ABS & ETS

[Gough]

Hello,
I am hoping that someone can give me an idea of what could be wrong before I go to my dealer. I own a 1999, 4 door, with 63,000 kms. The problem is, when driving the "low Trac" light comes on for about three seconds. At the same time, I can hear the "popping" sound of the ABS brakes (even if I am at a complete stop). Immediately after, both ABS and ETS lights come on and stay on until I turn off the car and turn it back on. This occurs 98% of the time since 52,000km. My odometer also flickers or scrambles intermittently. Your reply is appreciated!

[GMMerlin]

Your ABS module has seen a fault in the system and has set a trouble code to help with diagnostics.
With the low trac light coming on first, I would say most likely you have a wheel speed sensor that is going bad

[GMMerlin]

The speedometer flickering is probally an internal cluster problem

[Phil056]

Anybody know where I could buy a wheel speed sensor for my 96? I've been trying to find one but to no avail? I've had this problem for a couple of months now.

Thanks,
Mine is the SE 2.2L

[crashdummybip]

Phil,

Have you tried your local gm/pontiac dealership for a wheel speed sensor? Even if they don't have one, they may be able to point you in the right direction.

[Phil056]

I was hoping to get one off the internet, but I'll head down to the dealership and order one. Can the new sensor be installed by me or will it be troublesome?

Thanks,
Phil

[crashdummybip]

Ok. Did a little research and here's what I got. People have been spending around $200 to get their wheel speed sensors fixed. Not sure if that's both or just one. I believe it is harder to replace yourself since I heard it deals also with the ABS system. If you want to know the location of the sensors, you can look in a Chilton's or Haynes Manual. They will help you if you want to replace them yourself too. They're available at pretty much any auto store. They're very handy to have just in case anything would happen to your car. I have a Chilton's and like it a whole lot, but my buddy has a Haynes and it seems that they have a better troubleshooting section. Anyways, before you spend money on these sensors, which I also saw ran about $85 a piece, I would go to Autozone. They do free scanning of your computer and see what codes you have stored. The ones dealing with the speed sensors should be PO500, PO501, PO502, and PO503. They'll tell you what the code is regardless. If you pick up a manual, they will be contained in there also. Another thing to look out for that people have been confusing with these sensors is bad harnesses for them.

[Phil056]

Thanks for the input, I'll look into the manuals and decide from there.

[puskarj]

Gough, I think you're experiencing intermittant electrical problems. How old is your battery? Are starts ever weak? I had an Eagle Talon that behaved similarly, it was a stick, and also it would sometimes buck wildly while the dash was flickering all over the place. Turned out to be a bad battery. One cell leaked and shorted, since it was a stick, the motor would continue to run but electrical functions were erratic and the alt. wasn't enough to power it all when running at highway speed.

Just thought I'd offer the possibility.

[wedmon]

i have the same problem, i bought the speed sensor at http://bbautoparts.com/ - they sell it for about 68$ including shiping

after i replaced it the ets light is still on (most of the time), but the abs light is not (most of the time), so i thing i have more problems than just a speed sensor

can anyone help?

[Slade901]

You might want to start by checking the wires for nicks and make sure the wire is not rubbing on any metal bare open.
Try pulling the ABS sensor wire connector from the ABS sensor and clean it and put some eletrical grease on those connector.

What about going to a junkyard and get it from there.

[donvalleysunfire]

Originally Posted by Gough

Hello,
I am hoping that someone can give me an idea of what could be wrong before I go to my dealer. I own a 1999, 4 door, with 63,000 kms. The problem is, when driving the "low Trac" light comes on for about three seconds. At the same time, I can hear the "popping" sound of the ABS brakes (even if I am at a complete stop). Immediately after, both ABS and ETS lights come on and stay on until I turn off the car and turn it back on. This occurs 98% of the time since 52,000km. My odometer also flickers or scrambles intermittently. Your reply is appreciated!

Holy crap! I have the exact same problem! Only mine is a 2000 Sunfire 4 door. This all started happening after 90,000 kms.

Is your radio not shutting off after you open the driver side door after you turn the car off? That's been happening since 85,000 kms.