The average price for the wheel speed sensor replacement cost comes to between $225 and $265, while the cost of the labor is between $69 and $87. Based on this total price, drives can expect this procedure to take between 45 minutes and 1 hour at most dealerships.
Lastly, the cost of the parts for the wheel speed sensor replacement cost comes to around $156 to $178 on average, depending on the make, model, and year of your car.
What is the ABS?
The anti-lock brake system, or the anti-lock brake system, is designed to keep every person in the car as safe as possible. The anti-lock braking system is used to keep the wheels in motion while driving at highway speeds and to keep the tire traction on the street while accelerating, turning, braking, and cornering on slippery or wet surfaces.
Although your car may not have any trouble in dry conditions, wetness adds another element to driving. Even though you may think that you are in control, the weather is uncontrollable – and can add a wrench into the mix. Paying for the wheel speed sensor replacement cost in your ABS can keep you and your passengers safe and alive.
What is the ABS wheel speed sensor?
The wheel speed sensor is the main source of information and data for the ABS in your vehicle. For the anti-lock brake control module to react to the external driving conditions and stress put on the car by the driver, the wheel speed sensors have to work together to transmit the current speed of the spinning wheels to the ABS control module.
Importance of ABS Control Module
Now that you know the importance of the anti-lock brake system in your car and how it works, we need to know the importance of the ABS control module in this system. The anti-lock braking system control module is a computer that is constantly receiving and analyzing signals and information sent from the wheel speed sensors.
- The wheel speed sensors are used to determine how fast the car is moving, how the wheels are spinning, and the wheels’ traction based on the current road conditions. If the car cannot gain traction while driving in wet conditions, this shows a problem with the ABS that can lead to a higher wheel speed sensor replacement cost.
- The ABS control module must use the provided data to help control the vehicle. By preventing any stability loss of traction loss in these scenarios, the module can help keep your car on the road.
- If you find your vehicle has trouble keeping all four wheels safely on the road while driving, it is time to look into the wheel speed sensor replacement cost.
How does the ABS wheel speed sensor function?
The wheel speed sensors are located within the hub, close the brake calipers that help stop or slow down the vehicle when it is on the road. The wheel speed sensors monitor the wheel speed, how fast the axles are turning, and the current road conditions that the car is driving on.
All four-wheel speed sensors work together by providing independent signals to the ABS control module, allowing this module to fix one or more of the wheels if it recognizes any signs of traction loss or slipping in wet conditions.
The sending of data from the wheels to the ABS control module is crucial in reducing slipping during inclement weather and tough conditions. If you find the wheels do not adjust to the external road and weather conditions, you will have to look into the wheel speed sensor replacement cost for your vehicle.
Symptoms of a Faulty ABS Wheel Speed Sensor
- Dashboard Lights – If you find the speed sensor has failed in your car, the ABS and traction control system will both experience concerns, leading to the lights turning on the dashboard and illuminating your car.
- Loss of Traction – Furthermore, your car will be more likely to have a loss of traction and tire slipping due to the inability of the speed sensors to send the driving data to the ABs control module.
- Loss of Computer Control – In addition, drivers may find they have to adjust their driving style and patterns to adjust for the loss of the ABS traction control and computer-related control of the wheels.
- Speedometer Issues – Finally, the speedometer can be negatively affected in older vehicles, leading to the turning on of the check engine light on the dashboard.
Symptoms of a Faulty ABS Control Module
To understand why it is important to pay for the wheel speed sensor replacement cost, you must know the common signs and symptoms of a faulty module that can lead to a high replacement cost.
Typically, if the ABS control module fails in your vehicle, the brakes will continue to function properly. In this case, you will still be allowed to operate your vehicle as you normally would since no safety mechanisms would be compromised.
- Lack of Skid Protection – However, if the vehicle does not have skid protection during a turn in inclement weather, whether under hard acceleration or sharp braking, this can lead to a potential safety issue that can increase the risk of a crash.
- Dashboard Warning Lights – If you find the ABS warning light and the TCS light, the traction control system light illuminates on the dashboard while driving, and it can be a sure indicator the ABS control module has failed. When this is the case, it can cause a very unsafe driving condition if you frequently operate your vehicle in harsh weather conditions.
When you notice the warning lights and lack of performance, it is time to ask your mechanic for a quote on the wheel speed sensor replacement cost.
Can you drive with an ABS wheel speed sensor problem?
Although you can operate your vehicle with the ABS and traction control warning light illuminated on your dashboard, it indicates further issues that should be addressed before putting thousands of miles on your car.
If you continue driving during inclement weather or tough road conditions with these warning lights illuminated, it can pose a much higher safety risk to you, your passengers, and other cars, since you will lack control of your vehicle while driving at high speeds.
If hard braking that is typically controlled and monitored by the wheel speed sensors or control module is no longer working, this can cause issues that lead to an expensive wheel speed sensor replacement cost. Since the rate of collision will be much higher with these safety features no longer working, drivers should expect to pay hefty fees along with the aforementioned wheel speed sensor replacement cost.
Wheel Speed Sensor Replacement Steps
The main steps to diagnosing the issues with the car’s wheel speed sensors and replacing the parts can streamline the process and help you keep the wheel speed sensor replacement cost at an all time low.
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- First, the mechanic needs to scan the ABS system for any trouble codes using the diagnostic tool.
- Second, the mechanic must inspect the entire brake system.
- The braking system comprises the brake pedal, the brake pads, brake rotors, brake calipers, and other small parts that comprise the entire safety system.
- If you need to replace any of these parts, you have to add this price to the total wheel speed sensor replacement cost.
- Replacing the brake pedal comes to around $138 on average, while replacing the brake pads is around $150 per axle on most cars. Replacing the brake rotor ranges from $200 to $400 for the parts and around $150 for labor, while replacing the brake calipers costs between $526 and $761.
- Once the mechanic is done inspecting the braking system, they will inspect the sensor and reluctor wheel for any damage.
- Then, the mechanic will remove and replace the wheel speed sensor.
- The final step is checking for proper operations, ensuring the wheel speed sensor is working correctly and the brake system is operating at the proper level.
Wheel Speed Sensor Replacement Cost Comparison
To get an idea of how much you might spend on the wheel speed sensor replacement cost for your specific vehicle in your geographical location, we have included sampel cost comparisons for your local mechanic, chain shops, and parts-only stores.
- Your Local Mechanic – The total price of the wheel speed sensor replacement cost at your local mechanic or independent garage typically runs between $146 and $794 on average.
- Midas – The first chain store on the list is Midas, coming in at between $139 and $815 for the total cost.
- Mr. Tire – The price of the wheel speed sensor replacement cost for Mr. Tire is between $127 and $831, coming in at a little less than Midas.
- NAPA – The final store in comparison is NAPA, with a total wheel speed sensor replacement cost of between $144 and $799, coming in at the most expensive choice for this procedure.
- Walmart – If you are looking for just parts and trying to save money on the wheel speed sensor replacement cost by doing the labor on your own, you can buy just the parts at Walmart for between $55 and $621 total.
- Amazon – for those who enjoy shopping online, drivers can purchase the parts for the wheel speed sensor replacement for between $49 and $550, coming in at the overall least-expensive option for this procedure.
Sample Wheel Speed Sensor Replacement Cost Examples
To give you an even more personalized idea of how much you might spend on the wheel speed sensor replacement cost based on your specific make, model, and year of car, we have included the average prices for some of the most popular car models on the road today.
- Ford Cars – The Ford Focus and the Ford Fusion both come in between $143 and $191 for the total wheel speed sensor replacement cost, with the parts costing between $62 and $88 and the labor between $81 and $103. The total time for the procedure for these cars is typically between 1 hour and 1.25 hours.
- Nissan Altima – The second-cheapest option for the wheel speed sensor replacement cost is the altima, having a total price of between $141 and $799. The cost of the labor is between $81 and $103, while the cost of the past is slightly more expensive than the Ford cars, coming in between $70 and $696.
- Ford F-Series – The Ford F-Series has a total price of between $176 adn $439, with the labor between $90 and $115, and the parts between $86 and $324. The total labor time for the F-Series is slightly longer, coming in at between 1.25 and 1.5 hours.
- Honda Civic and Accord – The Honda Civic and Honda Accord both had a total wheel speed sensor replacement cost of between $192 and $337, with the cost of the parts between $48 and $222. The price of the labor for the Honda cars ranges from between $90 to $184, showing how the procedure can take anywhere from 1.25 hours to around 2.25 hours to complete.
- Toyota Camry – One of the more expensive choices in terms of the wheel speed sensor replacement cost is the Camry, coming in at between $387 and $797 for the entire price. The cost of the parts is between $306 and $694, while the labor is between $81 and $103. This shows how the expensive parts make up almost all of the entire procedure price in this vehicle.
- Toyota Corolla – The most expensive car on the road today in terms of the wheel speed sensor replacement cost is the corolla, with the cost of the parts coming to between $306 and $578, and the overall price ranging between $450 and $762.
The Bottom Line
By calculating the wheel speed sensor replacement cost, you can get an idea of the average price you will have to pay to keep the braking system and safety system working properly in your car. A crucial component of the anti-lock brake system, the wheel speed sensors must work correctly to keep your car safely on the road while driving in inclement weather and road conditions.