Have you ever replaced a wheel speed sensor on your car and found that the sensor read different speeds on different drives? You’re not alone. This can be caused by a variety of issues, from a dirty or corroded sensor to a broken wire. If you find that your car is reading different speeds on different drives, there are a few things you can do to test the sensor. In this blog post, we will walk you through the process of testing your wheel speed sensor with a multimeter.
What is a Wheel Speed Sensor?
A wheel speed sensor is a device that senses the rotational speed of the wheels on a vehicle. It sends this information to the car’s computer, which then uses it to calculate various things like the car’s speed and direction. The sensors are usually located on each wheel, but they can also be found on the differential (the part of the gearbox that smooths out drive shaft power).
There are a few different ways to test a wheel speed sensor. One way is to use a multimeter to measure how fast the sensor is sending signals. You can also use a strobe light to make sure that the sensor is working properly. And finally, you can check for jitter in the readings by using a frequency counter.
How to Test a Wheel Speed Sensor With a Multimeter
When you have a wheel speed sensor issue, it is important to test the sensor first to determine whether or not it is faulty. Testing the sensor requires using a multimeter and checking for voltage, resistance, and continuity.
To test the wheel speed sensor with a multimeter:
1. Start by unplugging the power to the vehicle.
2. Open the hood of the car and locate and remove the wheel speed sensor.
3. Make sure that all connections are clean and free from debris.
4. Place the multimeter in ohmmeter mode and connect one probe to each lead on the wheel speed sensor (the black lead should go to ground).
5. Turn on the power to the car and wait for readings to stabilize (usually within a few seconds).
6. To read voltage, use Ohm’s law: V = I x R or V = I2R where V is volts, I is current in amps, R is Resistance in Ohms and t is time in seconds. To read resistance, use Ohm’s law: R = V/I or R = kV/I where k is a constant (usually around 1). To read continuity, use Milliamps per second (mA/s) notation: X =VI/(R*t). If there is no reading at all, then either your multimeter isn’t working properly or there is an issue with
What to Check When Testing a Wheel Speed Sensor
When testing a wheel speed sensor, you will need to verify the voltage output from the sensor is within the appropriate range. To do this, use a multimeter set to measure volts. The voltage should be between 2.5 and 5 volts, with 4.75 being the ideal reading. If the voltage is outside of these ranges, then the sensor may be faulty and should be replaced.