I have a 2002 Pontiac Grand Am, and my mechanic has told me that the front passenger ABS wire harness is damaged causing the ABS, Traction Control, and Service Vehicle lights to come on. I have been looking around and this seems like a job that I can do myself with the right tools. Does anyone know of a step-by-step guide for doing this job and/or a wiring diagram for the wheel hub? Also, do I actually need to remove the hub in order to replace the sensor wires.
Thank you,
FlynFast
PS: I already know that the speed control sensor and the wheel hub are one part on this vehicle, but I am just interested in the wire harness.
That all depends on which side of the harness it’s on, and where the wires are damaged.
If the damage is not on the hub side, you might be able to get to it without removing the hub and wire in a new connector. If it’s on the hub side, it’ll be nearly impossible to replace the wires without removing it, and if the wires are damaged right where they enter the hub, it’s unlikely you will be able to fix it without replacing the hub since the speed sensor is sunken inside the hub housing, with no direct access to it.
As for step by step, I would suggest a repair manual for the car, they’ll give you a detailed guide on removing the hub.
From the top of my head: remove wheel, remove brake caliper and hang so brake hose is not stressed, remove brake disc, remove center hub bolt, remove 3 bolts in rear, disconnect ABS connector, detach CV shaft from hub, carefully remove hub to avoid ripping ABS wires off. Repairing the wires is a case of finding the break and soldering in new wires to the connector.
The center hub will require a specialty socket, somewhere around 36 mm or 38 mm. I’m not sure if rust is a problem there, but when I did this I needed a puller to detach the CV shaft from the hub. A torque wrench with a high limit (>200 ft*lb, I think) will also be needed to retorque the center nut (torque spec varies depending on whether you have a solid nut or a sheet metal enclosed “nut pack”).
And the big socket may need to be 12 point, as mine does.
I agree that either a manual or at the very least a complete procedure from the dealer’s parts guy will be an essential tool in removing the hub successfully. That’d also provide the holding bolt torque values, which usually are about 24ft/lbs, not as high as you might think.