ABS, ESP/BAS, Traction Control - and now (Torque Converter)

[Ambra]

Originally I posted an entry in regards to my ABS, ESP/BAS & Traction Control kicking in when applying the brakes over any little bump or crack in the road.

I took it to a shop and they told me that I needed my calipers, rotors and brakes replaced even though I just put brand-new brakes on about a year ago. They changed everything and it seemed to still make the same noise and kick under my foot when hitting the brake.

I assume that the kick under my foot has to do with the ABS braking system.

After doing about $4000 worth of work to my vehicle I went back to the shop and informed them that it was still making the same noise under my foot. The mechanic got in the vehicle took it for a test ride and then came back to check everything out and said that everything was fine and there was nothing to worry about.

The shop knew that I was planning to drive 2000 miles with a U-Haul trailer with about 3000 pounds in the back. And they still told me that everything was fine. So in the middle of my ride across the country and I Heard a weird whining noise that sounded like a semi truck coming to a stop.

Once I got to my destination, The engine light came on. So I took it to a parts store and the code read P0700 and P0740. Both of these codes are somehow tied into the torque converter.

So now instead of it just being my ABS system and my traction control, there is an issue with my torque converter. It seems to get worse every single day and this has been going on for two weeks. I will be taking it to a shop within the next couple of weeks to get checked out but I am not going to trust any mechanic when they tell me that it’s simple or that it’s gonna be like $1000. I am going to make sure I have a few different mechanics look into it because it could be a simple sensor.


I will be posting on here every time something new happens or appears.


Vehicle information

2006 Jeep Liberty 3.7 L

 

[jeepop]

So your initial problem sounds like what my Jeep was doing when one of the ABS sensors was bad. The front ABS sensors that I had were not too old and came with new front hubs. So I did not think it was them. I was able to borrow a better scan tool that attached to you phone that also showed the ABS system to see the issue. I think I went with 2 new mopar abs sensors and that solved it

I am not able to help on the second issue.

 

[jeepop]

Bluedriiver is the amazon scan tool that showed which ABS sensor was kicking in.

You need a new mechanic. Yours either has no diagnostic skills or just wanted lots of labor charges to pay some bills. He sounds like a boarderline ole crook to me.

 

[hadtomer]

Hello - had the same problem. eheck engine light, traction control - abs - ****** christmas tree all lit up. It was an ABS sensor - driver side front wheel. From what i can remember the fault code did not show on my ebay scanner (I am a cheap ******* and i use a bluetooth scanner) and my mechanic who only fixes jeeps found it on his fancy scanner. I am sorry if my english is not the best - but i do remember that you cant find it on any old scanner.

 

[Johnny O]

Check the connectors on the sensors. Found that out of the seven I went through troubleshooting ABS that they were not locking tight. Yes, that includes the Mopar. There’s serious quality control issues.

I ended up chopping the connectors off on both sides and putting in vampire shunt style connectors.

 

[Ambra]

Bluedriiver is the amazon scan tool that showed which ABS sensor was kicking in.

You need a new mechanic. Yours either has no diagnostic skills or just wanted lots of labor charges to pay some bills. He sounds like a boarderline ole crook to me.

Agreed ! I said the same thing. Sadly my dad really recommended the guy and they saw how I could be a loyal person. Now my antennas are up and I don’t act nice. Lol

 

[Ambra]

Hello - had the same problem. eheck engine light, traction control - abs - ****** christmas tree all lit up. It was an ABS sensor - driver side front wheel. From what i can remember the fault code did not show on my ebay scanner (I am a cheap ******* and i use a bluetooth scanner) and my mechanic who only fixes jeeps found it on his fancy scanner. I am sorry if my english is not the best - but i do remember that you cant find it on any old scanner.

Thank you for the response.

 

[Ambra]

THANK YOU GUYS FOR YOUR RESPONSES. IT MEANS A LOT! I put a code reader that my cousin recommended in my Amazon cart. I’ll be getting that for “future use.” I think I’m going to get the ABS sensor replaced because honestly after wiggling it and making sure it was connected properly the other day - the issue stopped for a day. Lol then back to its b.s. So I’m definitely going to start by replacing the ABS sensor.

 

[jeepop]

Hey -- great looking Liberty bye the way! Our Jeeps look a lot alike. After hitting a deer I just put in a black grill in our khaki green Jeep. I don't have the black rims though.

 

[Ambra]

Hey -- great looking Liberty bye the way! Our Jeeps look a lot alike. After hitting a deer I just put in a black grill in our khaki green Jeep. I don't have the black rims though.

I used some peel-able paint for the wheels, fenders, grill, etc. Just to add the black to it since it was that old faded grey color that comes stock with the Jeep. The grill looks neat with the black.

 

[JeepSpace]

I had the same combination of lights, and it turned out to be the Wheel Speed Angle Sensor, which I think is different than the ABS sensors.

 

[Ambra]

I had the same combination of lights, and it turned out to be the Wheel Speed Angle Sensor, which I think is different than the ABS sensors.

That's what I keep hearing! But the parts keep coming up as ABS Wheel Speed Sensor.

 

[Duster]

I've been through twice thinking my transmission was going out and a 3rd time prior my wife was driving it.

Wife was driving it to pick up the kids in the school line, called and said it won't move. A male teacher nursed it out of the way, I went over and drove it home no issue. I thought was a fluke or wife thing. Later I had a front ABS sensor code and replaced both assemblies. I never made the connection cause I'm dumb. Before the bearings started making noise I had a time or two it like torque limited taking off (which can get you T-boned) and then the dash would light up.

Few years later I got it on some clear ice on a snow patch hill and thought trans was going out because it stopped trying to use it's brains on the traction control stuff. I pushed the gas more in panic and it went on. This was just all this crap working in a very slippery situation and I had never experienced it before.

Then a little over 3 months ago (the last time it happened) I would get the random dash light christmas tree after hitting bumps and it would clear itself. Figured it was wiring. Then one day I back out of a driveway, take off and the engine revs up like the transmission just fell out after I was already moving. I freaked out. Figured I blew I trans line and wheeled it off the road, shut it off. Nothing. Fluid looked clean smelled ok etc. Went about 2 weeks and it happened again.

After having the codes read, etc, there were no transmission codes ever. Just 2 different codes for rear wheel speed sensor. I checked the wiring best I could and it looked ok. I changed the sensor and it stopped lighting up the dash like a Christmas tree over bumps.

Please tell me what your codes are and I think I can help you.

If you have a roar, I suspect you are going to need front hub assemblies which come with the sensors. You are probably going to have front speed sensor codes. I can help on how-to and pre-job prep if you have front bearing issues and front sensor codes.

 

[Ambra]

I've been through twice thinking my transmission was going out and a 3rd time prior my wife was driving it.

Wife was driving it to pick up the kids in the school line, called and said it won't move. A male teacher nursed it out of the way, I went over and drove it home no issue. I thought was a fluke or wife thing. Later I had a front ABS sensor code and replaced both assemblies. I never made the connection cause I'm dumb. Before the bearings started making noise I had a time or two it like torque limited taking off (which can get you T-boned) and then the dash would light up.

Few years later I got it on some clear ice on a snow patch hill and thought trans was going out because it stopped trying to use it's brains on the traction control stuff. I pushed the gas more in panic and it went on. This was just all this crap working in a very slippery situation and I had never experienced it before.

Then a little over 3 months ago (the last time it happened) I would get the random dash light christmas tree after hitting bumps and it would clear itself. Figured it was wiring. Then one day I back out of a driveway, take off and the engine revs up like the transmission just fell out after I was already moving. I freaked out. Figured I blew I trans line and wheeled it off the road, shut it off. Nothing. Fluid looked clean smelled ok etc. Went about 2 weeks and it happened again.

After having the codes read, etc, there were no transmission codes ever. Just 2 different codes for rear wheel speed sensor. I checked the wiring best I could and it looked ok. I changed the sensor and it stopped lighting up the dash like a Christmas tree over bumps.

Please tell me what your codes are and I think I can help you.

If you have a roar, I suspect you are going to need front hub assemblies which come with the sensors. You are probably going to have front speed sensor codes. I can help on how-to and pre-job prep if you have front bearing issues and front sensor codes.

Hey! Thanks for the response! Yeah, so the codes that came up were the P0740 & P0700 but only with the engine light on.

No actual codes are being read for my wheel speed sensors at all. It’s kinda weird honestly.

The code P0740:
P0740 is a diagnostic trouble code (DTC) for "Torque Converter Clutch Circuit Malfunction"

I do hear a strange sound that almost sounds like a semi truck honk - but that is dragged out slowly while holding the brake and moving without touching the gas. lol But that only happens when it rained on the Jeep or got a little cool out at night.

For example, I get to work and it cools down sometimes in the evening and I noticed that I start her up and she just makes a long honk noise while I am holding the brake to move forward. If I let go of the brake, it does stop.

Sucky thing is, every time I take it to someone to tell me what to do to fix it, they don’t know what to do. Makes no sense when these individuals are mechanics. I can do the physical work if it doesn’t actually mean I am going to get sprayed by fluids. I love working on my Jeep. But this new and strange sound bothers me.

The ABS, ESP/BAS, Traction Control all come on when I hit a bump. The lights shut off after a few minutes and then the slightest bump or crack in the road sets it off all over again. It’s very very annoying. I wiggled on my front wiring for the ABS sensor and it helped for a day with the ABS issue. But I have literally not gotten around to fix it. It ***** working so much that I can’t get to fixing it.

And that’s mainly because no one will tell me what actually needs done.

They want to fix it all and quite literally there’s no way I am going to just have them replace the trans, the torque converter and all of its components and all of the sensors for ABS etc.

I’m really relying on the truth at this point. But we all know mechanics are not always truthful.

Also, my transmission fluid was replaced and I’m assuming the shop that did it wasn’t thinking about the fact that my Liberty is 16 years old. Back in the day with my Trans Am I would never ever drain and replace fluids for the transmission because of the thickness of the fluids needed.

So yeah that’s been messing with it too. Noticed some leaking yesterday. I’ll take some photos and post more detail about what’s going on.

 

[Ambra]

I've been through twice thinking my transmission was going out and a 3rd time prior my wife was driving it.

Wife was driving it to pick up the kids in the school line, called and said it won't move. A male teacher nursed it out of the way, I went over and drove it home no issue. I thought was a fluke or wife thing. Later I had a front ABS sensor code and replaced both assemblies. I never made the connection cause I'm dumb. Before the bearings started making noise I had a time or two it like torque limited taking off (which can get you T-boned) and then the dash would light up.

Few years later I got it on some clear ice on a snow patch hill and thought trans was going out because it stopped trying to use it's brains on the traction control stuff. I pushed the gas more in panic and it went on. This was just all this crap working in a very slippery situation and I had never experienced it before.

Then a little over 3 months ago (the last time it happened) I would get the random dash light christmas tree after hitting bumps and it would clear itself. Figured it was wiring. Then one day I back out of a driveway, take off and the engine revs up like the transmission just fell out after I was already moving. I freaked out. Figured I blew I trans line and wheeled it off the road, shut it off. Nothing. Fluid looked clean smelled ok etc. Went about 2 weeks and it happened again.

After having the codes read, etc, there were no transmission codes ever. Just 2 different codes for rear wheel speed sensor. I checked the wiring best I could and it looked ok. I changed the sensor and it stopped lighting up the dash like a Christmas tree over bumps.

Please tell me what your codes are and I think I can help you.

If you have a roar, I suspect you are going to need front hub assemblies which come with the sensors. You are probably going to have front speed sensor codes. I can help on how-to and pre-job prep if you have front bearing issues and front sensor codes.

I attached a video to my media.

Here’s the link. I just did this video

FullSizeRender.MOV

www.jeepkj.com

 

[DadOSix]

Hey! Thanks for the response! Yeah, so the codes that came up were the P0740 & P0700 but only with the engine light on.

No actual codes are being read for my wheel speed sensors at all. It’s kinda weird honestly.

The code P0740:
P0740 is a diagnostic trouble code (DTC) for "Torque Converter Clutch Circuit Malfunction"

I do hear a strange sound that almost sounds like a semi truck honk - but that is dragged out slowly while holding the brake and moving without touching the gas. lol But that only happens when it rained on the Jeep or got a little cool out at night.

For example, I get to work and it cools down sometimes in the evening and I noticed that I start her up and she just makes a long honk noise while I am holding the brake to move forward. If I let go of the brake, it does stop.

Sucky thing is, every time I take it to someone to tell me what to do to fix it, they don’t know what to do. Makes no sense when these individuals are mechanics. I can do the physical work if it doesn’t actually mean I am going to get sprayed by fluids. I love working on my Jeep. But this new and strange sound bothers me.

The ABS, ESP/BAS, Traction Control all come on when I hit a bump. The lights shut off after a few minutes and then the slightest bump or crack in the road sets it off all over again. It’s very very annoying. I wiggled on my front wiring for the ABS sensor and it helped for a day with the ABS issue. But I have literally not gotten around to fix it. It ***** working so much that I can’t get to fixing it.

And that’s mainly because no one will tell me what actually needs done.

They want to fix it all and quite literally there’s no way I am going to just have them replace the trans, the torque converter and all of its components and all of the sensors for ABS etc.

I’m really relying on the truth at this point. But we all know mechanics are not always truthful.

Also, my transmission fluid was replaced and I’m assuming the shop that did it wasn’t thinking about the fact that my Liberty is 16 years old. Back in the day with my Trans Am I would never ever drain and replace fluids for the transmission because of the thickness of the fluids needed.

So yeah that’s been messing with it too. Noticed some leaking yesterday. I’ll take some photos and post more detail about what’s going on.

Much as i hate to think this - there are mechanics and parts changers. To work successfully on a kj, the mechanic MUST UNDERSTAND how this beast is supposed to operate. It isn't good enough to just chase what the scan tool says.

there is a gal I work with who has a Range Rover and has had it in 3 shops trying to get a fix. They all tellher that they will look at it, but don't know a whole lot about those trucks. To me, that says 'run away'.

The old guy at the dealership ( i know, I said it) just might have some insight as to what is going.

all that you have said is going wrong / on is electrical in nature. These beasts are old and have wiring gremlins galore. If your mechanic isn't skilled at diagnostics and tracing thru the diagrams, you will never find the issue. Could be as simple as Eric O. (south main auto) says ' a case of the green crusties'.

now, with all that written - is there an 'auto electric' guru in your area?

 

[Duster]

Run it by any Autozone if you can and do a scan. I just found out last night the scanners they use can read our ABS codes.

It does store codes when the dash lights up when you hit a bump. I think they are there to get. I just don't think anyone has hooked up a tool capable of reading them.

And I am NOT saying you don't have transmission problems in this case. You may very well. I have never had a trans code. But try again for ABS codes. It could just be an ABS sensor or the ABS module. Sensors are cheap, ABS module not so much.

I personally think you have an ABS issue rather you have a trans issue or not. You seem to be feeling the ABS modulate in the brake pedal.

All this crap works great in 4x4 when it works and you learn how to throttle on through. But in my opinion it is not worth it. I would frankly like to delete it all. But I dont think it is possible on ours. And the ABS is ALLL interconnected to the traction control, stability control and transmission for torque limiting purposes.

If it were mine I would treat it as I did. I would rule out the ABS system first and see if the trans codes and wierd stuff would clear up before I jumped to the transmission. It is very hard now to find trans shops. Network here and your personal circle and see if you can find someone who knows someone so you can have some sort of trust in what they say. Some will read the codes and say you need a rebuild or a trans rather you do or not. Others willl hook up and diagnose by all the data and also by pressures.

 

[Duster]

I also agree on electrical gremlins. I myself have this thing where sometimes the dash goes dead, lets out a ding and every light in the cluster lights then goes out. Runs fine the whole time and is over in 1-2 seconds. It has done it twice before. Then twice in the last week. And it's not the engine/trans computer. That's been replaced. Weird stuff. I don't have a clue

 

[Johnny O]

I also agree on electrical gremlins. I myself have this thing where sometimes the dash goes dead, lets out a ding and every light in the cluster lights then goes out. Runs fine the whole time and is over in 1-2 seconds. It has done it twice before. Then twice in the last week. And it's not the engine/trans computer. That's been replaced. Weird stuff. I don't have a clue

Suspect that’s a canbus error. Check all the connections. Did you have the puter flashes after replacing it? Running LEDs anywhere? Most likely a loose connection. Did you use dielectric grease on your connectors?

 

[Ambra]

Much as i hate to think this - there are mechanics and parts changers. To work successfully on a kj, the mechanic MUST UNDERSTAND how this beast is supposed to operate. It isn't good enough to just chase what the scan tool says.

there is a gal I work with who has a Range Rover and has had it in 3 shops trying to get a fix. They all tellher that they will look at it, but don't know a whole lot about those trucks. To me, that says 'run away'.

The old guy at the dealership ( i know, I said it) just might have some insight as to what is going.

all that you have said is going wrong / on is electrical in nature. These beasts are old and have wiring gremlins galore. If your mechanic isn't skilled at diagnostics and tracing thru the diagrams, you will never find the issue. Could be as simple as Eric O. (south main auto) says ' a case of the green crusties'.

now, with all that written - is there an 'auto electric' guru in your area?

That’s a very good question! I have no idea because I just moved across the country a couple months ago. Near Pittsburgh now. So I have no idea where to look for a good mechanic who can really pin this out. My father is an electrician and naturally is great with vehicle electrical as well. But he’s 2,200 miles away. Grr. I need this fixed. I want my little baby fixed. I’m sure you have been in my shoes too.