ABS code C1224?

2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER
240,000 MILES • 3.3L • V6 • 4WD • AUTOMATIC
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JEFF_18
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Hello, my vehicle has been having an intermittent problem after driving 40 miles and on the way back, the engine tries to shut off and the speedometer and rev counter start to fluctuate around. Sometime the speedometer goes completely dead for a few seconds. The engine dies on its own when parked on a driveway. I did get a crankshaft code recently and I had changed the sensor with AutoZone sensor. I was able to drive the car around for a while then it developed this problem. I installed OEM Toyota sensor back in and it looks like the engine stalling issue has been fixed. I still have a C1224 code in the ABS module when I scan the car, but my scanner is unable to communicate with the ABS system or clear codes. There is no ABS light on the instrument cluster. I see the 2 fuses which look like a relay in the fuse box.
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May 17, 2024 at 12:59 PM
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STEVE W.
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The C1224 code is basically saying that the ABS unit is seeing a speed sensor failure for more than 3 seconds. That would fit with your other issue of the speedometer going dead for a short time. As such I think the problem isn't ABS related but more related to the speed sensor and rpm issues on the dash. They drop out and that sets the ABS code. not the other way around. The problem then is locating the reason for those drop outs. It sounds like a wiring issue really; I would start with a very good inspection of the wiring harness under the hood and around the transmission area. Look for chaffed or rodent damaged wiring or corrosion in the connections. Try to avoid moving it around until you look at the entire harness. You could move it and have the damaged area shift and "cure" the problem and then the wire corrodes off and you have to search again.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-wiring
May 19, 2024 at 4:02 AM
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JEFF_18
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Thanks for the reply. I didn’t get a chance to look into the wiring harness or anything. We installed the original crankshaft sensor back into the car last week and drove it around. I took the car out for a drive in heavy rain and drove about 50 miles today to see if the issue persists. Everything was fine until on the way back closer to home when I was going 45 MPH on cruise when the car started acting up. I lost the speedometer and the RPMs started to fluctuate and transmission started to slightly bang because it’s not able to determine what speed the car is traveling at. Then the engine shut off on its own and I lost steering and braking. Pulled over and started the car back up and no lights on the cluster and drove back home with no issues. I scanned the car and again there are no codes set in the engine but c1224 set in ABS. I noticed that the issue only happens when the cars being driven in the rain. Last time it happened I was also driving in heavy rain. I drove 300 miles last week when it was 80 degrees Fahrenheit and had no issues.
May 24, 2024 at 8:07 PM
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STEVE W.
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Those failure modes suggest wiring harness issues, either moisture in the harness connections to the speed sensor in the transmission or moisture causing the harness to short. I would probably start at the transmission connector and see if there is any corrosion in it or a bad seal that lets moisture in. Dry it out and apply some dielectric grease and plug it back in.
May 24, 2024 at 11:05 PM