Need help finding where this goes

Hello,

This is just sitting in my engine compartment. It looks like an ABS type of plug. I can’t find where it plugs in. Any help would be appreciated.

Have you traced all the ABS sensor leads from the wheels to their connectors under the bonnet?
Do you have the 3 amigos lights on?

The ABS sensors on all 4 wheels are connected and working properly. I fixed the three amigos about 4 months ago. I don’t have an ABS light on and this plug has been sitting in the engine compartment for a couple of years. There doesn’t seem to be any issues. I’ve tried to figure out where it goes a few times and have forgotten about it because I couldn’t find anywhere for it to go. I’ve attached a couple more pics to show it, it just sits there. It’s getting dark here, I had to shine a flashlight.

.

Rghj2 said:

The ABS sensors on all 4 wheels are connected and working properly. I fixed the three amigos about 4 months ago. I don’t have an ABS light on and this plug has been sitting in the engine compartment for a couple of years. There doesn’t seem to be any issues. I’ve tried to figure out where it goes a few times and have forgotten about it because I couldn’t find anywhere for it to go. I’ve attached a couple more pics to show it, it just sits there. It’s getting dark here, I had to shine a flashlight.

Click to expand...

Aha!
Brake pad low, warning light maybe? since it is in the same loom as it were?
There is a faint chance it is part of the loom but doesn't connect to anything on your model, unless you have an ES which I believe has all the bells and whistles.
Honestly out of ideas and as you say not a problem, so, "if it ain't bust, don't fix it"!!

I just replaced the rear drivers side wheel hub and rear brake pads, I replaced the front brake pads last year. My brakes work great. It does come out of the same loom and the wire extends about 6 inches from the end of the loom. So, there’s only so many places to look, I have wondered if the plug is for a higher end model.


I thought if I posted it here at some point someone will see it and recognize it, reply and the mystery will be solved.

thank you for your efforts, they are greatly appreciated.

Rghj2 said:

I just replaced the rear drivers side wheel hub and rear brake pads, I replaced the front brake pads last year. My brakes work great. It does come out of the same loom and the wire extends about 6 inches from the end of the loom. So, there’s only so many places to look, I have wondered if the plug is for a higher end model.


I thought if I posted it here at some point someone will see it and recognize it, reply and the mystery will be solved.

thank you for your efforts, they are greatly appreciated.

Click to expand...

Don't worry, I'll tag @sierrafery who knows all things electrical on these beasts.

Much appreciated!

I've got an ES and it's connected, think this is the one you mean?
Its connected to something by the n/s front caliper.

That looks like it’s the same. I hadn’t thought about looking to see if there was a cable hanging next to the wall of the engine compartment. I don’t have an ES, not sure if mine is a SD or SE. But, I’ll be looking tomorrow to see if I have a matching loose cable.
Thank you!

It runs through a grommet in the inner wing a few inches after the connection,then follows the brake flexi.

Rghj2 said:

Hello,

This is just sitting in my engine compartment. It looks like an ABS type of plug. I can’t find where it plugs in. Any help would be appreciated.

Click to expand...

HI, dont bother with it as long as the ABS is faultless, some modells(up to 2001 IIRC) came out with that plug from factory while the sensor is harwired to the ECU or the previous owher fitted a long lead sensor and bypassed it, i think you'll find that if you follow the wire of the sensor from the hub you's see that it dosent have a connector, the problem will be when you'll want to change the hub which will come with a short lead sensor with plug.

sierrafery said:

HI, dont bother with it as long as the ABS is faultless, some modells(up to 2001 IIRC) came out with that plug from factory while the sensor is harwired to the ECU or the previous owher fitted a long lead sensor and bypassed it, i think you'll find that if you follow the wire of the sensor from the hub you's see that it dosent have a connector, the problem will be when you'll want to change the hub which will come with a short lead sensor with plug.

Click to expand...

He's absolutely right. I've just been out to look at mine (2000 TD5 GS) and it deffo IS the hub sensor ABS lead connector.
So your's MUST be wired in directly/bypassed in some way.

sierrafery said:

HI, dont bother with it as long as the ABS is faultless, some modells(up to 2001 IIRC) came out with that plug from factory while the sensor is harwired to the ECU or the previous owher fitted a long lead sensor and bypassed it, i think you'll find that if you follow the wire of the sensor from the hub you's see that it dosent have a connector, the problem will be when you'll want to change the hub which will come with a short lead sensor with plug.

Click to expand...

Thank you, That’s good to know regarding the length of the ABS. I’ve been considering replacement of the remaining three.

The chances are you will find the sensor lead soldered directly on the SLABS connector, right behind the glove box.

I took a look this morning and the ABS wire coming off the drivers side wheel hub (US side) comes through the wheel well and back through the firewall. So I will assume that it’s been bypassed and hard wired. When I replace the wheel hub, I’ll use a T connector on the wiring.

Thank you

Rghj2 said:

I took a look this morning and the ABS wire coming off the drivers side wheel hub (US side) comes through the wheel well and back through the firewall. So I will assume that it’s been bypassed and hard wired. When I replace the wheel hub, I’ll use a T connector on the wiring.

Click to expand...

The likelihood is that the original wiring was cut a few inches away from the SLABS connector and the extended lead soldered in. Even if you need extended ABS sensor leads, you can buy these with the female connector that will just plug in to the harness, without the need to sever any wiring. If I were you, I will carefully resolder the original wiring going into the SLABS and use the connector that you have in the engine bay. Note that the ABS wiring uses twisted pair as the sinusoidal analogue signal is quite sensitive to EMI and cable losses. Inserting a T-connector could cause an unbalance in the noise cancellation properties and alter the impedance of the wiring which would affect the signal quality received by the SLABS.

Rghj2 said:

I took a look this morning and the ABS wire coming off the drivers side wheel hub (US side) comes through the wheel well and back through the firewall. So I will assume that it’s been bypassed and hard wired. When I replace the wheel hub, I’ll use a T connector on the wiring.

Thank you

Click to expand...

Don't use T connector as @NPG said, the easy way is to cut the original sensor wire which goes to the ECU as to reach the plug and cut near the plug as well then solder them together as when you fit a new hub you can connect the new sensor there.

I’m glad I started this, I will make sure to not use a T connector. This raises a question for me. Should I decide to replace the other wheel hubs and ABS sensors (using the reasoning that, one wheel hub went bad, the others can’t be far behind) can I put a volt meter on it to make sure it’s not faulty and if it looks good just re use it?

I can remove the new ABS from the new wheel hub and attach the old ABS and save the ABS I removed in case I need to replace it, then I can cut and solder the new one in. I say this because I have seen my skills at soldering, and they are not that good.

Rghj2 said:

I’m glad I started this, I will make sure to not use a T connector. This raises a question for me. Should I decide to replace the other wheel hubs and ABS sensors (using the reasoning that, one wheel hub went bad, the others can’t be far behind) can I put a volt meter on it to make sure it’s not faulty and if it looks good just re use it?

I can remove the new ABS from the new wheel hub and attach the old ABS and save the ABS I removed in case I need to replace it, then I can cut and solder the new one in. I say this because I have seen my skills at soldering, and they are not that good.

Click to expand...

Technically the sensor itself shouldn't wear as there is no physical contact with anything, other than where it is mounted. What causes the problem is when the bearing wears and the gap between the sensor and the reluctor ring changes. If it is working before you remove it, I don't think a voltage test will show anything.
If you remove the old sensor and replace it in the hole the one came out of on the new hub, why would you need to do any cutting and soldering?
Am I missing something?
But fitting a sensor back in has proved a problem for some on here. It's getting the air gap exactly right that seems to be the problem.