ABS sensor help!

[ipop07]

Alright, I need, again, some advice from you guys.
To start off, I have a 1998 A4 B5 1.8T quattro.

Now, I changed my rear left bearing (a pain in the butt cuz the camber adjustment bolt was fused to the bushings $105 to replace), but in the process, I think I damaged the ABS sensor which wouldnt come out and now my ABS light is on. Also the handbreak light is flashing and I am just wondering if its cuz of the abs light, is that the case?
How bad is that these 2 lights are on?
If anybody has a rear left ABS sensor around please give me a shout please, I need one.

[Wholsea]

Alright, I need, again, some advice from you guys.
To start off, I have a 1998 A4 B5 1.8T quattro.

Now, I changed my rear left bearing (a pain in the butt cuz the camber adjustment bolt was fused to the bushings $105 to replace), but in the process, I think I damaged the ABS sensor which wouldnt come out and now my ABS light is on. Also the handbreak light is flashing and I am just wondering if its cuz of the abs light, is that the case?
How bad is that these 2 lights are on?
If anybody has a rear left ABS sensor around please give me a shout please, I need one.

How bad is it you ask? Well, mine has been on for like 6 years now... The only thing is, you have no ABS now... Your brakes will work, you just don't get the benefit of ABS. So give yourself extra room to stop.

A new speed sensor is like $80 I think.

Unless your ABS Controller is shot, in which case they are like $200 to get fixed (There are a number of folks online here who can do it)

[ipop07]

thank you, exactly what I needed to hear.
What about the flashing handbrake light?

[P-Luc]

ipop07, I'm in the exact same situation as you...! But my problem comes from the replacement of the rear RIGHT wheel bearing.

I also damaged the ABS sensor and now, I have an empty hole but, I put a 3/8" connector plug in it, waiting for another ABS sensor.

If you can find this sensor at a decent price, let me know...I'm interested.

Like other said, it's not a big problem...no more ABS to this wheel, but the brakes are still working to all wheels...

Now, I just want to turn this light off in the dash.

I called the dealer and it's 242$, ECS tuning sells for 150$...what about 034 Motorsports...? Any other...?

Let me know..

Regards

[lotusgardener]

mjmautohaus has them for the cheapest that I found.

[ipop07]

mjmautohaus does have one of the cheapest, but i found on ebay (ebay uk) for 50 with shipping included, which is half of mjmautohaus has it at. I am hoping my sensor is still ok, I gotta fill up the brake fluid first to see if it makes it go away.

[sgt_g]

So what if it only comes on once in a while. Mine will come on flash for a while and then both lights will go out. Seems to be random. Haven't had a chance to test the abs well its on. Any way to figure out if its the sensor and or sensors or the ABS unit that is on its way out.

[flashovermac]

For the record, when doing the rear wheel bearings on these cars, don't even bother trying to remove the sensor. It wont come out, period. Unplug it underneath the rear seat and take the entire knuckle, sensor, cable and all with you to press in the bearing. Save yourself some hassle.

[ipop07]

yeah i know now... i wish i did before...

[flashburn]

For the record, when doing the rear wheel bearings on these cars, don't even bother trying to remove the sensor. It wont come out, period. Unplug it underneath the rear seat and take the entire knuckle, sensor, cable and all with you to press in the bearing. Save yourself some hassle.

Really, I have a 96 and it came out with almost no effort at all. I pushed it out from the other side with a socket of that size and a little PBblaster. Really, flawless removal *knock on wood* but I only did one.

[flashburn]

Call Euclid Foreign Motors in Ohio, I bought it and shipped it for <100 bucks.

[erikas3]

I also have a similar problem. I can't even take mine out though. The passenger rear sensor will not come out. The top plastic half will spin freely while the part inside the hub does not move. Anyone have any advice?

[ipop07]

will a bad abs sensor cause the abs light to be on and the brake light to flash? Or is that a abs module specific symptom. The reason I am asking is because this only happened after I tried to take the rear sensor off and failed miserably. I am pretty sure I broke it myself trying to take it out. Now I will have lots of fun taking it out and replacing it without taking the hub off the car (again).

[Wholsea]

will a bad abs sensor cause the abs light to be on and the brake light to flash? Or is that a abs module specific symptom. The reason I am asking is because this only happened after I tried to take the rear sensor off and failed miserably. I am pretty sure I broke it myself trying to take it out. Now I will have lots of fun taking it out and replacing it without taking the hub off the car (again).

It can. Replace the cheaper of the two (wheel speed sensor) first...

[flashburn]

will a bad abs sensor cause the abs light to be on and the brake light to flash? Or is that a abs module specific symptom. The reason I am asking is because this only happened after I tried to take the rear sensor off and failed miserably. I am pretty sure I broke it myself trying to take it out. Now I will have lots of fun taking it out and replacing it without taking the hub off the car (again).

My car did the same thing with a bad sensor. I changed it and the abs works now as well as the brake light being off. All light resolved, except that nasty EGR CEL... Stupid emissions...

[magnum46]

Is there a way to tell if the root cause is the sensor vs the module?

[Wholsea]

Is there a way to tell if the root cause is the sensor vs the module?

Try to use a OBD Tool to read the ABS Computer.

If the ABS Comuter can't be read, more than likely it's the controller...

Either that, or replace the ABS Sensor at the corner that was damaged.

[sgt_g]

Try to use a OBD Tool to read the ABS Computer.

If the ABS Comuter can't be read, more than likely it's the controller...

Either that, or replace the ABS Sensor at the corner that was damaged.

What can you do if you don't know which sensor it is cause you never messed with any of the sensors? Light just randomly comes on at times but doesn't stay on.

[P-Luc]

I also have a similar problem. I can't even take mine out though. The passenger rear sensor will not come out. The top plastic half will spin freely while the part inside the hub does not move. Anyone have any advice?

On my car, passenger rear wheel too...I use a 1/8" drill and made several hole in the sensor directly. I removed the sensor and the copper sleeve that way.

After everything is out, you clean the hole and make sure the M6 threads that secure the sensor to the spindle is good.

I'm now searching for a replacement sensor. Until then, there's a 3/8" rubber plug (electrical) in the hole waiting for the new part.

Good luck with the removal...!

Regards

[Wholsea]

What can you do if you don't know which sensor it is cause you never messed with any of the sensors? Light just randomly comes on at times but doesn't stay on.

I'd say that's symptoms of the controller going bad.

Mine did that until one day the light went on and hasn't gone off since.

[ipop07]

anyone know what the resistance has to be over the rear abs sensor? would it trick the light into thinking the sensor is ok if i removed it and put a resistance instead, temporarily until i get around to buying a sensor.

thanks