Dash Lights Come on: ABS/AWD/Brake/VDC/VDC Off | ABS/Brake Problem?

[bill875]

I have a 2008 Rogue SL AWD with 112,580 Miles. I have an issue that I am hoping some of you might be familiar with or might have some ideas of what the cause could be.

Last Friday, I was braking to slow down on an interstate exit ramp and was barely coasting when I felt the ABS system kick in very lightly and some strange, but faint sounds came from the passenger side of the vehicle and the dashboard lights came on as shown in the image below. The conditions were dry and the car was not slipping on anything.



I wasn't far from my destination, so I drove the remainder of the way without issue, but I was very cautious and periodically tested my brakes. I arrived without issue, shut off the car, had dinner with my family and left about 1.5 hrs later. I started the car, and the lights were off. Moments later, the ABS Self-test kicked in and the ABS light came on. I continued to drive through the parking lot and as I braked at the exit, all of the dash lights lit up as they did before.

I hope someone has seen this issue before and can offer some guidance or ideas as to what might be causing this before I get screwed by a mechanic for hours of diagnostic time and parts I may not need. Any thoughts, ideas and suggestions are welcome and very much appreciated.

A little history: The car has been great and operating flawlessly, except for my front brake rotors being warped for the last 4,000 miles or so, causing pulsating. I've only ever replaced the rotors and pads (Front/Back 5 years ago and Fronts 2.5 years ago) and lubed the calipers with the help of a friend. It is probably time to replace all four rotors/pads and calipers and in the process, drain/replace the brake fluid. Unfortunately I am not up to the task of doing this on my own and it's just too darn hot. Any ideas/estimates of what this job would cost with parts/labor?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts, ideas and suggestions and any pricing estimates you can provide to have the full brake job work done.

[Rogue Jarhead]

Probably one of the front wheel speed sensors. To really know you would have to plug it into a code reader capable of reading the abs/brake system. Autozone and others have generic scanners that will not read a proprietary abs system. The wheel speed sensors are about $80 each. One 10mm bolt and the other end of the sensor is a plug in. Easy to change, however I have never replaced a speed sensor on a vehicle with as may miles as you have that I didn't have to cut, hammer, drill or all three to get it out. They tend to become part of the wheel hub.

It may be something entirely different but one of those sensors going bad makes a Christmas tree out of your dashboard. Find someone you trust if you don't feel comfortable doing it yourself. YouTube probably has a video on changing them out along with doing the brakes and rotors.

[bill875]

Thank you Rogue Jarhead for the reply. I was thinking about buying an OBD2 scanner that can provide the necessary data as it would likely be the same cost as a diagnostic from the dealership. The Launch Tech CRP123 looks like it will test the ABS system and it can be updated online. I think I'll pull the trigger from Amazon as I can easily return it if it doesn't work as needed. If you have any suggestions for a good scanner, please feel free to share. Thanks again.

[Rogue Jarhead]

Unfortunately I don't have a scanner that will read those values. I do however have a friend that has a Mac scanner with all kinds of updates and it reads my Nissan just fine. I really don't want to spend around $5000 on a scanner though so I'm not thinking about putting one like it in my Christmas stocking anytime soon. Let me know if your choice of the Launch Tech will read the abs system, and the transmission also. I've been on the hunt for one that will do both at a reasonable cost.

[bill875]

Update: I bought and received the Launch Tech CRP123 back in September. I hooked it up and ran scans both before during and after the dash lights came on and no error codes appeared for ABS or any other systems, so back it went to Amazon.

Yesterday, 11/1/16, I took my Rogue to the local Nissan Dealership to have them diagnose the problem and they quickly received a code for the Front Passenger ABS Speed Sensor. After taking a look at the speed sensor, they found it was seized to the Wheel Bearing, so they quoted $760! to replace both parts. Initially I told them to just put the wheel back on and I'd pay the $95 diagnostic and limp it home, but I called them back a few minutes later and got them to knock off $100 with a "Coupon" and they ended up knocking off another $35 to get the price down to $625. I just wanted my Rogue running safely again and I knew the Nissan dealer would be able to easily diagnose the issue with their code reader.

The advisor also told me the Front Lower Control Arms are shot (which I knew, due to clunking and noise going over bumps) and he quoted me an outrageous $1120 to replace both. They had the parts marked at $270 each plus labor! I just ordered them from Amazon for $64 & $67 each and will have a local mechanic put them on for less than $200 (hopefully).

Anyway, if your dash lights come on as they did in my post above, it could very well be an ABS Wheel speed sensor.

[Rogue Jarhead]

Appreciate the update on the scanner. Thank you.

If your rotors are warped which you mentioned in the original post you probably should do them again.

Just for future information, someone else on here recently had a wheel speed sensor issue and found a new one on amazon for less than $20. When it was installed it worked fine and solved their issue. Will a cheap sensor like that last? Time will tell. I have purchased them from rock auto for around $80 each. Replacing them is easy unless you live in the salt belt. There is one 10mm bolt holding the sensor to the hub and an electrial plug to disconnect, that's it. However in northern PA I've never had one of those just slide out. I usually have to use a hammer and punch and clean up the hole with a drill and file.

Glad you solved your issue.