Can A Wheel Speed Sensor Cause Limp Mode? (Simple Answer)

Your car is equipped with a wheel speed sensor, which plays an important role in detecting the speed of the car’s wheels. Moreover, it compiles this information to deliver it to the ABS and the ABS and ESP units via electrical signals.

Yes, If there is a faulty wheel speed sensor, then it can be the cause of triggering the limp mode in your car; a damaged wheel sensor can also lead to the loss of stability in a car and failed traction controls.

Can a wheel speed sensor cause limp mode
Can a wheel speed sensor cause limp mode?

The limp mode is a simple security feature in cars that get enabled as soon as the main systems of the car, such as transmission control, detect any kind of issue in your car.


Can a wheel speed sensor cause limp mode?

Yes, a faulty wheel speed sensor can cause the limp mode to trigger in a car; this mode triggers as soon as there is any issue detected by the engine or the ABS of the car. Moreover, it is a kind of safety mode that decreases the speed of the vehicle and simultaneously shuts down the non-important parts of the car, such as AC or weather control.

This happens because if there is any issue, then the ABS will disable the traction controls and the stability of the car. Not only that, but a faulty wheel speed sensor also disables data sent to the car’s control unit. It is never advised to drive a car not equipped with a proper working wheel speed sensor.

With a faulty wheel speed sensor comes an improper gear system, which can be seen if you are experiencing any delay in shifting the gears.

What happens when your wheel speed sensor goes out?

A faulty speed sensor can also lead to various other problems; here are some of the issues that might exist in your car if you have a faulty wheel speed sensor.

πŸš— Loss of stability

If your vehicle has a damaged wheel speed sensor, then this can cause the vehicle to lose its stability. This will happen as now there is no information being delivered to the ABS of the car, which helps the car brake and monitors the wheel moving pattern.

πŸš— Failing traction control

As the wheel speed sensors are not working properly, there will not be a transfer of correct information to the ABS o your car, resulting in loss of traction controls and eventually corrupting the TCS (Traction Control Unit ).

What happens when your wheel speed sensor goes out?
What happens when your wheel speed sensor goes out?

Not only that, but a fault in the wheel speed sensor can also cause problems in a car’s transmission system. The transmission system is responsible for changing the gears in a car; if the transmission system does not work properly, it can lead to other transmission problems. 

Here are some of the most common transmission problems that are caused by a faulty wheel speed sensor:

πŸš— Faulty gear operation

This can occur if your car has a faulty wheel speed sensor, as it will not flow the correct information about the speed of the wheel, so when you will try to upshift the gears or downshift it, there would be a failure in the shifting of the gears.


πŸš— Delay in shifting the gears


What are the signs of a bad wheel speed sensor?

Wheel speed sensors are an integral part of the working of a car. Maintaining these sensors and getting them checked as soon as you suspect something wrong with them is very important. Here are some of the common signs which will help you identify whether you have a bad wheel sensor or not.

What are the signs of a bad wheel speed sensor?
What are the signs of a bad wheel speed sensor?

πŸš— ABS light is on

The wheel control system of your car monitors the speed of the wheels along with the ABS, so if anything goes wrong with the wheel speed system, then it might be possible that your ABS light will illuminate, indicating you that something is wrong with the ABS (Anti-braking system).

πŸš— Traction control light is on

Traction control is responsible for maintaining the traction between the car’s wheels. This is done by processing the data from the wheel speed sensors, but if the wheel speed sensors are damaged, the traction control will not function properly; thus, the traction control light will come up.

πŸš— Improper functioning of ABS

This is one of the car’s most common symptoms of damaged wheel speed sensors. However, this is very easy to identify. Just notice the unusual working of the ABS in your car at the time of applying brakes. If it does, then it might be a possibility that it can be caused because of the faulty wheel speed sensor.

πŸš— Loss of stability

If you have bad wheel speed sensors, then there is a high probability that you will experience a slight decrease in the stability of your vehicle as you drive; this is one of the prime indications of this issue.


Will driving in limp mode damage the engine?

Limp mode indicates something is wrong with the engine or the transmission system. This mode disables the use of less important features of a car and decreases its speed, eventually stopping it.

It is not advised to drive a car while in limp mode for a long time until you have to reach the closest mechanic shop. Driving a car in limp mode will not allow you to upshift above third gear because it reduces the car’s speed.


How do I bypass limp mode? 

If you wish to bypass the limp mode in your car, then here is a step-by-step guide that you can apply to do so; just follow the steps that are given below:

How do I bypass limp mode?Β 
How do I bypass limp mode? 
  • Step 1: Apply the brakes and park your vehicle in a safe spot before disengaging the limp mode in your car.
  • Step 2: Stop the car and turn down the ignition key to let the engine rest for five minutes. This will ensure that everything in the car is off before proceeding further. 
  • Step 3: Make a check by shifting the gears when the car is in rest mode. Only if you successfully upshift and downshift the gears your car’s limp mode is already disabled.
  • Step 4: Now, use a diagnostic scanner to check that everything else is fine or not.
  • Step 5: Disconnect the battery terminals of your car. 
  • Step 6: Now, inspect the transmission fluid in your car by popping up the hood. If the transmission fluid levels are not appropriate, then level them.

Can I drive with a broken wheel speed sensor?

Yes, you can drive your car with a damaged wheel speed sensor. However, it is never advised to do so; the main reason is that a small mistake could be a huge casualty and risk the lives of others as well.

Wheel speed sensors are an integral part of a car’s braking system; if these sensors get damaged, then there will not be channeling of correct information to the ABS of the car for proper braking.


How do you diagnose a bad wheel speed sensor?

In this section of the article, we will discuss the method you can go with to check the status of your wheel speed sensor. Just follow the steps that are given below:

How do you diagnose a bad wheel speed sensor?
How do you diagnose a bad wheel speed sensor?
  • Step 1: Start by parking your vehicle at a safe spot. After that, turn down the ignition key and put the car into neutral gear.
  • Step 2: Now, look for the main fuse box; as soon as you open it, open the lid and search for the ABS fuse. Check that the filament is there in the appropriate quantity.
  • Step 3: Now, loosen the lugs on each of your car’s four wheels. Get the wheels dismantled from your car.
  • Step 6: Drop down the emergency brakes and set the gear to neutral after that, look for a wire that might be coming from the wheel speed sensor of the car. From there, you would find the two-pin connector.
  • Step 7– Now connect the multimeter to the two-pin connectors. This is done to check the resistance of the multimeter. If there is any kind of deflection in the multimeter, it indicates that the wheel speed sensor is working fine.
  • Step 8: After you have checked the resistance, now switch the multimeter to volts to check the voltage, turn on the ignition key of your car, and notice if there is any deflection in the multimeter. If there is any, then it means that your wheel speed sensor is working perfectly fine.

Frequently Asked Questions (fAQs)

How often should wheel speed sensors be replaced?

The wheel speed sensor is an important part of a car. If it fails, it will cause the ABS to fail, which can turn into an accident, so a wheel speed sensor should be replaced every 30,000 to 50,000 miles. Moreover, the cost of replacement of the wheel speed sensor will come out to be $200 to $400.

How much does it cost to fix limp mode?

Fixing a limp mode in your car can range from $100 to $250.

How long can you drive a car with a bad speed sensor?

Yes, you can drive a car with a bad wheel speed sensor, but it is never advised.

Can a bad wheel speed sensor cause brake problems?

Yes, a bad wheel speed sensor can cause breaking issues as it is concerned with the working of the ABS of the car.

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Conclusion

Driving a car with a faulty wheel speed sensor can be very dangerous if you don’t get it checked from time to time. Make sure that your car is well maintained and tuned.