New Liberty owner... need help please!

[Black03Limited]

Hello, i am new to this forum and just two weeks ago purchased my first jeep. As my username implies, its a 2003 limited edition.

I have a few problems that all just started tonight. The jeep has been running great since i bought it and have had no problems with it whatsoever until tonight.

I was driving with my wife to drop her and our son off at her parents house for the week. Her parents live 3 hours away. About an hour into the drive, after slowing down to turn and get on a major highway, i hear a chime and the ABS light came on. So i shifted (automatic) into neutral while coasting on the on-ramp and quickly shut the jeep off and then back on and shifted back into drive. It did its usual diagnostics then the lights shut off. A couple of minutes later, they kicked back on, but this time with the red brake warning light.

After several attempts of switching the ignition on and off, the ABS light and brake warning light were there to stay. I pulled into an Autozone to check my brake fluid and it was fine. The lights then went off occasionally and when driving i would feel the brakes pulsate a little as if the ABS was working, but it didn't seem normal. Seemed as if it were kicking in when not needed. Not sure though.

Well, her parents met us half way and picked her and our son up and brought them to their house. I turned around and drove back home. Halfway home, i noticed the speedometer and to some extent, the tachometer going crazy and fluctuating back and forth quickly while at a steady highway speed. And it got worse until finally the needle rested at zero and the odometer stopped turning. For the rest of the drive home, the needle would occasionally come back to life and go crazy for a bit then stop again. Also, about 15-20 miles after that happened, the check engine light came on.

After reading a thread on here about engine codes, i checked my jeep, and got code "0500" which means the computer hasn't detected any signal from the speed sensor for awhile.

I would really like some help! Where exactly is the vehicle speed sensor located, and how hard is it to get to/replace. Is the sensor expensive? I would like to get it fixed asap so the odometer will work again. Also, what can i do about the ABS light? How would i pinpoint exactly what is the problem? Brake fluid is fine, new pads and rotors all around from the dealer i bought the jeep from...

It seems like 4 different problems all happened at once. Im sure the check engine light is related to the speed sensor, and maybe the brake warning light is on because of the ABS light, but im starting to panic! I got a second job to pay for this jeep, but need the jeep for the job! I cant afford to have this thing break down! Please help!

 

[Marlon_JB2]

They may all be related to the Speed Sensor. Kinda hard for ABS to work without knowing how fast the vehicle is going.

The speed sensor is located on top of the rear differential.

 

[Marlon_JB2]

Forgot to mention, have your battery checked out too... Libertys do really weird things when their batteries start dying!

 

[tjkj2002]

Yep the speed sensor on the rear diff is your cause.Check the wiring to that sensor since that is the biggest cause of failure,a wire might be broken inside the connector(had that happen to mine).If the wiring looks good pull the sensor out(just one 10mm bolt holding it it) and see if it has a bunch of crud on the bottom of the sensor,clean and see if it starts working,if not at the last resort replace the sensor(about $45).

 

[Black03Limited]

Wow. You guys dont know how good it is to hear that!

You will have to bear with me, i am not that familiar with the drivetrain of a 4WD vehicle. The rear differential, i am assuming is the "ball" in the back between the rear wheels sometimes referred to as the "pumpkin"?

If so, I am going out there right not to get at it!

So is that sensor only available at a Jeep dealer, or is it something i can get at advanced auto or similar store?

Also, the battery seems new, but if the sensor seems ok, i will give that a check too. Thanks so much guys!

 

[Black03Limited]

Also, one more question...

Because i drove about 40 miles give or take with the odometer not rolling, will that reflect in the vehicles computer, or is it as if the jeep was just running sitting idle?

Basically i am asking, if i were to ever sell the Jeep, would i need to check the little box on the title that states the mileage is not accurate? Or is that such little difference in mileage that its insignificant? I definately dont want to commit odometer fraud, but would that little mileage difference even be worth mentioning?

I would certainly hate to not disclose that, then have someone down the road bring it to a dealer and find out the mileage was off somehow.

Thanks again guys!

 

[tjkj2002]

Also, one more question...

Because i drove about 40 miles give or take with the odometer not rolling, will that reflect in the vehicles computer, or is it as if the jeep was just running sitting idle?

Basically i am asking, if i were to ever sell the Jeep, would i need to check the little box on the title that states the mileage is not accurate? Or is that such little difference in mileage that its insignificant? I definately dont want to commit odometer fraud, but would that little mileage difference even be worth mentioning?

I would certainly hate to not disclose that, then have someone down the road bring it to a dealer and find out the mileage was off somehow.

Thanks again guys!

Don't worry about it,there's no way for them to tell and 40 miles is not a huge amount,now if it was 10,000miles that would be a different story but they still would not be able to tell.If your that worried keep any receipts for any parts needed to fix it but I'd not worry about.Your odometer can be as much as 5%(+/-) off from the factory so it not reading the correct mileage anyways.

 

[Marlon_JB2]

You're right, that's the rear differential... the "pumpkin". As far as the odometer, I'd just keep my mouth shut. People do that with leases all the time and never get caught.

 

[Black03Limited]

alright. I found the sensor and got the bolt out. And i can turn the sensor left or right a little bit, but cant get it to come out. i am having trouble getting the wire harness clip off as well. Im afraid i already broke the little tab off of it. I dont want to break that sensor off in the differential. That would suck. Any tips on getting this thing to budge? Is it rugged enough to pull straight up on it without breaking it?

 

[Prospect62]

If you do need to replace the sensor, check it out:

http://www.jeepkj.com/forum/showthread.php?t=37714

Good timing for you as a member of the forum is selling one! That is unless TomMudd beat you to it.

 

[Black03Limited]

Ok, i cleaned the sensor off and sprayed the differential housing out with brake fluid and wiped it out with shop towels. I then refilled the diff. with new gear oil.

Wires were not frayed as far as i could tell. They were covered by a black wire loom and didnt seem to be rubbing against anything or have any wear marks.

Engine, brake, and ABS lights are all still on. There isn't anything else i need to do is there? On my old Honda the codes would stay even after the problem was fixed until you manually cleared them. I am guessing im not that lucky this time? Probably need a new sensor, huh?