Home / DTC / C1261 — Left rear sensor - wheel speed comparison Failure in the power relay circuit of the ABS valve in the detection of disturbances

C1261 — Left rear sensor - wheel speed comparison Failure in the power relay circuit of the ABS valve in the detection of disturbances

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C1261

LAND ROVER C — Chassis

Left rear sensor - wheel speed comparison Failure in the power relay circuit of the ABS valve in the detection of disturbances

Brand: LAND ROVER
Views: UK: 3 EN: 11 RU: 10
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Causes

  • Faulty or contaminated left‑rear wheel speed sensor
  • Damaged or corroded sensor connector or wiring (open, short to ground, short to battery)
  • Damaged or missing reluctor/tone ring (wheel bearing or hub damage)
  • Intermittent or failed ABS hydraulic valve relay or its power feed (blown fuse, bad relay contacts)
  • Poor ground or low supply voltage to ABS module or relay
  • Faulty ABS hydraulic control unit or internal relay/electronics

Symptoms

  • ABS warning lamp illuminated (may also illuminate traction/stability lamp)
  • ABS/traction control may be disabled or operate unpredictably
  • Uneven or non‑functional ABS braking at low speeds or during heavy braking
  • Possible brake pedal pulsation or changed brake feel
  • Diagnostic trouble codes stored for wheel speed comparison and/or relay/power circuits
  • Intermittent fault occurrence depending on speed or vibration

What to check

  • Read and record all related codes and freeze frame data with a capable scanner
  • Check battery voltage and system supply (12V) with engine off and cranking
  • Inspect left‑rear wheel sensor, connector, and harness for corrosion, damage, or contamination
  • Visually inspect tone ring/reluctor on hub and wheel bearing for damage or missing teeth
  • Backprobe sensor connector and measure sensor resistance and AC output while spinning the wheel
  • Check continuity and insulation (short to ground/battery) of wiring between sensor and ABS module

Signal parameters

  • Wheel speed sensor resistance (typical magnetic sensor): ~800–2000 ohms (varies by design)
  • Wheel speed sensor AC voltage output: 0.2–2.0 V AC at low speeds, increasing with wheel speed (hall sensors will show square/digital pulses and a reference voltage)
  • Sensor frequency: increases with wheel rpm (check against other wheels at same speed)
  • Reference/supply voltage for hall/active sensors: ~5 V or switched 12 V depending on design
  • ABS module supply voltage at relay feed: battery voltage (~12 V) with ignition on
  • Relay coil control voltage: switched by ABS module (check for proper ground/drive signal when commanded)

Diagnostic algorithm

  1. Retrieve all stored codes and freeze frame data. Note whether fault is persistent or intermittent.
  2. Visually inspect left‑rear wheel area: sensor, cable routing, clips, connector, and tone ring for damage or contamination.
  3. With wheel off the ground, spin wheel and monitor wheel speed live data. Compare left‑rear value to the other three wheels at low speeds. Look for dropouts or inconsistent readings.
  4. Measure sensor resistance with multimeter and compare to service specification. For active/Hall sensors check reference voltage and signal output while cranking/spinning.
  5. Backprobe sensor connector while spinning wheel: verify AC/digital signal present and continuous without dropouts.
  6. Inspect and test ABS fuse(s) and swap/test the ABS valve power relay. Check that the relay receives proper coil drive from ABS module when system activated.
  7. Check continuity of power feed and ground for the ABS relay and hydraulic valve (look for opens, high resistance, or shorts).
  8. Wiggle test wiring and connectors while monitoring live data to reproduce intermittent faults.
  9. If harness, sensor, fuse, and relay are good but fault persists, check ABS module power/ground pins for correct voltages and communication (CAN/serial).
  10. If module shows internal power/relay faults or communication errors, consider module diagnostics by a specialist and check for available software updates before module replacement.
  11. Clear codes and road test to verify repair; re‑scan to confirm no recurrence.

Likely causes

  • Left‑rear wheel speed sensor fault or damaged tone ring
  • Connector/wiring damage at left‑rear sensor or ABS harness
  • Faulty or intermittent ABS valve power relay or blown fuse
  • Poor ground or low battery/supply to ABS module
  • ABS module/hydraulic unit fault (less common)

Fault status

⚠️ Status
ABS lamp on — left rear wheel speed mismatch with detected disturbance in ABS valve power/relay circuit (power/relay fault detected).
🟡 Repair difficulty: Medium
⏱️ Diagnostic time: 1.0-2.5 hours

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