Q: ABS shuts down transmission

asked by on February 19, 2018

ABS light came on and transmission lost forward gears
My car has an automatic transmission. Diagnostic shows 3 of 4 sensors bad, but they all went bad at once? Must be something else.

Check to be sure the transmission has adequate fluid. Too little fluid and the car won’t move. The ABS system electronics, and the braking control that the ABS pump provides, do not have any connection to the transmission. If multiple "sensors" in the transmission fail, it may be that a common ground to the sensors is poor. In any event, you are right, it is statistically improbable that multiple sensors will fail independently of one another (i.e., each due to a unique cause), rather there is more likely to be a system failure. The sensors have to be tested directly, by the way; they are not necessarily failed. What may be failed is the wiring to the sensors, again a common ground could be missing. Absolutely no forward movement in drive can be due to the transmission oil pump failing, the input shaft shearing off, or perhaps a failure of the manual valve in the valve body which is actuated by the shift cable. If you want the underlying fault pinpointed, and then obtain an explanation of what exactly must be repaired to get the car running normally, please request a no movement in any gear diagnostic. If you request that service, the responding certified mechanic will get this diagnosed and explain your repair options, right at your location. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic because we want you to make the most of your repair dollars and help you to get the best possible results.

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