With automotive technology constantly changing and updating, it is imperative that we as technicians continue to learn and change as well.

Will Carcone, Instructor, CARS OnDemand

Will Carconi is an instructor with CARSOnDemand a provider of technical and business training to Canada’s automotive aftermarket. CARS OnDemand is a provider of technical tips and information by through special arrangement to Indie Garage. For more information on CARS OnDemand courses, visit CARSOnDemand.com

(transcript with edits)

With automotive technology constantly changing and updating, it is imperative that we as technicians continue to learn and change as well.

In CARS OnDemand Toyota anti-lock braking systems (ABS) training we cover the operation and diagnosis of the Toyota ABS system specifically highlighting the interaction between optional traction control and stability control systems used to enhance the performance through vehicle control.

Knowing only the basics behind a safety system like anti-lock brakes may not be enough to fully understand the proper operation and diagnosis of the specific system used by Toyota within its Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management system or VDIM.

An important component of Toyota’s ABS is its wheel speed sensor. Antilock brake systems may use either a passive or active type of sensor. Knowing the sensor that you are working with and the appropriate types of tests available will lead to a successful repair.

In CARS OnDemand course B 320-01 we provide proper testing methods while also giving participants real-world values and data that you will see when working on these components.

Let’s look at some tests and values for a Toyota active wheel speed sensor.

Toyota Active ABS voltage toggle: 0.7 v.

First we use a digital multi-meter to inspect for voltage toggle starting at approximately 0.7 volts and then rising approximately to 1.4 volts as we spin the wheel assembly. This shows an average output but not much more.

Toyota Active ABS voltage toggle: 1.4 v.

Toyota Active ABS current toggle: 14.17 mA.

Next using our digital multi-meter we can also perform a current toggle test. Again it does show operation but only an average reading is shown.

As the wheel assembly is rotated to get a signal pattern of high and low, our best piece of equipment would be our scope.Here we see the voltage going from approximately 0.7 to 1.4 volts as well as a frequency change as the wheel assembly is rotated faster and finally using a scan tool to monitor our sensor output we can easily compare its reading to other wheel speed sensors on our vehicle.

Toyota Active ABS scope.

This was just a quick walkthrough of the equipment and tests that can be performed.

The full Toyota Annie lock braking systems B 320-01 course along with hundreds of other automotive related lessons are available to CARS OnDemand participants at CARS OnDemand.com.