Code
C0120
Generic
C — Chassis
Right Rear Wheel Speed Sensor Circuit
Views:
UK: 10
EN: 14
RU: 13
AI status
Completed
Completed
100%
Causes
- Damaged or disconnected right rear wheel speed sensor
- Broken, shorted or corroded wiring or connector at the sensor
- Contaminated or corroded sensor connector pins
- Damaged or missing tone ring/reluctor (cracked, magnetized debris, missing teeth)
- Faulty wheel bearing causing sensor misalignment or excessive air gap
- Poor ground or reference voltage from ABS module
Symptoms
- ABS warning lamp illuminated
- Traction control / ESP light on or disabled
- ABS may engage erroneously or not engage when expected
- Cruise control disabled (on some vehicles)
- Inconsistent speed readings in ABS live data for the right rear wheel
- Occasional or constant fault stored; possible intermittent operation
What to check
- Retrieve all ABS/traction codes and freeze-frame data with a scan tool
- Visually inspect right rear sensor, harness and connector for damage, corrosion, contamination or loose mounting
- Check for physical damage or missing teeth on the tone ring/reluctor
- Check for excessive wheel bearing play or rotor/hub movement
- Back-probe connector and verify reference voltage (typically 5V) and ground (if active sensor) with ignition on
- Measure sensor resistance (for passive sensors) and compare to spec
Signal parameters
- Passive (magnetic/VR) sensor: resistance typically 800–2000 ohms (varies by vehicle). AC output increases with speed; low-speed output may be a few hundred mV AC, rising to 1–4 VAC+ at higher speeds.
- Active (Hall-effect/active) sensor: digital square wave, typically 0–5V (some systems 0–12V). Frequency is proportional to wheel speed.
- Reference voltage (for active sensors): typically ~5V from ABS module with stable ground.
- Expected behavior: clean periodic waveform or AC signal proportional to wheel speed, no dropouts, not stuck high/low.
Diagnostic algorithm
- Read codes and live data: confirm C0120 and check for related codes (other wheel sensors, module errors).
- Visual inspection: check harness, connector, sensor mounting, tone ring and bearing for obvious damage or contamination.
- Connector check: disconnect sensor, inspect pins for corrosion, bent pins, moisture; clean or repair as needed.
- Resistance/continuity: measure sensor resistance (if passive) and compare to vehicle specification; check harness continuity to ABS module and for shorts to ground or battery positive.
- Voltage/reference check: with connector connected and ignition ON, back-probe to verify reference voltage and ground (active sensors) and proper pull-up/pull-down behavior.
- Dynamic signal test: jack vehicle safely, spin wheel and observe signal with an oscilloscope or multimeter (AC mode for VR sensor or scope for waveform). Look for clean amplitude/frequency and no dropouts while spinning.
- Wiggle test: while monitoring signal, move the harness and connector to locate intermittent wiring faults.
- Tone ring check: inspect/replace hub or tone ring if damaged or missing teeth; verify proper air gap between sensor and tone ring.
- Repair: repair or replace damaged wiring/connector, replace sensor, or replace hub/tone ring as indicated.
- Clear codes and road test: erase codes, perform road test and re-scan to confirm fault does not return.
- If fault persists after sensor/harness repair, test/scan ABS module operation and grounding; consider module replacement only after wiring and sensors are verified good.
Likely causes
- Open or short in sensor wiring or connector (most common)
- Failed wheel speed sensor
- Corroded connector or pin(s)
- Damaged tone ring/reluctor or excessive sensor-to-reluctor air gap
Fault status
Status
Right Rear Wheel Speed Sensor Circuit — open, short, intermittent signal or missing/incorrect sensor output detected by ABS/traction control system.
Repair difficulty: Medium
Diagnostic time: 0.5-2.5 hours
Workshop Manuals
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