You could always carry a set of trail spares, the (generic) replacements for the abs sensors aren't too much. The trouble is (as you experienced) that a broken sensor turns off access to 4L and CDL, things I kind of always want to have on tap.
The little guards I have are an SDHQ product.
I’ve never had the CDL fail to locked. If it’s blinking it’s not locked, and the actuator is just not in the home position. Anytime it’s actually locked it’s solid lit.
Unfortunately there are many many potential issues that could blink this light, most of which don’t have any direct relation...
So you weren’t in a water exposure situation? If not it’s probably an emissions code or similar.
I’m not expert. I have had a sticky CDL though, this doesn’t sound at all like that.
Your symptoms are more in line with water ingress than faulty actuation.
You might consider pulling the door trim and checking for wet carpet or water low on the a pillars. All the main electrical junctions as there (both sides), in the 2x2 square plug boxes.
I’ve never had 4lo or CDL engage...