ABS / Brake wear wiring

[mikehill]

I got an ABS warning light the other day, almost immediately followed by the brake wear light. I pulled the right front off (lucky) and found the connector that the ABS speed sensor and the pad wear sensor connect into had basically shattered, one wire was holding it on. I do not know what caused this, no signs of heat or melted plastic. I was thinking of buying a new wire assembly so I could get the connector and then splicing it into the existing wire that goes up into the wheel well and then into some area of the car I cannot trace easily. Anybody else have this happen or is it a freak accident? This is on a 2000 Boxster S.

Edited April 28, 2011 by mikehill

[ericinboca]

I've not experienced that on either my 996 or my 986. I wonder if something was thrown up in the wheel and snagged the wire.

There is a connector mounted on the side of the wheel carrier. In this not-so-great-picture, you can sort of see what I am talking about. The speed sensor and wear sensor plug into this. (In this picture, the wear sensor wire is coiled and wire-tied off - this is a dedicated track car, and I don't use the sensor.)

Is the wire split above this connector, or below? If below, you can buy a replacement and just plug it in.

[mikehill]

It is split above the connector. The connector was shattered and the speed sensor and wear sensor are ok. Something must have been thrown up there, hard to imagine what though.

Thanks

[wvicary]

I have seen road debris damage components before.... rare but it does happen. A customer once towed his vehicle in when it suddenly started making an loud rotational noise. After inspecting the vehicle I pulled a push rod ( that's used in a old V8 engine ) out of the outer C/V boot. It was bent to hell and back and how managed to stay put and not get ejected out was beyond me.

[JFP in PA]

Most likely, you are in for a "bone yard search" if the connector you broke is on the wiring up from the removable brake pigtail; only the very early cars had a disconnect point in the trunk area, yours probably does not. This is not a big project, but finding the connector will definitely be an "Easter Egg Hunt"........