Installing a Speed Sensor on 2001 Hyandai Elantra

The 2001 Hyundai Elantra came with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and a five-speed manual transmission. The speed sensor is a permanent magnet that emits a magnetic field. When each of the reluctor ring teeth passes the sensor it changes the magnetic field, creating an alternating current that the computer uses to read the speed of the wheel. Your wheel speed sensors are vital to the traction control system and ABS system. Your Elantra has four wheel speed sensors, one at each wheel. You can replace the front wheel-speed sensor from under the vehicle, but you have to remove some interior pieces to access and replace the rear wheel-speed sensors.

Instructions

Front Wheel-Speed Sensor Replacement

1

Park the vehicle on a level surface and set the parking brake. Loosen the lug nuts on the front wheel to be serviced, using the lug wrench. Lift the front of the vehicle into the air with the floor jack and place the jack stands under the front sub frame. Lower the vehicle until it rests securely on the jack stands.

2

Remove the lug nuts. Remove the front wheel and tire. Look at the steering knuckle. The wheel speed sensor and mounting bolt will be facing the front of the vehicle. Disconnect the wheel speed sensor connector from the wheel speed sensor.

3

Remove the wheel speed sensor mounting bolt, using the socket and ratchet. Remove the wheel speed sensor from the steering knuckle.

4

Set the multimeter to the "ohms" setting. Connect the multimeter leads to the wheel speed sensor. The correct reading should be between 1275 and 1495 ohms, indicating a good sensor. Set the sensor back into the steering knuckle and set the multimeter to the "volts" setting. Turn the wheel hub by hand and watch for any alternating voltage. If voltage is present and the ohms reading is within specifications, the wheel speed sensor is not faulty. Inspect the wheel speed sensor harness and reluctor ring for damage.

5

Set the new wheel speed sensor into position on the steering knuckle. Install the mounting bolt and tighten to 6 to 7 foot-pounds, using the torque wrench. Place the wheel and tire onto the vehicle and install the lug nuts hand-tight.

6

Lift the front of the vehicle off the jack stands with the floor jack. Remove the jack stands from under the vehicle and lower the vehicle to the ground. Tighten the lug nuts to 66 to 81 foot-pounds with the torque wrench in a crisscross pattern. Clean any trouble codes and drive the vehicle to ensure the new wheel speed sensor works properly.

Rear Wheel Speed Sensor Replacement

7

Open the passenger door. Feel under the seat cushion and find the two bolts that secure the front of the seat cushion to the floorboard. Remove the seat cushion lower bolts with the socket and ratchet. Feel between the upper and lower seat cushion to find the seat cushion rear mounting bolts. Remove the rear mounting bolts with the socket and ratchet. Remove the seat cushion from the vehicle.

8

Pry up on the edges of the rear pillar trim assembly and feel for the plastic retainer clips. Position the trim removal tool under the trim retainers and pry the retainers from the body of the car. Remove the rear pillar trim assembly when all the clips are free.

9

Loosen the lug nuts on the rear wheel to be serviced, using the lug wrench. Lift the rear of the vehicle into the floor jack and place the jack stands under the rear suspension. Lower the vehicle until it rests securely on the jack stands.

10

Remove the lug nuts. Remove the wheel and tire from the vehicle. Loosen the wheel speed sensor mounting bolt with the socket and ratchet. Disconnect the wheel speed sensor from the inside of the vehicle and pull the wheel speed sensor from its mounting hole. Test the wheel speed sensor according to the process in step 4 of Front Wheel Speed Sensor Replacement.

11

Set the new wheel speed sensor into position and install the mounting bolt. Tighten the mounting bolt to 11 to 12 foot-pounds of torque. Connect the wheel speed sensor from inside the vehicle.

12

Set the pillar trim into place, lining up the plastic retainers with the holes in the body. Push down on the trim over the retainers to secure the trim to the vehicle. Set the lower seat cushion into place. Install the front and rear mounting bolts to 12 to 19 foot-pounds with the torque wrench.

13

Install the rear wheel to the vehicle and tighten the lug nuts hand-tight. Lift the rear of the vehicle off the jack stands with the floor jack. Remove the jack stands and lower the vehicle to the ground. Tighten the lug nuts to 66 to 81 foot-pounds with the torque wrench.

14

Clear any trouble codes and drive the vehicle to ensure proper operation of the new wheel speed sensor.