Subaru ABS Speed Sensor Circuit Distrotion

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Steve Smith
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Subaru ABS Speed Sensor Circuit Distrotion

Post by Steve Smith »

A shout out for help as I have been pulling my hair out on this one for some time.

To cut a long story short I have been looking at an ABS issue with a Subaru Legacy for a colleague here at Pico, details below:

Make – Subaru
Model – Legacy SE
Year – 2005
Engine Size – 2457cc
Engine Code – 056542
Model Code – BP9
Chassis Number – JF1BP9KK44G007376
4WD – Yes
Mileage –99000

My tests have been carried out occasionally over lunch times and any additional time I can find during early mornings or late afternoons.

The issue surrounds ABS pump operation when the rear of the vehicle rides over speed humps, the ABS will operate the pump for up to 3 seconds and then revert to normal operation.

A fault code scan initially revealed Code C0115 only which refers to “Wheel Speed Sensor”.
The code seldom appears and the ABS light does not illuminate to indicate a fault. (ABS warning light is normal at engine start)

As the rear of the vehicle rides over speed humps, noise/distortion is present throughout the ABS speed sensor circuits (voltage) front and rear.
The noise is not so apparent in the ABS speed sensor current
This event may or may not be accompanied with ABS pump operation.

The image below highlights the brief period of ABS signal distortion prior to pump operation
ABS Speed Signal Distrotion
ABS Speed Signal Distrotion
TEST 1 ROADTEST ALT DISCON.psdata
ABS Speed signal distortion psdata file
(1.44 MiB) Downloaded 863 times
I believe there is sufficient reduction in the rear speed signal frequency to initiate ABS solenoid and then pump operation, but I cannot prove why!
ABS Speed Signal Noise
ABS Speed Signal Noise
NSR WHEEL SPEED SIGNAL.psdata
NSR Speed signal voltage and current
(1.9 MiB) Downloaded 877 times
Road wheels and tyres are correct, rear brakes do not drag/bind, ABS sensor wiring secure and routed correctly.
G sensor signal wire valid between 2.34 V to 2.8 V depending on posture of vehicle on road test.
Parking brake correctly adjusted and rear wheel bearing “play” is zero

My thought now move to the 4WD system and the distribution of drive to the rear wheels.

Any help, advice, assistance or feedback would be most welcome and allow me to sleep once more


Take care………Steve

steevegt
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Re: Subaru ABS Speed Sensor Circuit Distrotion

Post by steevegt »

Could't it be from worn shocks or bad springs?

Going over a speed bump, even if the car stays in the same linear speed, the up and down motion of the wheels will change the relative wheel speed momentarily. If the shocks are worn, and the up and down amplitude is higher, could't it fool the ABS module that the wheels are binding or dragging?

Just a guess...

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STC
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Re: Subaru ABS Speed Sensor Circuit Distrotion

Post by STC »

Hi Steve

I'm on a tablet at the moment so cannot open the PS Data Files. I do have a clear view of the snapshots in the thread.

I have seen a couple of ABS Sensor Issues that were labelled as unsolvable in the past. I have one that is on-going now. None are Suburu's

A Ford Galaxy that would throw an OSF WSS fault, mostly when turning left. This car had a new ABS Controller, Countless Wheel Sensors, Wheel Bearing with Phase Wheel & the Powershift Gearbox rebuilt.

I was on that car for hours at a time over 3 days, Load testing, driving, scoping ......

I pulled the loom to bits, even the part in the wheel arch that is insulated in Silicon rubber very carefully with a scalpel.

I then cut the original wires at both ends and ran new wires in parallel (twisted them first with a drill) to the loom and gave up - well nearly !

Then, I'm not sure why, I then routed my new twisted pair across the front under the slam panel (rather than in the engine loom) and then back to the ABS controller. Fixed - I live to tell the tale, Just have no clue how !!! Interference ??

The Other was a Reluctor / Phase Wheel with a hairline crack. I read the post through again and saw no mention of that being checked.


We know that the Engine ECU will ignore "Bumpy" signals from CKP when It is sure form ABS that the car is being driven on rough ground. - Maybe not the answer but could be put into the equation ?

Steve Smith
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Re: Subaru ABS Speed Sensor Circuit Distrotion

Post by Steve Smith »

Thank you so much for the feedback.

I know the feeling well (3 days on a particular fault)

There is just something inside that will not allow you to "let it go". Its like admitting defeat.

I believe the ABS is responding as expected to a reduction in wheel speed and so I have been chasing a symptom rather than the fault!

The image below indicates 4 x wheel speeds as the vehicle rides the speed humps (Freq Maths channels applied to all four inputs)
4 x Wheel Speed signals over speed hump
4 x Wheel Speed signals over speed hump
The front wheels see minimal reduction in wheel speed, where the rears see a drop of 15 Hz in 30 ms.
Could this be the criteria in which the ABS determines imminent wheel lock? (At this low road speed)

Once again the scope reveals in depth information about the opertaion of components that there is simply no data to compare with. (No manufacturer specification)

The suspension ride height I had not considered and I must confess the rear of the vehicle is looking "tired"
It has been a towing vehicle and its posture does "sit down" towards the rear when unladen.

Could this be an issue with the adhesion of the wheel to the speed hump during such momentary suspension deflection? (Poor damping)

I am going to experiment with Tyre pressures and then see how I could increase ride height during testing.

Thank you again so much and rest assured I will feedback

Take care.......Steve

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Re: Subaru ABS Speed Sensor Circuit Distrotion

Post by STC »

The front wheels see minimal reduction in wheel speed, where the rears see a drop of 15 Hz in 30 ms.
Could this be the criteria in which the ABS determines imminent wheel lock? (At this low road speed)
Indeed there is no need for ABS to do anthing at low such low road speeds, but that does not mean it wont. It does have a mind of its own (Well that of the Bloke / Chick that wrote the software) You will know as we all do, that overlooking an unreasonable theory has the potential to come back and bite you - Hard !!!
Let's face it, both rear VSS's are showing a similar variation in frequency (one dips a tad more). Unlikely they are telling the same lies.
Could this be an issue with the adhesion of the wheel to the speed hump during such momentary suspension deflection? (Poor damping)
I am going to experiment with Tyre pressures and then see how I could increase ride height during testing.
Not Sure how Increasing Ride Height will help, unless you put new springs and shocks on it ?

If it is an adhesion issue, tyre pressures ? Lowering them would help and/or putting some weight in the back ?? Easier and quicker to achieve too.

The front ones do have the unfair advantage of an engine holding them down.

Dcunning35
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Re: Subaru ABS Speed Sensor Circuit Distrotion

Post by Dcunning35 »

Hi please forgive me if I've missed something out of the thread but I'm viewing this on my phone , I would go with the theory of this being mechanical as you suspect differing roadspeeds between axles and in relation too steering angles etc.
If you can check the geometry to ensure there is sufficient tyre footprint on the road I've seen this a lot with the focus st and rs due to bush deterioration.
Danny

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Mark Dalton
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Re: Subaru ABS Speed Sensor Circuit Distrotion

Post by Mark Dalton »

Hi Steve.
Is the driver the original owner reporting an issue that was never there before or is (s)he reporting an issue they noticed after they took ownership of the car? I've seen something similar on a different make and model where the ABS would activate at fairly low speed when the front tyres crossed gutters into driveways. It needed to be just the right conditions for it to occur, but but the ABS activation was unexpected at that speed over those bumps, but the ABS obviously saw it as an issue. Does the issue occur over any and every speed hump at any speed. Can you drive it so only one wheel goes over the speed bump.
Although a thought just occurs to me, is this with the brake pedal pressed? Are we talking an ABS issue or Traction Control issue.

Steve Smith
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Re: Subaru ABS Speed Sensor Circuit Distrotion

Post by Steve Smith »

Thank you again for the continued interest and patience for feedback.

I have continued to pursue this issue and experimented with tyre arrangement and pressures etc. but to no avail.

However I do have a break through!

To answerer a few questions above, the vehicle drives fine, tyre wear is normal (both now and with the previous tyres). Suspension is low at the rear but I no longer believe adhesion or tyre “contact” to be an issue.

Coming onto your question Mark, the owner has reported the issue since purchase and so we are not clear if this has been an issue for some years! (No contact with previous owner)

I say this also because of the noise visible during ABS pump operation. (This ABS has seen unusually high activity)

As pure luck would have it (for the first time) I drove the car at speed (70 mph) whilst monitoring wheel speeds via serial data.

To my alarm the ABS light illuminates continually after approx. 15 seconds of road speeds above 60 mph! Fault codes reveal “Wheel Speed Sensor C0115” once again but no further description.

The breakthrough however was the difference in front and rear wheel speeds at approx. 70 mph.

My data list revealed front wheel speeds at 68 mph, rear wheel speeds at 62 mph! The higher the road speed the greater the difference between front and rear wheel speeds (using serial data)
Average Road Speed via serial data
Average Road Speed via serial data

How is this possible? (Wheels and tyres are most certainly the same diameter)

Thank you to Alan here who suggested confirming the number of teeth on each ABS pick-up ring (Front and Rear)

Using the optical sensor kit with a “pick-up” placed at a strategic point about the road wheel, a trigger could be generated for PicoScope to denote one revolution of the road wheel.
Optical Sensor kit
Optical Sensor kit
The pulses from each ABS pick-up ring were counted (for one revelation of the road wheel) to reveal a considerable difference between front and rear wheels!

Front ABS pick up ring has 48 teeth, Rear ABS pick up ring has 44 teeth.
Front ABS Pick up ring 48 teeth
Front ABS Pick up ring 48 teeth
Rear ABS Pick up ring 44 teeth
Rear ABS Pick up ring 44 teeth
Given the rotational speeds of all wheels should be equal in a straight line, I can now see why the ABS views such a difference between front and rear road wheel speeds.

This must have been an issue for a long time and supports what we know from the current owner (fault evident since purchase)

The suspension and drive train looks to be original (Front and Rear) and so this leads me back to software.

If the ABS controller can be configured for a variety of vehicles (and I believe it can) it looks like either we have the incorrect software or incorrect ABS controller (Which also looks original)

Any feedback would be most welcome once again.

Take care…….Steve

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STC
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Re: Subaru ABS Speed Sensor Circuit Distrotion

Post by STC »

Thinking out loud here. My Mental Health is still in the process of recovery :D :D :D :D
How is this possible? (Wheels and tyres are most certainly the same diameter)
Some vehicles would have different tyre sizes front to rear. But then
Fault codes reveal “Wheel Speed Sensor C0115” once again but no further description.
Does that code refer to just one sensor ??? and more importantly
front wheel speeds at 68 mph, rear wheel speeds at 62 mph!
Then the rear wheel circumferences & diameters would have to be larger than the fronts (to cause that fault). Then follows smaller wheel/tyre combination would bring it into line - Electronically? It would look like a Penny Farthing. Unlikely to be that.
rear wheel speeds at 62 mph!
I have read that as an average speed, will your tool give individual wheel speeds

Do both fronts and both rears have the same number of teeth ?
and so this leads me back to software.
The drama here is that you have one wheel flagging an error at low speeds over a bump then rears out at 70mph with no errors in-between. If I have digested this correctly. ??

I have seen ABS rings with hairline cracks, but they always play up at speed, in theory they could going over a bump too.

Steve Smith
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Re: Subaru ABS Speed Sensor Circuit Distrotion

Post by Steve Smith »

Thank you again for the continued interest.

Just a quick update on the progress again

In a nutshell we have 48 ABS Pick Up teeth front and 44 rear.

Thank you to Kevin at Ives Garage for this next tip.

I transposed the wiring for both LH sensors (Front to Rear and vice versa)

The live serial data now reports a lower wheel speed for the front LH and a higher wheel speed for the Rear LH.
Data list with transposed sensor wiring
Data list with transposed sensor wiring
This confirms the ABS controller to be reading the frequencies from the pick-up rings at face value.
There is no amendment to the frequency value (viewed by the serial tool) for the number of teeth on each pick up ring.

The conclusion therefore to date is we have the incorrect ABS controller / incorrect software or, incorrect rear pick up rings.

Another cry for help for Subaru input if anyone out there can connect me?

I have tried to cross reference the data I can see on the Bosch ABS/Modulator assembly in an attempt to verify the fitment of the ABS unit to this vehicle but no joy!.

The only I.D evident (on the ABS modulator) is a bar code label with the following number: 476 L2 270903 085

Any feedback is always welcome

Take care.......Steve

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