How to Repair the Wheel Sensor on a 2003 VW Golf

The Volkswagen Rabbit, which the rest of the world knew as the Golf, reached U.S. showrooms in 1975, a year after its debut in Europe. In the 1985 model year, VW changed the rabbit name to Golf in the U.S. market. The 2003 Golf came standard with a 115-horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and included a four-wheel antilock brake system. This ABS system uses four wheel sensors, one at each wheel, to determine if the wheels have locked so it can activate the ABS if needed. When an ABS wheel sensor fails on the 2003 Golf, the only repair option is to replace the failed sensor with a new one.

Instructions

Front Sensor Removal

1

Loosen the wheel bolts on the wheel with the failed sensor, using a ratchet and socket. Lift the front of the vehicle with a floor jack and slide jack stands under its subframe. Lower the Golf onto the jack stands. Remove the wheel bolts and remove the wheel.

2

Find the ABS wheel speed sensor on the front of the steering knuckle. Disconnect the wiring harness from the ABS wheel speed sensor, then remove the bolt securing the wheel speed sensor, using a ratchet and socket.

3

Pull the sensor from the steering knuckle.

Front Sensor Installation

4

Clean the ABS wheel speed sensors mating surface and mounting hole with a wire brush. Apply a thin coating of high-temperature grease to the speed sensor.

5

Guide the ABS wheel speed sensor into the steering knuckle and tighten its mounting bolt to 71 inch-pounds, using am inch-pound torque wrench and socket. Plug the wiring harness into the ABS wheel speed sensor.

6

Place the wheel back onto the front hub and hand-tighten the wheel bolts. Raise the Golf off the jack stands and remove the stands. Lower the VW to the ground and torque the wheel bolts, in a crisscrossing pattern, to 89 foot-pounds with a torque wrench and socket.

Rear Sensor Removal

7

Loosen the wheel bolts on the rear wheel with the failed wheel speed sensor. Lift the rear of the Golf with a floor jack and slide jack stands under the rear crossmember. Lower the vehicle onto the jack stands. Remove the wheel bolts and remove the wheel.

8

Find the rear wheel ABS sensor bolted to a short bracket on the rear knuckle. Unplug the wiring harness from the ABS sensor.

9

Remove the ABS wheel sensor bolt with a ratchet and socket, and pull the sensor from the bracket.

Rear Sensor Installation

10

Clean the brackets mating surface and mounting hole with a wire brush, then apply a thin coat of high-temperature grease to the speed sensor. Guide the speed sensor into the hole in the bracket and tighten the mounting bolt to 71 inch-pounds, using an inch-pound torque wrench and socket.

11

Plug the wiring harness into the ABS wheel sensors receptacle.

12

Reinstall the rear wheel onto the hub and hand-tighten its wheel bolts. Raise the rear of the VW from the jack stands, remove the jack stands, then lower the Golf to the ground. Torque the lug nuts, in a crisscross pattern, to 89 foot-pounds.