probably decide to do that today.
Last edited by RX in NC; Nov 4, 2022 at 03:49 AM.
CL Community Team
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 7,135
Likes: 1,706
From: VA
I suspect a dying battery if it has not lost any brake fluid. Maybe get a free battery check at a chain auto parts store.
I hope it is not the expensive electronic brake force distribution component or ABS module.
I hope it is not the expensive electronic brake force distribution component or ABS module.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,987
Likes: 599
From: NC
Update:
My wife took her RX350 to the Toyota dealership in Athens early this afternoon. As she was turning into the dealership entrance, all of the dashboard warning icons and messages magically turned off. The dealership's Techstream system pulled a code C1404 which indicates a problem with the left rear wheel speed sensor (or its wiring harness). Could have been a speck of dirt that has since worked its way out of the sensor. Could be an intermittent issue with its wiring harness. I hope it is not the wheel speed sensor itself because Toyota stupidly integrated the wheel speed sensor into the hub so you cannot replace just the wheel speed sensor, you must replace the entire hub assembly (according to the service manager at the dealership). I would like to get my hands on the moron responsible for that design.
So the dashboard is clear now, I hope it stays that way, and my wife will drive the vehicle home next week as planned.
My wife took her RX350 to the Toyota dealership in Athens early this afternoon. As she was turning into the dealership entrance, all of the dashboard warning icons and messages magically turned off. The dealership's Techstream system pulled a code C1404 which indicates a problem with the left rear wheel speed sensor (or its wiring harness). Could have been a speck of dirt that has since worked its way out of the sensor. Could be an intermittent issue with its wiring harness. I hope it is not the wheel speed sensor itself because Toyota stupidly integrated the wheel speed sensor into the hub so you cannot replace just the wheel speed sensor, you must replace the entire hub assembly (according to the service manager at the dealership). I would like to get my hands on the moron responsible for that design.
So the dashboard is clear now, I hope it stays that way, and my wife will drive the vehicle home next week as planned.
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Update:
My wife took her RX350 to the Toyota dealership in Athens early this afternoon. As she was turning into the dealership entrance, all of the dashboard warning icons and messages magically turned off. The dealership's Techstream system pulled a code C1404 which indicates a problem with the left rear wheel speed sensor (or its wiring harness). Could have been a speck of dirt that has since worked its way out of the sensor. Could be an intermittent issue with its wiring harness. I hope it is not the wheel speed sensor itself because Toyota stupidly integrated the wheel speed sensor into the hub so you cannot replace just the wheel speed sensor, you must replace the entire hub assembly (according to the service manager at the dealership). I would like to get my hands on the moron responsible for that design.
So the dashboard is clear now, I hope it stays that way, and my wife will drive the vehicle home next week as planned.
My wife took her RX350 to the Toyota dealership in Athens early this afternoon. As she was turning into the dealership entrance, all of the dashboard warning icons and messages magically turned off. The dealership's Techstream system pulled a code C1404 which indicates a problem with the left rear wheel speed sensor (or its wiring harness). Could have been a speck of dirt that has since worked its way out of the sensor. Could be an intermittent issue with its wiring harness. I hope it is not the wheel speed sensor itself because Toyota stupidly integrated the wheel speed sensor into the hub so you cannot replace just the wheel speed sensor, you must replace the entire hub assembly (according to the service manager at the dealership). I would like to get my hands on the moron responsible for that design.
So the dashboard is clear now, I hope it stays that way, and my wife will drive the vehicle home next week as planned.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,987
Likes: 599
From: NC
afpj,
The relative's home where she stays when she visits her family in Athens is indeed down a dirt road. When she returns home from these trips her vehicle's exterior is often quite dirty. I have told her several times over the years to avoid the puddles and go very slowly while on that dirt road.
iolmaster,
Thanks for the information - I have a 2013 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited which has been a great do-everything workhorse for us since I grabbed it right at seven years ago. No wheel speed sensor issues with it thus far. Any manufacturer that designs their wheel speed sensors as a non-replaceable part of the hub should be taken out behind the barn and severely beaten wiith a tire iron....
The relative's home where she stays when she visits her family in Athens is indeed down a dirt road. When she returns home from these trips her vehicle's exterior is often quite dirty. I have told her several times over the years to avoid the puddles and go very slowly while on that dirt road.
iolmaster,
Thanks for the information - I have a 2013 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited which has been a great do-everything workhorse for us since I grabbed it right at seven years ago. No wheel speed sensor issues with it thus far. Any manufacturer that designs their wheel speed sensors as a non-replaceable part of the hub should be taken out behind the barn and severely beaten wiith a tire iron....
Last edited by RX in NC; Nov 5, 2022 at 06:58 AM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,987
Likes: 599
From: NC
Update:
My wife called me from Athens a couple of hours ago to tell me that the same warning icons and messages that appeared on her dashboard last Thursday and then magically disappeared last Friday returned this morning. In addition, the amber CHECK ENGINE icon illuminated along with the TRAC OFF message alternating on the display screen. She is planning to drive home tomorrow so it looks like my OBDII scanners and I will have our work cut out for us once she arrives home. I am growing a bit more suspicious of the battery (installed under warranty by Lexus in February 2018 when the vehicle was still with its original owner and the factory battery failed after less than three years).
My wife called me from Athens a couple of hours ago to tell me that the same warning icons and messages that appeared on her dashboard last Thursday and then magically disappeared last Friday returned this morning. In addition, the amber CHECK ENGINE icon illuminated along with the TRAC OFF message alternating on the display screen. She is planning to drive home tomorrow so it looks like my OBDII scanners and I will have our work cut out for us once she arrives home. I am growing a bit more suspicious of the battery (installed under warranty by Lexus in February 2018 when the vehicle was still with its original owner and the factory battery failed after less than three years).
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,987
Likes: 599
From: NC
Update:
My wife drove her 2015 RX350 FWD home from Georgia yesterday with the dashboard lit up like a Christmas tree but thankfully no issues on the road. This morning my iCarsoft Toyota/Lexus scan tool pulled several codes that indeed point to a failed left rear wheel speed sensor (C1408 and C1541). Is it really true that in these 3rd generation RX FWD vehicles, the two rear wheel speed sensors are not individually replaceable so you must replace the entire hub assembly? Have any of you done this job yourself and if so, was a Techstream system required for programming purposes in order to properly complete the procedure?
By the way, the battery checked out in the "good" range at Advance Auto Parts this afternoon. 12.73 volts and 700 cold cranking amps.
My wife drove her 2015 RX350 FWD home from Georgia yesterday with the dashboard lit up like a Christmas tree but thankfully no issues on the road. This morning my iCarsoft Toyota/Lexus scan tool pulled several codes that indeed point to a failed left rear wheel speed sensor (C1408 and C1541). Is it really true that in these 3rd generation RX FWD vehicles, the two rear wheel speed sensors are not individually replaceable so you must replace the entire hub assembly? Have any of you done this job yourself and if so, was a Techstream system required for programming purposes in order to properly complete the procedure?
By the way, the battery checked out in the "good" range at Advance Auto Parts this afternoon. 12.73 volts and 700 cold cranking amps.
CL Community Team
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 7,135
Likes: 1,706
From: VA
It looks like that is the situation. I found this on the Toyota Highlander Forum: https://www.toyotanation.com/threads.../#post-3508937
Pasted Below:
Be prepared to pay 1K on a new wheel hub like I did 12/2010. It's the speed sensor that is going bad. Corroded wires, etc. It did this like 3 times, the first time it reset after i turned engine off/on. True story--the third time it did that i stopped by the dealer and while i was telling the advisor it was not being caused by the cold and snowy weather, a lady with a 09 Corolla was describing the same problem with the other advisor. My BS sensor goes off and me tells myself this is a defective part. I had 80K on my 2008 so I bent over and took it 1,000 times (once for every dollar I was throwing away). Now, since there are 4 wheel sensors, I suspect I will be bending over 3 more times. Should be a RECALL, but they will hide it until someone gets killed driving in a blizzard with no ABS and traction control--like I had to do--TWICE (60 miles each time).
Then read this link which has part numbers for the Highlander (although the RX has a different rear suspension - Highlander changed to the RX rear suspension in 2014) another post says there are aftermarket parts at Rock Auto for around $300.
https://www.toyotanation.com/threads.../#post-3827265
Pasted Below:
Be prepared to pay 1K on a new wheel hub like I did 12/2010. It's the speed sensor that is going bad. Corroded wires, etc. It did this like 3 times, the first time it reset after i turned engine off/on. True story--the third time it did that i stopped by the dealer and while i was telling the advisor it was not being caused by the cold and snowy weather, a lady with a 09 Corolla was describing the same problem with the other advisor. My BS sensor goes off and me tells myself this is a defective part. I had 80K on my 2008 so I bent over and took it 1,000 times (once for every dollar I was throwing away). Now, since there are 4 wheel sensors, I suspect I will be bending over 3 more times. Should be a RECALL, but they will hide it until someone gets killed driving in a blizzard with no ABS and traction control--like I had to do--TWICE (60 miles each time).
Then read this link which has part numbers for the Highlander (although the RX has a different rear suspension - Highlander changed to the RX rear suspension in 2014) another post says there are aftermarket parts at Rock Auto for around $300.
https://www.toyotanation.com/threads.../#post-3827265
Last edited by Clutchless; Nov 13, 2022 at 01:53 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,987
Likes: 599
From: NC
Thanks for that story. What an idiotic design. I had a rear wheel speed sensor fail on a different vehicle a few years ago. I jacked up the rear end, removed the wheel, removed the one 8mm bolt holding the sensor in place in the hub, pulled out the defective sensor, cleaned the area with a couple squirts of CRC electronic component spray cleaner, installed the new $50 sensor, reinstalled the wheel, and that job was done in about ten minutes.
I believe the front wheel speed sensors are removable on this vehicle but I have not confirmed that yet. If true, that should mean only the rear wheels will eventually suffer this unfortunate fate.
I believe the front wheel speed sensors are removable on this vehicle but I have not confirmed that yet. If true, that should mean only the rear wheels will eventually suffer this unfortunate fate.
Last edited by RX in NC; Nov 14, 2022 at 04:18 AM.
CL Community Team
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 7,135
Likes: 1,706
From: VA
It looks like a separate part. It appears FWD and AWD may take different parts. Also the wiring harness appears to be available separate from the sensor. Not sure how it all fits together.
https://www.lexuspartsnow.com/parts-...html?pnc=89546
https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/we...0051&langId=-1
https://www.autozone.com/brakes-and-traction-control/abs-sensor?searchText=Rear+wheel+speed+sensor
https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/lexus,2010,rx350,3.5l+v6,1444184,brake+&+wheel+hub,abs+wheel+speed+sensor,1912
https://www.lexuspartsnow.com/parts-...html?pnc=89546
https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/we...0051&langId=-1
https://www.autozone.com/brakes-and-traction-control/abs-sensor?searchText=Rear+wheel+speed+sensor
https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/lexus,2010,rx350,3.5l+v6,1444184,brake+&+wheel+hub,abs+wheel+speed+sensor,1912
Last edited by Clutchless; Nov 14, 2022 at 05:40 AM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,987
Likes: 599
From: NC
Yep, I took a look at the Rockauto parts listings earlier this morning. They seem to confirm that the separate rear wheel speed sensor kits only apply to the AWD version of the 3rd generation RX. If you have the FWD version like my wife does, you are hosed.