Are you sensing an issue with your car? The cause may be rooted in components that can be found in several systems – sensors.
Sensor problems are a common occurrence that impact all kinds of vehicles.
Your auto repair shop might recommend replacing a sensor when you bring your car in for maintenance or have someone look into a problem.
What do sensors do?
Sensors play their own special part in how cars operate.
Simply put – sensors are your readers. Vehicles are made up of many sensors, which pass on information to computers.
They can be found in the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), fuel system, cooling system, anti-lock braking system (ABS), steering system, engine and other places.
Certain cars come with brake pad wear sensors or cam sensors. Those that use Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) may have back up sensors.
Sensors can provide you with a variety of feedback, including telling you if your tires are low, detecting objects that are behind a vehicle, sharing how quickly a wheel spins, and noting if a seat has an occupant.
What can cause sensor problems?
Like other components, sensors can go bad and need to be replaced.
This could be the result of normal wear and tear. However, there may be other problems at play.
They include fluids as well as connector problems. Broken or chafed wires and corrosion buildup are other possibilities.
ABS wheel speed sensors sit in the knuckle. Sometimes, you’ll think a sensor is bad when really corrosion is collecting on the wheel speed sensor, causing it to move away from the tone ring.
What are signs of a bad sensor?
How can you tell when you have a bad sensor? The short answer is warning lights.
A lot of times, when sensors go bad, they trigger dashboard lights, such as:
- ABS light
- Airbag light
- Check engine light
- TPMS light
- Traction control light
Most drivers will notice these lights. However, depending on the system and sensor, there are going to be different signs.
For example, crankshaft sensors might cause your car to stall or not start.
If something is wrong with a wheel speed sensor, the ABS light could turn on or the system may feel funny.
A bad occupant sensor is a possible culprit behind the airbag light.
The check engine light may appear if there are oxygen sensor issues. These sensors can throw off the fuel trim, as well.
Meanwhile, TPMS sensors with a bad battery or circuit board may prompt a TPMS light.
How do we diagnose sensor problems?
How do we figure out if there’s a sensor problem? Through diagnostic testing.
If a customer notices a light or that their vehicle doesn’t seem to be running right, we perform diagnostics to determine the cause.
We start with any observations a driver has noticed, like a dashboard light turning on or an abnormal driving condition.
This process includes a visual inspection and checking for any codes. Our technicians also complete test drives and use information provided by the driver to narrow down their search.
The exact steps we take when conducting diagnostic testing will differ among the warning lights and which road manners appear.
HomeTowne Auto Repair & Tire is an authorized Michelin and BFGoodrich tire dealer located near Dumfries, Virginia. Automotive repair services are performed on all makes and models, including oil changes, brakes, alignments, inspections, and computer engine diagnostics.