L200 ABS Nightmare: Speed Sensor Problems and Solutions

Hey there! I had a similar issue with my 2008 Mitsubishi Pajero Diesel . The symptoms were exactly the same, ABS light on and system not working. After taking it to my trusted workshop, it turned out the ABS control unit was toast. Cost me about 1000€ to get it sorted, but it's been working perfectly since then. Before jumping to conclusions though, what's your mileage and have you noticed any other warning lights? Also, have you had any work done on the brakes recently? This could help narrow down the issue. Hope this helps! Let me know if you need more details.

Thanks for sharing your experience! Mine's currently at 77083 KM and just had its service last month. I haven't noticed any other warning lights, and no recent brake work has been done. Really hoping it's just a sensor and not the control unit, that repair cost you mentioned has me worried! Did your mechanic try cleaning the sensors first before replacing the unit? Just trying to explore all options before potentially dropping that kind of money on repairs.

Hey again! Thanks for the follow-up. Yeah, I totally get your concern about the repair costs, I was hoping for a simpler fix with mine too! With your mileage being relatively low (mine was at 165,000 KM when it failed), you might be in luck. Actually, my mechanic did try cleaning the sensors first, it's always worth a shot since it's a much cheaper option. They checked and cleaned all four wheel sensors, and even tested the wiring connections. Unfortunately, in my case, it didn't solve the problem. But here's the good news, since your car was just serviced last month and the mileage is pretty low, there's a decent chance it could just be a dirty sensor or a loose connection. Sometimes moisture and road grime can mess with the sensors. My mechanic told me that about 60% of the ABS issues he sees are sensor-related rather than control unit failures. Why don't you try getting the sensors cleaned and checked first? It'll cost you way less than a control unit replacement, and if that fixes it, you'll save yourself a bundle. My experience might've been on the worse end of the spectrum! Let me know what you find out, I'm curious to hear if you get lucky with a simpler fix!

Thanks so much for the detailed response, that's really helpful! You've definitely made me feel a bit more optimistic about the situation. I'll definitely take your advice and have them check and clean the sensors first. It makes total sense to start with the simpler (and cheaper!) solutions before jumping to the worst-case scenario. I'll be taking it to the shop tomorrow morning and will specifically ask them to check the sensors and connections first. The fact that your mechanic sees so many sensor-related fixes is encouraging. I'll keep my fingers crossed that I'm in that 60% group! Really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience and walk me through the possibilities. I'll update the thread once I find out what's actually causing the problem, might help someone else down the line too!