100 Series ABS/Traction Control (?) Issue (1 Viewer)

[G24]

Hey everyone, hopefully I'm posting this in the right place. If not someone please point me in the right direction. I want to preface this by saying I do not consider myself a Land Cruiser enthusiast or really a car/truck enthusiast in general, however I've always loved the look and capabilities of the 100 series. I bought the truck because I was in need of a large, reliable SUV for my job. I have searched through the forums on here for a few weeks with little luck, hoping to find some help from the community.

Anyways-

Recently became the owner of a 2000 LC with 150k miles. It is truly in great shape aside from the rust underneath which I understand is the cardinal sin when buying any used vehicle. That being said I've owned it for about 3 months with no real problems until now. I've seen one, maybe two posts similar to what I've been experiencing but here's my description:

When accelerating from a complete stop (stop sign/red light) the vehicle makes an awful grinding sound and violently shutters/drags. It will not accelerate and feels like I'm pressing the gas and brake at the same time or am trying to drive with the parking brake engaged. I can feel this in both the front wheels and it feels/sounds extremely bad for the vehicle. Usually I immediately let off the gas to stop the grinding and try to lightly feather the gas pedal until it eventually stops happening and I'm able to drive normally again. When this happens I get ABS + VSC TRAC + VSC OFF lights illuminated on the dash. These lights are cleared when I turn the car off and back on which has made diagnosis at a shop difficult. It is completely random and unpredictable - sometimes I go days without it happening at all and sometimes it happens several times in the same day.

I have stopped driving the truck because I don't want to damage it further and it's obviously dangerous (I've been first in line at a red light with this happening in the middle of a busy intersection). I am a surgical rep and drive a lot. Can't risk this thing dying in the middle of the street on me one day. From what I've gathered this might be a wheel speed sensor issue but from my research it could also be a lot of other things causing this. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Additional info that might be useful:
No modifications or lift.
Tires are michelin defenders (I think the normal tires).
The first thing I did when I got it was take it to a trusted shop who did not find any issues other than the rust and a small radiator leak.

 

[badlander]

Check your front axle splines and drive flanges. Sounds like one or both axles splines are stripped.
Spinning axle splines would produce the sounds you are hearing and trigger the lights you are seeing.

 

[98100series]

Honestly sounds like your VSC may need calibration or the rust has may have affected one or more of the rack and pinion mounts. It is awd, so the front axles load up when taking off, if the rack and pinion is sending a message to the ECU that there is a problem it will engage the stability control which is controlled by the brake booster. It will make almost a metal to metal sound. When the stability control kicks on the vehicle basically goes into limp mode. There is no real way to accelerate out of it. Pretty dangerous, happens a lot when people use urethane rack bushings in place of the OEM rubber grommet but typically only happens on long sweeping turns. But surly makes the same sounds and behaves this exact way when it engages. Good luck.

 

[G24]

Hey guys thanks for the responses. I was able to get into a shop while the lights were on the dash so we were able to read the codes. Turns out is was front driver’s side wheel speed sensor that needs replacing.

Current situation now is that my mechanic is unable to get the faulty sensor off due to components being rusted. He is also worried that if he gets aggressive with it and tries to replace it that other larger rusted parts of the truck will come into play and could become a disaster situation which I would very much like to avoid.

Sounds like my options are to risk it and try to go through with the replacement or drive the truck with ABS disabled to stop the issue from happening while I drive. Anyone ever been in a similar situation or have any advice here?

 

[riffman12]

I understand why a faulty speed sensor would throw codes, but that doesn't explain and grinding noises you were hearing...

I would check the splines on the drive flange of that wheel. If the vehicle is sending drive to that wheel, and the wheel is not turning because the flange is stripped, it would likely confuse the system and make a nasty noise.

Regarding the rust, can't help you there. If the rust is so bad that you compromise the structure replacing a wheel sensor, then it may be too far gone. Feel free to post pics and rust experts can chime in.

 

[G24]

I understand why a faulty speed sensor would throw codes, but that doesn't explain and grinding noises you were hearing...

I would check the splines on the drive flange of that wheel. If the vehicle is sending drive to that wheel, and the wheel is not turning because the flange is stripped, it would likely confuse the system and make a nasty noise.

Regarding the rust, can't help you there. If the rust is so bad that you compromise the structure replacing a wheel sensor, then it may be too far gone. Feel free to post pics and rust experts can chime in.

I think the “grinding” noise I’m hearing might just be the result of trying to accelerate while the braking system is engaged?

Do you think checking the splines and possibly replacing them could also resolve the wheel speed sensor issue?

 

[badlander]

The speed sensor and splines are two completely different issues.
To remove the rusted in speed sensor the hub has to be removed and the sensor then pounded out from the inside. The spline condition will be observable during hub removal.