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Can't find my RWAL diagnostic connector

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Old Aug 19, 2009 | 05:18 PM
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Default Can't find my RWAL diagnostic connector

Hello All,

I have a 1995 conversion 2500 van, the ABS light is permanently on so I would like to run the diagnostics to find the problem. According to the Chilton manual I need to ground the diagnostic connector that is located behind the lower right cowl panel.
I assume this is referring to the plastic panel on the right of the passenger side under the glove box, but there is nothing electrical at all under there.
I found a few hits on Google which indicated that the module might be under the glovebox plastic insert, or near the parking brake pedal, but I cannot find it!
But I don't actually know what I'm looking for, does anybody know where the module is, and what the diagnostic connector looks like?

Thanks,
Ben
 
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Old Aug 20, 2009 | 05:12 PM
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Here is diagram of where to find the control unit and the data link connector for it.
 
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Old Aug 21, 2009 | 03:20 PM
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Ah, thank you! That's very helpful, I can see that my van does not have the control board or the diagnostic connector in that location. Can I assume from this then that I was mistaken and it actually doesn't have RWAL brakes at all?!
The presence of the ABS light, an ABS maxi fuse under the black box near the radiator, plus some sort of ABS valve arrangement connected to the master cylinder does point to it having ABS though - does this mean I have the 4-wheel version of the ABS? And would I be right in thinking that with this version the only way to get the diagnostics from this system is using a scan tool?

Thanks,
Ben
 
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Old Aug 21, 2009 | 10:21 PM
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You may have the 4-wheel ABS unit, does your control unit look like this?
Name:  95DodgeRam4WABS.jpg
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Old Aug 23, 2009 | 10:14 AM
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Not sure, here's a picture of the brake related bits of my van under the hood:



Does this give any clues?

Thanks,
Ben
 
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Old Aug 23, 2009 | 10:56 AM
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The ABS module behind the glove box is there only if you have 4-wheel ABS. The picture you posted shows that you have RWAL. With RWAL there is no ABS pump, only pressure release solenoid valves. That's those two round/cylindrical items (one above the other) just to the right of the master cylinder in your picture. Just to the right of those is the proportioning valve. The RWAL controller is usually found under and slightly behind the battery area.
 
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Old Aug 23, 2009 | 03:42 PM
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OK thanks for the info. I had a look around the battery area, but can't see anything that looks like a control module or a diagnostic connector. I did have a look at the front wheels though to see if there is a wheel sensor (sorry the pic is a bit out of focus):



I can see two lines going to the wheel, I assume the one on the right is the brake line, but is the one on the left a wheel sensor or something else? I thought the RWAL brake system only had a single sensor on the differential?

Thanks,
Ben
 
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Old Aug 23, 2009 | 06:05 PM
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looks like you have 4 wheel abs, as the rwal only has one sensor as you said located on the diff.
 
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Old Aug 24, 2009 | 12:49 AM
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Originally Posted by benwillcox
but is the one on the left a wheel sensor or something else?
Sigh...yes it's a wheel sensor. Alas yet another design change.
 
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Old Aug 24, 2009 | 06:07 PM
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This is very weird, and I am confused. Beside the master cylinder is the RWAL unit, yet it has a speed sensor on the front left wheel. Anybody asked a Dodge dealer about this?
 
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