View RSS Feed

Today at Atelier Kaz - Private NSX Enthusiast, ex-Honda R&D engineer with F1, Indy/CART background

ABS error code #12

Rate this Entry





Still recovering from the cold but I had to collect some parts yesterday so
drove my NSX to the local Honda garage.

On the way, it triggered ABS warning light.

After spending 20 years with about 145K miles together,
looks like my NSX reflects the health condition of the owner as well.

I have already upgraded my ABS to the one body latest spec so
the brain power is much sophisticated than the classic one.
Being as one body system, it’s much easier to diagnose any issues and
it can only be the power supply, ABS module itself or
wheel speed sensor related.

I already disabled the dreadful TCS on non-DBW model ages ago so
no warning light for it.


Collected the parts and re-started the engine.

ABS light stayed on before moving the car but after started driving for about 3min,
the warning light disappeared.
This ABS light behaviour is only related to limited failure modes such as
the wheel speed signal quality or ABS motor so fairly easy to understand.


Using the ABS upgrade loom, read the error code and it was #12,
front right w/speed signal noise issue.


Several years ago, I experienced ABS error #13 and #14 that were for the
front left side so I was somewhat expecting this to happen at the FR side
sooner or later.

Another owner with the classic ABS experienced the same type of
w/speed signal noise issue and with poor brain power of classic system,
it couldn’t detect the issue and thus, no warning light yet his ABS always
kicked in every time when he applied the brake and the car was about to stop.

Quite scary driving the NSX with the brake pedal being pushed back even
when none of the wheels were locked and when the car was about to stop.

Later, the owner upgraded his ABS to the latest spec and immediately,
the system detected the noise issue and triggered the ABS light so
this shows another safety advantage of the upgraded ABS.


Based on my previous experience, I’m not going to bother
measuring the resistance of my FR speed sensor because like when it happened
on the FL side, it will be within the spec depending on the temperature.


Just going to order the new sensor to Japan and I hope it’s in stock.

Kaz


Categories
My NSX , ABS Upgrade

Comments

  1. pralognan's Avatar
    Dear Kaz.
    I've got the same problem on my classic ABS,no warning light but ABS kicks in every time when brakes are applied and car is about to stop. Was scary but now more of an embarrassment when the pump chatters as well.I suspect the wheel speed sensors. Is there any way to find out which one is faulty when no warning light or code. They are all 25 years old but a lot of money for one never mind four!
  2. Kaz-kzukNA1's Avatar
    Unfortunately, as stated above, the brain power of the classic ABS controller is not strong enough and too slow that it can't detect this failure mode.
    Even you measure the resistance of each wheel speed sensors, quite often, all of them will be within the spec.


    You could drive the car for a while to heat everything up, put the car on the lift, apply cold spray on the sensor body itself to cause thermal shock and then measure the resistance in a hope to get different readings but it may not work at all.

    I can't remember the price but I think it was about GBP100-110 each delivered from Japan inc. delivery/tax/fee but I need to check it first.


    You could replace half of the sensors to start with (F or R set) but even you are very careful and trying to save the good ones as a spare, it can easily get damaged on removal considering the age of the sensor.

    Kaz