Ford Ranger ABS acting strange

holabr
Tue, 05 Jun 2007 22:12:58 +0000
Maintenance/Repairs

I have a problem with the ABS system on my 2001 Ford Ranger. The ABS system intermittently activates when stopping on dry pavement. To diagnose the problem, my mechanic attached a Snap-On scan tool and drove the truck. The front wheel speed sensors and the rear axle sensor all indicate approximately the same speed. However, occasionally, when the speed gets below 4 mph, the ABS activates and the scan tool screen is totally blanked out. It’s as if some type of pulse is being sent back through the OBD II that zaps the scan tool. No code is recorded and the ABS dash light does NOT come on. My mechanic is at a loss, since he can not capture a code to diagnose the problem. He is suspecting some type of voltage spike but doesn’t know where or how to find it. He has checked the reluctor ring and can’t find anything wrong with it. Someone suggested to me that the front wheel bearings could be loose or bad causing the air gap to widen under certain turn or suspension travel conditions. I checked the shop manual and can’t find any reference to wheel bearings on a Ranger 4X4. What am I missing? Is the wheel bearing a likely cause? What else could be the cause?

12 posts - 6 participants