Truck help please

[Hopalong]

What a fun start to my day.  I go to take the girls to school this morning and what do I get greeted by?  A tree limb laying in the dive way.  O.k.  Fine.  Move the tree limb.  Start my truck and the ABS and Brake lights stay on.  Great.  Brakes feel o.k. backing up.  Parking brake is off.  Hmmm...  Maybe it's just low on fluid.  Start driving the girls to school.....Why isn't the speedometer working?  Ooo look, the Check Engine light came on too!  Drives o.k. though.  Drop of the kids and go to Advance Auto to borrow their scan tool.  It hooks up o.k. but won't talk to the computer.  No talky = no codes.  Now what?

[MEK-Dangerfield]

What year truck? What make?

  It is probably some sensor that has gone to heaven. Don't you love electronics? 



  Mike

[CrazyPete]

try the 5 key turn trick and see if you can get the codes out yourself.  I had an issue with the CEL light on my 94 years ago.  I even went to the dealer and had it scanned they found no codes either but i did the 5 key turn trick(turn the ign. key 5 times and it'll flash you the numbers for the code and then you just look them up on the list) and i found out my O2 sensor was bad.  Give me a ring ive got a haynes book you can borrow if you need it.

[ntstlgl1970]

  with MEK, without a year/make/model, we are dead in the water

a code reader doesn't do ABS codes unless it sets a powertrain code for a shared component like a VSS or something, same deal with the ignition turn trick

[Travis72]

If it's a Dodge truck, I'd be willing to be it's the Vehicle Speed Sensor (VSS) like ntstlgl1970 said.  It's a 15 - 25 dollar sensor on the rear diff that when it goes, it causes the symptoms you described.  It's a common failure.

Travis
72 Cuda

[Hopalong]

Sorry guys, it's a 98 Ram with a 5.9 litre (gas) and a automatic.  2 wheel drive if that matters also.  I could see the speed sensor causing the problems, but why wouldn't that trip a code?  Or did it and the guy at Advanced just had a funky scanner.

[dukeboy_318]

early 98 ecus were junk, motorola built them cheap and they often times went stupid and would trip all kinds of caution lites, speep sensing problems u name it, there was even a recall on them because so many went out in the first few months,  the computer wouldn't even show codes when plugged into a scanner.  if it was built before august of 98 and does not have the recall data on the sticker on the core support, than that could be the problem.

[ntstlgl1970]

do you know if it has rear wheel (RWAL) or 4 wheel antilock brakes? The fact the ABS light came one first would indicate it is in the ABS system. Once we know if it is RWAL or 4 Wheel antilock we can go from there.

[Hopalong]

Oh boy!  A new computer (possibly)!  I am not sure if it is all wheel or rear wheel anti-lock.  How do you tell?  I tried the 5 start trick but nothing happened.  I will look in the morning for build dates and any recall info.   

[CrazyPete]

yeah if its a 98 the 5 key thing wont work good luck

[Hopalong]

Bummer on the 5 key thing.  Where is the Speed Sensor located?  I've been going through my Haynes manual but have not found anything about a speed sensor.

[ntstlgl1970]

take a look at the two images, more than likely you have the RWAL system follow the lines from your master cylinder, they will go to a control module. The VSS is probably on the top of the differential, 2 wires going to it. If you want to throw a VSS at it that MIGHT fix it. The code reader at an auto parts store will not pull ABS codes on a chrysler, if trying the VSS doesn't fix it you might have to take it to a shop to get it repaired.

[Travis72]

Yeah I would try the speed sensor on the diff first.   This is from a different year, but it should look basically the same.

Travis
72 Cuda

[Hopalong]

Yeah, I fianally got it figured out.  I got the part ordered (speed sensor) and will probably wait till saturaday or sunday when I've got some time to work on it.

[71bigblock]

Aww man.  About a year ago I had my rear end go out on my '94.  I picked up a '98 rear axle, and threw away that sensor, I'm sure it worked fine.  I put my sensor in from the '94 (They werent the same) and threw it.  I thought about keeping it, but nah "No one's ever gonna need that thing"

Just curious, how much was the sensor?  Coulda saved you some bucks.