Code
C0006
Generic
C — Chassis
Wheel Speed Sensor Circuit Fault
AI status
Completed
Completed
100%
Causes
- Open or shorted wheel speed sensor wiring
- Corroded or loose sensor connector
- Failed wheel speed sensor (active or passive)
- Damaged or missing tone/ring teeth on reluctor
- Excessive air gap between sensor and tone ring
- Contaminated sensor (metal debris, oil, brake dust)
Symptoms
- ABS warning lamp illuminated
- Traction control/ESC warning and/or disabled
- Possible loss of ABS function during braking
- Inconsistent speed reading for affected wheel on scan tool
- Brake pedal feel typically unchanged under normal braking (until ABS activates)
- In some vehicles, erratic speedometer or transmission shift issues if vehicle speed input is affected
What to check
- Read ABS/traction codes with a scan tool and note freeze-frame/live data
- Visually inspect sensor, wiring, and connector at the affected wheel for damage, corrosion, or contamination
- Check for missing or damaged reluctor/tone ring teeth and correct sensor air gap
- Compare wheel speed sensor outputs on scan tool while spinning each wheel (on-lift)
- Measure sensor resistance (for passive/VR) and compare to manufacturer spec
- Check reference voltage (usually ~5V) and ground for active sensors
Signal parameters
- Passive (VR) sensor: DC resistance typically ~800–2000 Ω (varies by maker); AC output increases with speed (millivolts to 1–2+ VAC at low speeds)
- Active (Hall/AMR/VR with electronics): reference supply ~5 V; output square wave ~0–5 V (some systems use up to 12 V); frequency proportional to wheel speed
- Typical current draw for active sensors: low (single-digit mA to tens of mA) — check manufacturer spec
- Waveform: clean sine-like AC for VR or clean square transitions for active sensors; excessive noise, missing pulses, or amplitude loss indicates a problem
Diagnostic algorithm
- Verify and record C0006 and any other ABS/vehicle speed codes with a scan tool; note which wheel is affected if specified.
- Perform a visual inspection of sensor, connector, and tone ring at the indicated wheel. Look for contamination, missing teeth, or physical damage.
- Check connector: unplug and inspect terminals for corrosion, bent pins, or water ingress. Clean and secure as necessary.
- With ignition on, measure reference voltage and ground at the sensor connector (for active sensors). Confirm supply present and stable.
- For passive sensors measure coil resistance (compare to spec); for active sensors backprobe output and observe switching with wheel rotation or oscilloscope.
- Spin the wheel (on a lift) and monitor wheel speed readings and raw waveforms. Look for missing pulses, low amplitude, or intermittent signal during wiggle tests.
- Check wiring continuity and insulation between sensor connector and ABS module; check for shorts to ground or battery.
- If wiring and connector are good but signal is bad, replace the sensor. Recheck after replacement.
- Inspect/repair tone ring or bearing if damaged — replace parts as required.
- After repairs, clear codes, perform a road/lift test with live data and confirm no recurrence before returning vehicle to service.
Likely causes
- Sensor wiring shorted to ground or battery (after harness damage)
- Connector corrosion or bent terminals at hub harness
- Wheel bearing wear causing sensor misalignment or noise
- Damaged reluctor/tone ring (cracked, missing teeth, magnetized debris)
- Failed active (Hall/electronic) sensor — no 5V reference or no output
- Failed passive (VR) sensor — open coil or out-of-spec resistance
Fault status
Status
ABS/traction control module logged wheel speed sensor circuit fault. ABS/ESC functionality may be impaired; diagnostic data stored in module memory.
Repair difficulty: Medium
Diagnostic time: 0.5-2.0 hours
Similar codes
Repair manuals
Brands with available manuals
9,696
The library contains 9,696 repair and diagnostic manuals. Choose a brand to open the full manual tree by year, model and trim.
Your experience will help others
+100 karma for a short comment :)
Was this AI description helpful?
Your feedback helps improve AI descriptions.
👍 Like
0
👎 Dislike
0
Send to email
