5 Signs of a Defective Engine/Wheel Speed Sensor

The very sensitive speed sensor in a car communicates with the computer systems to control the speed of the car. The element also has an impact on other factors, like fuel efficiency and how smoothly a car idles.

Due to the incorrect signals being sent, a faulty speed sensor will inevitably have an effect on all the places it interacts with and lead them to malfunction. For a car owner, this can be extremely perilous. When most automotive sensors malfunction, such as the speed sensor, the safety of the vehicle is typically affected.

Make sure to replace a malfunctioning speed sensor, if necessary, by looking online for car repairs near me garages and scheduling an appointment for your vehicle with a skilled car mechanic. Failure to replace the part could lead to further damages that are difficult to avoid.

Therefore, be sure to comprehend the signs of a malfunctioning speed sensor that will be discussed in this post and how to resolve the issues when they arise.

When a car's speed sensor is malfunctioning, it starts to exhibit certain unusual symptoms that catch the owner's eye.

However, it will be challenging to address the issues without comprehending the message these symptoms are trying to convey. Some common symptoms exhibited by a faulty speed sensor include the following:

1. Display of the Check Engine Light - Several vehicle engine issues can cause the Check Engine Light to come on, and one of the more frequent issues that can cause the Check Engine Light to come on is a defective wheel speed sensor. If the Check Engine, Traction Control, and ABS warning lights appear on your dashboard frequently, make sure to investigate what might be wrong by taking your car to a car maintenance near me garage so that an OBDII Scanner can be used to aid the mechanic in the diagnosis process.

2. Failure of the Cruise Control to Engage - The PCM will turn off the cruise control system if it does not receive any signal from the wheel speed sensor. As a result, if you find that your car's cruise control won't activate while you're driving, a malfunctioning wheel speed sensor may be to blame. Find car mechanics near me online, then schedule an appointment for a thorough diagnostic and any required repairs or part(s) replacement.

3. Inconsistent Speedometer Readings - The wheel speed sensor serves as a key input for the operation of the speedometer system in the majority of contemporary cars. In that case, the speed sensor's malfunction automatically affects the speedometer's ability to function properly. So, until the problematic wheel speed sensor is fixed, a car's speedometer will consistently show a false or erratic value. It can be highly dangerous, so make sure to repair this issue as soon as you detect it by making an appointment for your vehicle with a car service near me garage.

4. Transmission problems - The transmission system in a car uses the signal from the wheel speed sensor to time each gear change. The transmission mechanism won't be able to properly engage when the wheel speed sensor is unable to send the required signal. A faulty wheel speed sensor might cause the transmission to display symptoms including hard changing, delayed changing, and limited gear changing operations.

5. Inability of Torque Converter to Apply Clutch - The inability of the transmission to apply the clutch is another indication that a vehicle speed sensor is malfunctioning. When this occurs, there is no connection made between the transmission system and engine of the car. This problem may also result in slippage, an increase in fuel consumption, and transmission overheating. It is most likely that your car's wheel speed sensor has to be replaced if you have any of these issues.

How Speed Sensors Function and the Location

The purpose of the vehicle speed sensor is to gauge how quickly the gears in the transmission system rotate. The data is turned into an analogue or low voltage square wave signal after the measurement has been confirmed.

The vehicle's electronic control systems are then informed of the signal after it has been received. The electronic control units (ECU) then modify the transmission system, ABS module, and speedometer readings of the vehicle based on the message received from the signal.

Additionally, signals from the vehicle speed sensor control a car's cruise control system. A car won't be able to drive perfectly at the right pace on the road without these features. The vehicle speed sensor is a crucial part as a result.