I have read a few articles about possible causes for this issue, but I still have a few questions. I know a broken wheel speed sensor can cause the ABS and parking brake light to come on, but wouldn’t that also mean my speedometer wouldn’t work? Sometimes turning the truck off and back on temporarily fixes the problem. Also, I don’t know if this is related, but my rear axle seal is leaking. Could that be part of the issue? Any info is better than no info. Thanks for your help!
It’s possible that the speed sensor is faulty but not entirely gone, which is why your Speedo might still work. It could also be a wiring issue—sometimes just resetting the truck can cause the ABS system to reset temporarily. If the rear axle seal is leaking, it could affect the sensor if gear oil is getting into places it shouldn’t be.
@Rin
That makes sense, I hadn’t considered the oil possibly interfering with the sensor. I’ll check the wiring as well to see if anything looks off. Thanks for the insight!
Yeah, a leaking rear axle seal can definitely cause issues with your ABS sensor if the oil is contaminating the brakes or sensor area. Get that leak fixed sooner rather than later. It’s possible the ABS is detecting the difference in wheel speed from oil messing with the sensor.
@Vail
Good to know, thanks. I’ll prioritize getting the leak fixed first and see if that resolves the issue.
Check the ABS module as well, man. These trucks are known for having ABS module issues, especially after 100k miles. Sometimes they’ll act up intermittently, which might explain why restarting the truck temporarily clears the lights.
@Tate
I’ve heard that before about the ABS modules on these trucks. Do you think it’s worth trying to replace it or get it rebuilt?
Baylen said:
@Tate
I’ve heard that before about the ABS modules on these trucks. Do you think it’s worth trying to replace it or get it rebuilt?
Depends on your budget. Rebuilding is usually cheaper and a lot of people have had good success with it. If you go the replacement route, just make sure it’s from a reliable supplier.
Don’t forget to check the brake fluid level. Low fluid can trigger the brake light, even though it’s separate from the ABS system. It’s an easy thing to overlook.
Hart said:
Don’t forget to check the brake fluid level. Low fluid can trigger the brake light, even though it’s separate from the ABS system. It’s an easy thing to overlook.
I’ll check that too, appreciate the reminder!
Rear axle seal leak might be a bigger deal than you think. If oil is getting onto the brake pads or drum, it could mess with braking efficiency and trigger the lights. ABS sensors are sensitive to any kind of interference.
@Dru
I’ll definitely be getting the seal fixed ASAP then. Didn’t realize how much it could impact the sensors.