Wheel sensor failures

[Stubod]

Hi all, a while ago I had an array of orange lights come on. (eg traction control, stability control, ABS, tyre pressure, moving lights).

 

Took it to a local Indy Skoda specialist who advised a wheel sensor had gone and replaced it for around £170. 12 months on and it looks like I have the same problem again so I assume another sensor has packed up. This time I took it to a more local garage (just for convenience due to their location compared to the specialist).

 

I explained the symptoms and he advised straight away that it was a wheel sensor and that it was a common problem as he has done quite a few.

 

Out of interest I am wondering how many others have had this problem and just how common it is?

Edited 8 April, 2022 by Stubod

[Bexhillian]

Christmas tree lights for me!

NSR ABS Sensor failure was replaced under my 5 year warranty.

The Amundsen 2 unit was also replaced under same warranty, following separate issues.

However, the sunroof has never leaked, although the car has lived outdoors uncovered, since April 2016.

[nige8021]

Common problem across the VAG range I had exactly the same set of warning lights/messages on my Touareg last year, replaced the rear left ABS sensor £90 from VW 

[StevesTruck]

They do fail over time. If you're minded to look into it yourself: Sometimes they just need a clean (particularly if it's in a rear drum brake), or a bit of contact cleaner in the plug. Likewise, the cable that goes down to the sensor can get damaged, particularly on the fronts. The sensors themselves aren't terrible to change, just give them a spray up the night before and use a decent hex bit when you take it out, as rounding them off isn't fun. 

 

if you're fitting a new one, use a decent brand. 

[Stubod]

..ta for the feedback. I think the rears on mine are disks, but I will check tomoz. Also noted that the cruise control has started to "drop out" since I have had this fault...not sure if it is related?

 

[nige8021]

4 minutes ago, Stubod said:

..ta for the feedback. I think the rears on mine are disks, but I will check tomoz. Also noted that the cruise control has started to "drop out" since I have had this fault...not sure if it is related?

 

The ACC wouldn't work on mine while it had the fault 

[Stubod]

..ta again for the feedback. I love the car but now wish I had sold it before these problems started. Still undecided regarding a replacement, really like the Yaris cross but 6 months waititng list....but 1st world problems really given whats going on elsewhere......

Edited 8 April, 2022 by Stubod

[Expatman]

1 hour ago, Stubod said:

..ta again for the feedback. I love the car but now wish I had sold it before these problems started. Still undecided regarding a replacement, really like the Yaris cross but 6 months waititng list....but 1st world problems really given whats going on elsewhere......

Problem with all new cars seems to be extended delivery times, and mostly the dealer can’t give you an accurate date anyway. Prices of second hand cars are high mainly because new cars are so difficult to get. Only option is to identify a number of new cars you might like then check the dealers to see what there is available from stock - but inevitably you will have to compromise on exact model/spec. Alternative is to soldier on with the car you have until supply issues ease - late 2023? - but then second hand value of your existing car will drop.  As you say 1st World problem but still frustrating.

[StevesTruck]

3 hours ago, Stubod said:

..ta for the feedback. I think the rears on mine are disks, but I will check tomoz. Also noted that the cruise control has started to "drop out" since I have had this fault...not sure if it is related?

 

 

I'd suspect driver's side front wheel then, it feeds the wheel speed back to the ECU for that sort of thing on most VAG's. 

[muppix]

On 08/04/2022 at 15:51, Stubod said:

Out of interest I am wondering how many others have had this problem and just how common it is?

 

I had the same symptoms as you a little while back, and a friend with an OBD tool confirmed a large number of faults relating to the rear n/s wheel speed sensor. A replacement was ordered from the local motor factors for around £20 and I fitted it using an Allen key in under 10 minutes. Absolute piece of cake. 👍🏻

[Brijo]

My ABS etc lights were coming and going - on for a couple of days, gone the next.  The local indy were having it in for annual service and MOT, reported it cleared and double road-tested, but the lights were back on before I was off the forecourt.  Repeated tests pointed to an iffy NSF sensor; a replacement cost under £50, with adequately reduced labour. 

[Graham Butcher]

I have just got this problem with mine and posted on here about it. My local dealer cannot get round to it for 3 weeks, so I have been searching for info myself on how to cure the problem. I found a video (below) on Octy, so I checked the resistance on mine, and it was 7.5Mohm and his faulty one was 9Mohm and his new one was 50Kohm. So I have been out today and purchased a good one from a decent brand (Hella) but checking the resistance it measures 3.5Mohm, so not fitted it yet in case it's faulty as well 😨.

 

Checked a few YT videos and some people say refer to the workshop manual for values, I cannot find any mention of the resistance in the manual, so I'm still not sure.

 

 

[nige8021]

@Graham Butcher when the sensor failed on my 13 plate Treg it was open circuit or greater than 20Mohms (largest range on meter) the replacement (and I think it's the same part as on your Octy) was 1.2Kohm,s also just tested a used & new sensor for a MK1 Octy and they are 990ohms & 1.1kohms respectively 

[Graham Butcher]

Thank you for these measurements, even taking the findings of the person in the video where he measured 50,000 ohms, that makes this new one I just purchased from a motor factors, 70 times that value and taking your value of 1.1k for a new Octy sensor, it makes my new one 3,182 times higher. I really can't see that there would be any reason for one to a fit a Superb should be any different, so I'm feeling pretty pleased that I didn't fit this one as it rather looks like it's duff already 😲

[nige8021]

16 minutes ago, Graham Butcher said:

Thank you for these measurements, even taking the findings of the person in the video where he measured 50,000 ohms, that makes this new one I just purchased from a motor factors, 70 times that value and taking your value of 1.1k for a new Octy sensor, it makes my new one 3,182 times higher. I really can't see that there would be any reason for one to a fit a Superb should be any different, so I'm feeling pretty pleased that I didn't fit this one as it rather looks like it's duff already 😲

Have you compared the other three sensors to see what sort of value they are giving ?

[Graham Butcher]

9 minutes ago, nige8021 said:

Have you compared the other three sensors to see what sort of value they are giving ?

No, because I have difficulty getting up and down (too big and old for that malarkey) and the units are so hard for me to get access to without either a pit or a lift to give me easier and direct access.

[nige8021]

16 minutes ago, Graham Butcher said:

No, because I have difficulty getting up and down (too big and old for that malarkey) and the units are so hard for me to get access to without either a pit or a lift to give me easier and direct access.

I know that feeling, you could try from the ABS unit connector, left front pins 8 & 9, right front pins 5 & 6, left rear pins 3 & 2, right rear pins 11 & 12 

 

 

"B" is looking into the connector 

[Graham Butcher]

9 minutes ago, nige8021 said:

I know that feeling, you could try from the ABS unit connector, left front pins 8 & 9, right front pins 5 & 6, left rear pins 3 & 2, right rear pins 11 & 12 

 

 

"B" is looking into the connector 

Arh, this looks interesting, just where will I find this connector, under the bonnet or what?

[nige8021]

Under the bonnet on passenger side on the rear bulkhead 

[Stubod]

On 08/04/2022 at 23:20, StevesTruck said:

 

I'd suspect driver's side front wheel then, it feeds the wheel speed back to the ECU for that sort of thing on most VAG's. 

 

..turned out to be the nearside rear...cost about £180 including 1.5hrs labour at our friendly local garage......apparently he has done 4 wheel sensors today!, (not all Yeti's)...

[IndomitableSnowman]

Have just had an ABS sensor fail on our 2014 L&K 4x4 1.8.

The NSR made the dash light up like Christmas and I was able to look at the fault codes with OBDeleven.

First new sensor (Pagid) from Europarts didn't solve the issue, so I thought it may be the reluctor band on the hub.

Bit the bullet and got a different (& more expensive) Bosch sensor as it stated it was for the self parking option which we have.

This sensor cure the problem and I was able to clear all the codes away.

 

Difference between the new sensors was down to resistance. The Pagid was 0.727 MOhm whilst the Bosch was 0.515 MOhm. The failed sensor showed as no continuity

 

I'd suggest going off the resistance from a working sensor on the same axle and then buy accordingly.

[B33fy]

7 hours ago, IndomitableSnowman said:

Have just had an ABS sensor fail on our 2014 L&K 4x4 1.8.

The NSR made the dash light up like Christmas and I was able to look at the fault codes with OBDeleven.

First new sensor (Pagid) from Europarts didn't solve the issue, so I thought it may be the reluctor band on the hub.

Bit the bullet and got a different (& more expensive) Bosch sensor as it stated it was for the self parking option which we have.

This sensor cure the problem and I was able to clear all the codes away.

 

Difference between the new sensors was down to resistance. The Pagid was 0.727 MOhm whilst the Bosch was 0.515 MOhm. The failed sensor showed as no continuity

 

I'd suggest going off the resistance from a working sensor on the same axle and then buy accordingly.

Good shout.. Just sorted the exact same problem. Took a while to get the right sensor with the motor factors sending a few. It wasn’t helped by the old one working intermittently, falsely indicating a possible wiring issue. We checked the resistance on the working sensor and road tested with the live values showing on the fault reader. Without checking all the resistances I think the front are different to the back and are not interchangeable. 

[Cornish_Lad]

My friendly VW Master Technician told me that it always usually the rear ones that fail.

When one of mine failed, my dashboard ws lit up like a Xmas tree, and my Yeti also dropped into limp mode 😞

£170 seem about right - I paid £220 odd inc a new set of rear pads, and a wheel hub which had to be replaced at the same time.
 

[Dylanben]

My OSR went first and I have just had the same problem on the NSR. Luckily I have a Skoda Indy just up the road and gave him a bit of business. I don't pretend to understand the technical aspects of the issue but understand that it was caused by corrosion on the wheel bearing which was fouling the sensor. It's a bit of an irony that we're having to fork out good money on faulty safety systems. Since this happened I dread turning the ignition on! 

[Hutch528]

Took car for MoT (UK) and service, during which two tyres were replaced.  On getting the car back, car gave an 'Error Tyre Pressure Loss Indicator' warning, though initially it was a tyre pressure issue, (pressures checked then reset), only for the warning to reappear along with the following in quick succession

 

Error Start Stop System

Error Cornering Light (AFS)

Error ABS/stabilisation control (ESC)

Error Hill Hold Assist

Front Assist not available

 

Now, assume it's the sensor failure that others are discussing above, however questions are:

 

1.  Any idea which wheel sensor it would be and

2.  How likely is it that the sensor was damaged by the garage when the wheels were taken off