abs / awd light came on, swapped with new sensor, still got the light..

[apollo18]

2 weeks ago, I was driving my 2014 Acura RDX and everything was fine. However, when I stopped to get groceries and returned to my vehicle, I noticed a strange humming noise coming from the right front wheel. I didn’t think much of it since the car still drove fine, but then the ABS briefly kicked in, which shouldn’t have happened, especially since I was only going about 5 mph leaving the parking lot. Then, all of a sudden, the dashboard lit up like a Christmas tree, with warning lights for AWD, power steering, traction control, ABS, etc. I don’t recall hitting anything, and I’m not sure what caused it.

The vehicle drove fine however. There was no harm grinding noise or anything scary. Over the past 2 week, I tested voltage and the battery was fine, also have unplugged battery and probably driven 150 miles and the dash lights are still there. I stopped at autozone and oreilly and it gave me the same code, "front right wheel speed sensor install error" so i got a brand new sensor from acura and got it installed over the weekend. while at auto store, they tested alternator and battery and all was fine. the old sensor looked fine and i installed the new oem one. i have done a few power cycles and driven like 20 miles but the light is still on

does that mean i have to change the whole wheel hub/bearing as that is where the sensor is installed into? or could something else randomly be the culprit?

thank you

 

[D60]

Obviously wiring up to the sensor plug should be considered.

If this is an....active?.....(the terminology escapes my feeble brain) sensor it can be very difficult to test. Usually the easiest way there is to parts cannon a new sensor, which you did.

So it's likely wiring OR your description of noises is troubling. It may have been the ABS pump as they'll make "growling" noises. But I'm wondering about the tone ring in the hub assy. Was there any metal powder or shavings?

 

[Bladecutter]

2 weeks ago, I was driving my 2014 Acura RDX and everything was fine.
However, when I stopped to get groceries and returned to my vehicle, I noticed a strange humming noise coming from the right front wheel. I didn’t think much of it since the car still drove fine, but then the ABS briefly kicked in, which shouldn’t have happened, especially since I was only going about 5 mph leaving the parking lot.
Then, all of a sudden, the dashboard lit up like a Christmas tree, with warning lights for AWD, power steering, traction control, ABS, etc.
I don’t recall hitting anything, and I’m not sure what caused it.

Does that mean i have to change the whole wheel hub/bearing as that is where the sensor is installed into?
or could something else randomly be the culprit?

How rusty is your car?
Sounds like your hub bearing has died, and that's where the tone ring that the sensor picks up the actual wheel speed from has bit the dust.

If you have a scan tool, you can probably see this by spinning the wheel by hand.

The only other possibility is damaged wiring between the sensor and the ABS unit.
Mice or other rodents an issue where you live?
Car ever been in an accident?

 

[apollo18]

Obviously wiring up to the sensor plug should be considered.

If this is an....active?.....(the terminology escapes my feeble brain) sensor it can be very difficult to test. Usually the easiest way there is to parts cannon a new sensor, which you did.

So it's likely wiring OR your description of noises is troubling. It may have been the ABS pump as they'll make "growling" noises. But I'm wondering about the tone ring in the hub assy. Was there any metal powder or shavings?

truth be told i didn't really look into the hub assy, just thought sensor went bad. the 'hum/groan/ noise only happens for the first 2 seconds after car has been sitting for a while. i think its acura way of trying to engage system and then it fails so the codes go off

 

[apollo18]

How rusty is your car?
Sounds like your hub bearing has died, and that's where the tone ring that the sensor picks up the actual wheel speed from has bit the dust.

If you have a scan tool, you can probably see this by spinning the wheel by hand.

The only other possibility is damaged wiring between the sensor and the ABS unit.
Mice or other rodents an issue where you live?
Car ever been in an accident?

normal rusty, nothing too bad. the old sensor came out super easy. vehicle was located most of its life in PA.

no car accidents and i don't know about any mice or rodents sadly!

i appreciate the help tho, if it is the tone ring/hub bearing i guess that means i need a new wheel bearing / hub?

ty

 

[Trav]

I believe this one uses a front wheel bearing with a separate wheel hub, the encoder ring is in the bearing itself and has probably failed, I suspect the bearing is not far behind. If you diy this you must make sure the ring is facing the sensor.

 

[apollo18]

I believe this one uses a front wheel bearing with a separate wheel hub, the encoder ring is in the bearing itself and has probably failed, I suspect the bearing is not far behind. If you diy this you must make sure the ring is facing the sensor.

thank you very much, if it isn't wiring and it is the bearing, is it better to just buy a aftermarket bearing/hub assembly? or just get a bearing and have a mechanic install it

on diff vehicles it was always easier to get the hub/bearing assembly but not sure how honda/acuras are

 

[Bladecutter]

Depends on you and what tools you have on hand.
Here's a video of a 2013 getting its hub bearing assembly replaced:

 

[JavierH19]

Humming sound? time for a new hub assembly. Only use high quality brands for wheel bearings. Don't bother with cheap junk been there done that. Get the best hub you can.

 

[apollo18]

Humming sound? time for a new hub assembly. Only use high quality brands for wheel bearings. Don't bother with cheap junk been there done that. Get the best hub you can.

i dont think the bearing is bad tbh. like i hear a electric hum for the first 2 seconds of driving and then it goes away, right when that noise goes away the dashboard lights up again like a xmas tree. i think when i power off my vehicle the codes kinda clear then when i start it again, it starts to engage the systems and thats why i get a 2 second hum noise, and then when it fails the self test, it makes the dashboard light up and then the hum goes away. ive driven like 150 miles and get no bearing noise as far as i know!

sadly it seems like theres not many aftermarket brands for this vehicle, is there some goto brands? i checked rockauto and all i see for the front is delco or wjb

 

[D60]

i dont think the bearing is bad tbh. like i hear a electric hum for the first 2 seconds of driving and then it goes away, right when that noise goes away the dashboard lights up again like a xmas tree. i think when i power off my vehicle the codes kinda clear then when i start it again, it starts to engage the systems and thats why i get a 2 second hum noise, and then when it fails the self test, it makes the dashboard light up and then the hum goes away. ive driven like 150 miles and get no bearing noise as far as i know!

sadly it seems like theres not many aftermarket brands for this vehicle, is there some goto brands? i checked rockauto and all i see for the front is delco or wjb

OEM looks like maybe $250 at acurapartswarehouse. No idea if this seller is reliable

 

[apollo18]

OEM looks like maybe $250 at acurapartswarehouse. No idea if this seller is reliable

yeah that may be the way, going to test my luck and inspect the wiring.

any idea if front right wheel speed sensor should wire directly into engine bay?

 

[zzyzzx]

Obviously wiring up to the sensor plug should be considered.

THIS!!!!!

And it's always the front right, because you turn the wheel harder to the right and it flexes the ABS wire more and eventually it becomes and open circuit there. I tried splicing in a segment of wire to fix mine and it lasted maybe a year. Then I replaced the harness piece.

 

[apollo18]

THIS!!!!!

And it's always the front right, because you turn the wheel harder to the right and it flexes the ABS wire more and eventually it becomes and open circuit there. I tried splicing in a segment of wire to fix mine and it lasted maybe a year. Then I replaced the harness piece.

thank you, i gave it a brief eye yesterday and it all seemed fine. since the sensor is new now i doubt the issue is from there, will inspect the connector and then trace the wire up and see if i find anything. however its all wrapped up so will have to see if i can hopeuflly find the issue easily

 

[zzyzzx]

thank you, i gave it a brief eye yesterday and it all seemed fine. since the sensor is new now i doubt the issue is from there, will inspect the connector and then trace the wire up and see if i find anything. however its all wrapped up so will have to see if i can hopeuflly find the issue easily

Remove the wire loom protector (plastic outer part) and just feel along the wire.

 

[notharry]

thank you very much, if it isn't wiring and it is the bearing, is it better to just buy a aftermarket bearing/hub assembly? or just get a bearing and have a mechanic install it

on diff vehicles it was always easier to get the hub/bearing assembly but not sure how honda/acuras are

I found that OEM or NTN SKF BSA or simlar is the only way. It ends up a continuous replacement with others. Sure they are X more ( insert a number) bottom line what is the labor worth? What is the down time worth? What is the inconveiniene factor?? A few hundred does not really matter if its once and done.

 

[apollo18]

ty updated

bought a bca wheel bearing that had a ntn bearing inside. ntn is what i got off the oem honda pics for my wheel bearing so i assume ntn makes the bearing oem for my car

installed it, works great, have driven over 1500 miles so far and no issues so far

 

[notharry]

Good man apollo18. BCA is a NTN brand. NTN Supplies more than 30% of the wheel bearing for the OEM North America market. I Have them myself.

 

[Bladecutter]

installed it, works great, have driven over 1500 miles so far and no issues so far

Were you able to install it yourself, or did you farm out the job to someone else?
Great job, either way, and congrats on getting your car back to perfect.

 

[JamesBond]

Thanks for updating the thread with your solution. I’m glad you got it fixed.