Hey guys, picked up a 2011 Audi A6 3.2 and I'm trying to track down a few problems. I ran VCDS on the car and it returned the following faults

00283 ABS Wheel Speed Sensor; Front Left 008 - Implausible Signal
01316 ABS Control Module - 013 Check DTC Memory - MIL On

From what I can see the car cannot see the wheel moving on the front left, I swapped the sensor from the front left to the rear left and tested it and it still does not see the wheel turn. When I removed the sensor from the front left wheel there was a noticeable amount of debris/dust/sand on the sensor, I imagine this should be a sealed space that should not have this. Any thoughts on what is going on? I'm looking for this car's workshop manuals/Bentley book. Thank you so much for your attention and participation.

 

Address 01: Engine (CAL) Labels:. 06E-910-559-BKH.clb
Part No SW: 4F7 910 559 HW: 4F7 907 559
Component: 3.2l V6 FSI 0020
Revision: --H07--- Serial number:
Coding: 0105000A02070120
Shop #: WSC 02325 785 00200
VCID: 6ED37BBF79970CE329-803A
VINID: 9D19556D159205278018800808010A1AE9

1 Fault Found:
053271 - Please Check Fault Codes in Control Module for ABS Brakes
U1017 - 000 -
Freeze Frame:
Fault Status: 00101000
Fault Priority: 1
Fault Frequency: 254
Reset counter: 40
Mileage: 119520 km
Time Indication: 0
Date: 2022.08.12
Time: 09:21:31

Freeze Frame:
RPM: 768 /min
Mass Air / Rev.: 103.6 mg/str
Temperature: 94.5 C
Bin. Bits: 00000010
Load: 12.9 %
Speed: 0.0 km/h

Readiness: 0000 0000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 03: ABS Brakes Labels: 4F0-910-517.clb
Part No SW: 4F0 910 517 AK HW: 4F0 614 517 BF
Component: ESP8 front H03 0060
Revision: 00000000 Serial number: 00000000000000
Coding: 0020826
Shop #: WSC 02325 785 00200
VCID: 6DD17CB37491F7FB10-8038

1 Fault Found:
00283 - ABS Wheel Speed Sensor; Front Left (G47)
008 - Implausible Signal
Freeze Frame:
Fault Status: 01101000
Fault Priority: 2
Fault Frequency: 1
Reset counter: 104
Mileage: 119672 km
Time Indication: 0
Date: 2022.08.16
Time: 14:08:01

Freeze Frame:
Hex Value: 0x1100
Hex Value: 0x4012
Hex Value: 0x0006
Hex Value: 0x37AC
Hex Value: 0x00FF


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 4C: Tire Pressure II Labels: 4F0-910-274.clb
Part No SW: 4F0 910 274 B HW: 4F0 907 274
Component: J793 RKA+ H03 0110
Revision: 00000276 Serial number: 00002761104237
Coding: 0000581
Shop #: WSC 02323 785 00200
VCID: 23455A8BE2D5F18BF6-8076

1 Fault Found:
01316 - ABS Control Module
013 - Check DTC Memory - MIL ON
Freeze Frame:
Fault Status: 11101101
Fault Priority: 3
Fault Frequency: 1
Reset counter: 35
Mileage: 143053 km
Time Indication: 0
Date: 2024.03.07
Time: 18:59:50

Freeze Frame:
Hex Value: 0x0000
Hex Value: 0x0000
Hex Value: 0x0003
Voltage: 11.80 V
Temperature: 19.0 C
(no units): 255.0

 

You can get the repair manuals from eRwin also. Create an account purchase a 1 day subscription then download everything you can find on your car.

 

Watch this. Faulty wire in the end :

 

I've traced this wire on the driver side up to the firewall and it shows no signs of damage. Any other thoughts? This side might have been where the previous owner replaced the wheel bearing, is there any chance something could have happened to the notches the sensor reads? Something defintinely happened on the passenger side as the fender wheel well protector is torn and missing the majority, but the speed sensor does not seem to register on the driver side and I even swapped the sensor from the back left wheel.

 

It is normal to find a bit of magnetic debris on the tip of an ABS sensor. Simply ensure it is clean when installing.

Impact hammer vibrations while replacing wheel bearings can cause an ABS sensor failure. If you are confident the sensor is good then the issue is either sensor wiring or the ABS module itself. Try testing the wiring continuity from the sensor to the ABS module to rule that out. If sensor tests OK and wiring tests OK then you have a faulty ABS module. Be sure to record and re-apply the module coding if you are going to swap it out. Another option is to send the ABS module out for repair as they usually can be fixed. I have fixed a few where the internal hair like wires break between the circuit board and the external connector but it is delicate work needing electronics repair tools and experience.

 

I wonder if the previous owner caused this when they did the wheel bearing replacement. It's ridiculous that some vibration kills the ABS and then takes out the TPMS on that wheel. Do you have any information on the repair of the ABS? I've done some soldering before, I just wanted to know what I'm looking for with these cars.

 

I swapped the abs sensor from the front left to the back left and the issue stayed with the front left. I will try to find some time to check for continuity from sensor to abs.

 

When I say vibration I am talking about a heavy duty 500ft-lb air impact gun that some techs use when pressing out and pressing in wheel bearings with the upright in the vehicle. Sometimes folks get too aggressive with the hammering causing huge vibrations that the ABS sensor is not designed for and especially after it ages. There is a bit of art and experience that goes along with the technique to replace a bearing without damaging anything else.

If one of the thinner than human hair wires has broken between the circuit board and the inside of the external connector then you have to cut open the sealed ABS module, remove some of the vibration dampening and moisture proofing gel coating, repair the wire and seal the unit up again. Or send it out to a pro shop for repair.

TPMS would be a completely separate issue as it has nothing to do with ABS.

 

Depending on the technology used, the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) is very dependent on the ABS system. Newer cars stopped using the old Bluetooth sensors system and started using the ABS sensor at each wheel to detect reduced or increased wheel spin to calculate the approximate tire pressure. If the ABS system has an issue, the TPMS is disabled.

@ctroxtell I suggest you try replacing that wire. You may not have detected a damage but it could be internal. As shown in my video above, the wire protection is very tough and can remain intact while the internal wires may have become severed.