How to Replace a Speed Sensor on a 99 Jeep Grand Cherokee
by Russell Wood
The 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee uses a speed sensor to help the anti-lock braking system (ABS) do its job correctly. The sensor is mounted behind the wheel and next to a gear shaft mounted to the drive axle. When these sensors go out, the speed sensor stops doing its job properly, and the ABS and other accessories using the sensor's data stop working as well as they should.
Step 1
Raise up the SUV using the jack and set it securely on a pair of jack stands located under the sides of the chassis. Take off the front wheels and place them out of the immediate workspace.
Step 2
Locate the speed sensor on the backside of the steering knuckle, located next to the gear shaft at the end of the front axle. Clean off the sensor using the mechanic's rags, then unbolt it from the steering knuckle. Follow the path of the electrical connection on the speed sensor into the chassis, unbolting the clips along the way, until you reach the harness connection. Unplug the harness connection using your hands.
Step 3
Apply the Mopar Lock N' Seal to the sensor bolt, then bolt the replacement speed sensor to its location on the steering knuckle using an open-end wrench. Run the wiring up the steering knuckle, attaching it to the clips along the path, then plug the harness in to the stock connection using your hands.
Things You'll Need
- Jack
- Jack stands
- Tire iron
- Mechanic's rags
- Open-end wrench set
- Mopar Lock N' Seal
- Replacement speed sensor
Writer Bio
Russell Wood is a writer and photographer who attended Arizona State University. He has been building custom cars and trucks since 1994, including several cover vehicles. In 2000 Wood started a career as a writer, and since then he has dedicated his business to writing and photographing cars and trucks, as well as helping people learn more about how vehicles work.
