Wheel speed sensor issues

Hello. First post I've made here so bear with me. Apologies if this is in the wrong section as well.

About 2k miles ago I replaced pads and rotors all the way around my 2006 jeep liberty limited. Upon doing this, I broke the harness for the rear driver side wheel speed sensor.

Long story short I've replaced this as well as the wiring on the sensor to the harness under the back seat with new parts. I still get the code of the sensor isn't working correctly. And thus my esp bas, traction control, and abs lights have been on for a small eternity it seems like. Normally I wouldn't care and drive it as is, but I make a 270 mile journey down the expressway once a week and being able to use the cruise control again would be a blessing.

I visited a friend this past week that's very knowledgable in car mechanics and we determined that the sensor is getting power. And that it is indeed that sensor that's causing the issue. However it is not getting the right amount of power in comparison to the passenger side rear sensor if that makes sense. I'm lost as was he. I'm Not a pro at fixing cars by any means, but I do know my way around to a certain extent. Not sure where to begin as far as what could be the issue causing this. And I dont have the funds to go get it professionally looked at at the moment. I realize I should've written the numbers down as far as what the problem sensor was putting out, but I did not. The voltage was tested with a multimeter. The teeth on the gear thingy (that's the proper term correct? Lol) that the wheel speed sensor sits next to appear to be fine. No missing teeth or cracks or crap stuck in it. Any help on what could be the culprit of this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance and have a good one

Mickey

Just guessing a bit here, but it seems to me if the replacement wheel speed sensor is not the same as the others it could read differently causing your issue. You said yourself is getting a different reading. Perhaps double checking wiring might pay off. You're dealing with electrical components designed to be very precise.

In case you do not have the Service Manual download the 2006 Jeep KJ Service manual here.

Is this a Gasser or CRD?

Section 8W has the wiring diagrams. You may need to disconnect this harness section at both ends so in theory it is hanging in mid-air.
Then with a meter check that there is no short between any of the wires involved and no short or partial short to ground/chassis.

www.colorado4wheel.com/manuals/Jeep/KJ/

Have had to fix these a few times. If everything was replaced to the harness plug you may have a wire that did not connect right. I do not twist them back together as they are from factory.That creates broken wires. If you had said that your speedometer would intermittently act up I would say look at the sensor in the top of the rear end. It also affects the lights you referenced. Are you able to get a code number just to be sure? Good luck

Its the gasoline version not the crd diesel.

There's snow on the ground in northern mi. I've got it sitting in the garage drying out now. Prolly won't be able to get to it until this weekend though unfortunately.

I will swap the rear sensors and see if the sensor that isn't giving me problems in the back (passenger side) tests differently when installed on the driver side. Also I'll add that these two sensors are brand new and the scanner didn't have an issue with the passenger side so idk if it matters they're not oem sensors, but I'm thinking not. Especially since the ones on it that I replaced weren't oem either.

I have replaced the wire and yes I did twist them together and loomed them all the way to the sensor to keep the elements and salt out better. However I didn't twist them into a braid so to speak. More just so it was easier to handle trying to slip into the loom.

When I first went to tackle this problem, I pulled the wire out that runs to the harness to connect the new pigtail to and it would not hold solder. The copper was discolored which was why I went thru the hassle of replacing all the wire to just before the harness. There was no green corrosion to speak of either.

Something getting too hot prolly I'm guessing? but I didn't find any wires melted together or exposed copper when I replaced the wire on this problematic side.

It's clearly had some sensor problems in the past because when I broke the pigtail on the sensor replacing the brakes as I mentioned in my op the wires were twisted and spliced together to connect it to the pigtail and electrical taped. A real sloppy job. And the passenger side was not OEM either but it had been hit with hot snot and shrink wrap so they had a better grasp on doing it too make it last.

I just don't get how it can go from working fine all cobbled together like that to not at all when I break the pigtail connector. I had the upper boomerang control arm replaced at a shop right after I broke the connector. I'm wondering if maybe they jacked something around or pinched some wires or something in the process. But you'd think that would've been handled when I replaced the wire. Idk.

Now can I pull those wires that are connected to the pins in the harness without messing up the harness? Like with a pair of needle nose or something? Or would I be better off just finding a donor jeep at the local junkyard and yanking everything electrical wise from that harness back? I'm convinced whatever it is it's something stupid that I'm gonna feel like a real winner when I figure it out lol.

I appreciate all of your input and look forward to hearing any additional thoughts and input you guys have. I will answer anybody as quickly as I can and will post updates on anything I discover when I dive back into the headache this has become lol.

Thanks again.

- Mickey

Would be nice if you could get a donor harness with sensor and fit that to your Jeep.

Well. Didn't get the chance to figure it out. Gf rolled the jeep, twisted the frame, and thus totaled it out. Figured I'd give you all that were kind enough to lend your advice a conclusion, albeit a crap one. On a good note though I did pick up an 05 renegade, needs some work, but I'm pretty tickled with it so far