Wheel Bearing-Cause Anti-lock light & AWD Disable?

[bszopi]

Ok, on my wife's Rendezvous, I think the front left wheel bearing is going out. Over the past week, its had a growling noise coming from the front end, and its slowly gotten worse. I plan to change it out tonight, but had a question.

Yesterday, she called up and said the "Anti-Lock" light came on, as well as the information center displaying "AWD Disable". Did a search on the issues, but didn't come up with much. Is it possible for a wheel bearing to cause the Anti-Lock light to come on? Weird thing is, it doesn't come on every time we drive the car. Just wondering if any techs out there have come across a similar situation. They may not be tied together at all, in which case, after I swap out the wheel bearing, I'm going to have to do some further research.

EDIT : Vehicle information - 2002 Buick Rendezvous, 4T65E w/ AWD, ~132k

[Superdave]

Yes, my '04 GAGT did the same thing. I tried 2 junkyard replacements and both failed right away, finally bought a new one and never had a problem again. The bearing and sensor are 1 unit.

[3400-95-Modified]

The bearing and sensor are 1 unit.

I was gonna say that. My beretta now has the 00+ N-body bearings on them so I need to remember that when the bearing starts to go it will trip the ABS light.

[bszopi]

Hmm, has it always been like that? I guess I don't ever remember my ABS light coming on when I needed to replace the wheel bearing/hub on the old Beretta. Maybe it did... Well, if the AWD Disable light is still on after the hub replacement, then I guess I need to start looking at other problems. And when it comes to the AWD system, I really have no urge to throw any $$ into it, as I know it will be outrageous!

[3400-95-Modified]

Original bearings no, because the ABS is a sensor bolted to the knuckle, and the tone ring was on the axle, MAYBE if the rear bearing went out it MAY trigger the ABS light, but even with the rears unplugged I dont think that triggered an ABS light.

BUT Now that I swapped to N-body bearings they are integrated just like the ones on your Rendezvous, so upon bearing failure, that will typically throw off the ABS reading.

[bszopi]

Ah, ok. That explains it then. This will be my only bearing change out besides the Beretta.

[gpse3400]

Unfortunately I don't think any off the shelf scanners have the ability to scan abs codes... BUt would definately go and exchange the hub/bearing. And yes if you do happen to have either no or an eratic signal at a wheel bearing sensor, it will shut down certains systems such as ABS and AWD.

[bszopi]

Over half way there. Taking a dinner break. But I have to ask, at what point did GM go from a 30mm axle nut to a 33mm?!?! And why didn't anyone tell me!!!! I get down to the axle nut on disassembly, only to find out that my 30mm socket doesn't fit. And I don't have another car to drive. Luckily, O'Reilly's is just a few blocks away. Needless to say, I stole my daughter's Hanna Montana bike and trucked over to O'Reilly's. Stupid me forgot to check the size before I rode over, but luckily I guessed right with the 33mm. And I am glad I have my 4' piece of 1/4" thick, 1.5" diameter tube steel for the Mustang engine mounts. Made for a heck of a breaker bar.

Once I finish dinner, its back to it, then an oil change, and then to see if the problem is fixed.

[pocket-rocket]

I stole my daughter's Hanna Montana bike and trucked over to O'Reilly's.

I would have paid money to see that, lol. Yes, ABS problems will disable AWD. 33mm sounds like an off the wall size. i've got 30, 32, 34 and 36 mm, but no 33mm, strange...

[bszopi]

I had my 30mm axle nut, and then a 28mm, 29mm and 36mm standard sockets. My standard socket organizer also skips 33mm, so it is a wierd size.

Oh, and problem is solved. Woohoo!! Now lets see how long until the passenger side, or maybe the rear ones, start to go...

[3400-95-Modified]

Unfortunately I don't think any off the shelf scanners have the ability to scan abs codes... BUt would definately go and exchange the hub/bearing. And yes if you do happen to have either no or an eratic signal at a wheel bearing sensor, it will shut down certains systems such as ABS and AWD.

No, but if you have certain OBDII interface hardware, you can purchase software that does that. Scan XL STD or Pro by Palmer Performance has the ABS systems for most newer cars and also model specific pids, at least for Ford GM and Mazda right now.

Only issue is they want and arm and a leg for the damn software... Its near if not over $200 depending on which version you pick.

[Tbay99Venture]

I would have paid money to see that, lol. Yes, ABS problems will disable AWD. 33mm sounds like an off the wall size. i've got 30, 32, 34 and 36 mm, but no 33mm, strange...

I just used a 34mm last weekend but it felt like a 33mm would have fit a lot better. Still torqued OK but took some care to make sure the socket didn't get off axis.