[xk8] ABS Light Saga

About 18 months ago, I started getting the dreaded ABS Light (with
Trac and ASC not available - 2000 XK8). I cleaned the connectors
at the wheel sensors and applied some conducting grease to the
pins. The problem went away.

Recently, I started getting the lights again. This time, cleaning
the sensors did no good. So I took my ABS module apart. To my
surprise the solder joints to the ABS motor were shiny bright. No
problem there. Replaced the module and the problem persisted.

I was ready for a trip to the dealer to have my codes read. Then I
remembered something. When I would first start the car, I would
have the ABS light (probably a hangover from the previous time it
was tripped). I would then drive off and the ABS light would go
out at about 15 mph (I beleive this is normal). And the lights
would stay off until I pulled into the Home Depot parking lot (this
had been happening consistently for many of my typical springtime
trips to HD). Then it occurred to me that, on every trip to HD, I
would make about four left turns, then the light would come on when
I made my first RIGHT turn.

So I did a little test drive where I would make about six left
turns (no light) then a right turn (light would come on). The
behavior was the same on three consecutive test drives. I began to
suspect the problem had something to do with a wheel sensor. So I
switched the two front wheel sensors to see if the light would
start coming on on left turns. In fact, now that the sensors are
switched, I get no light, regardless of the direction of turn.

My suspicion is that there are two problems (1) one of my wheel
sensors is getting weak and (2)my front wheel bearings are getting
a little slopply (At 110,000 miles they have never been changed,
but I hear no unusual noise and feel no slack).

In any case, I am convinced that my ABS light is related to a wheel
sensor and not to the module. I wonder how many people have
replaced wheel sensors. Perhaps 10 years is about the extent of
their service life. I found a junk yard that will sell me a few
for a small fraction of their new cost. So I may pick one up and
do some further experimentation.–
Glen - 69 E-type OTS, 2000 XK8, 59 MGA
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In reply to a message from Glen Jarboe sent Wed 28 Apr 2010:

When I kept getting the lights I did all the research, cleaned the
sensor connectors and was about to take the module apart when the
problem went away. That was about a year ago.

One thing that turned up in my research was that the sensors rarely
fail but the wiring that goes to each one is a weak point. They are
apparently short lengths that plug into the main harness when they
enter the car interior. I didn’t investigate further as all started
working ok but I would think it a fairly simple task to check
continuity by unplugging both ends and move them around with a
meter across them.

Weak battery of course is often the other culprit.–
The original message included these comments:

About 18 months ago, I started getting the dreaded ABS Light (with
Trac and ASC not available - 2000 XK8). I cleaned the connectors
at the wheel sensors and applied some conducting grease to the


2001 XK8 Sapphire Blue, ex-X300 owner
Cholsey, United Kingdom
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In reply to a message from Glen Jarboe sent Wed 28 Apr 2010:

I have found that a weak battery will cause the ABS/
ASC/DSC light(s) to come on. If one of XKs sits for a
couple weeks without being driven, the light WILL come on.
I would start with checking the battery.

Dave Christensen
97 XK8 Coupe
05 XK8 Convertible
65 Etype OTS
69 Etype OTS–
David Christensen, Fallbrook, (N. San Diego) CA
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In reply to a message from Glen Jarboe sent Wed 28 Apr 2010:

Update on my ABS problem. Although temporarily fixed, the problem
recurred, again only on right turns.I swapped the sensors rear to
front but no luck. I continued to believe that the problem might
be wheel bearings.

Then, this morning, I started the car and the light came on
immediately, before I even moved. I also noticed that I had parked
with the wheels cocked to the right. A little experimentation
revealed that, even sitting still, if I turned the wheel within a
half turn of the righthand lock, the light would illuminate. That
seemd to rule out the wheel bearings.

So I hooked up an ohmeter to end of the the connector wire the goes
into the engine compartment (mounted on the right hand wheel well -
it contains a red and a white wire. I read about 1150 ohms through
full travel of the steering wheel, right up to half turn from the
RH lock, where the ohmeter went to infinity.

I could not duplicate the open connection by wiggling or bending
the cable at the sensor, only by turning the steering wheel near
its RH lock.

So I fabricated a pair of wires to connect the ABS sensor to the
engine compartment connector. Finally, I stopped getting the light.

I picked up the connector cable at a junkyard and, finally, I am
able to drive without the annoying warnings. I am still not sure
what is the matter with the wiring. It looks fine, although the
shrink tubing at the ABS sensor is cracked and deteriorated. But
the red and white wires look fine. I suspect the intermittent
loose connection is inside the yellow plug.–
The original message included these comments:

Recently, I started getting the lights again. This time, cleaning
the sensors did no good. So I took my ABS module apart. To my
My suspicion is that there are two problems (1) one of my wheel
sensors is getting weak and (2)my front wheel bearings are getting
a little slopply (At 110,000 miles they have never been changed,


Glen - 69 E-type OTS, 2000 XK8, 59 MGA
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
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