ABS Code 44 - What to check?

Hi All,

I have a 98 x-cab 4x4 V6 TRD and today I was doing quite a bit of highway driving and the ABS light came on once I got up to ~60MPH and the cruise control would no longer work.

Once I stopped the car the ABS light went off again until I reached around 60MPH. I scanned the code and got 44 "deceleration sensor"

Does anyone have any advice for where to start with figuring out what could be wrong? I saw some posts that you can bench test the deceleration sensor but couldn't find the actual procedure.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

What year is your truck?

 

Here are the relevant FSM pages (for a 2003)






You should find yourself a digital copy of the FSM... I chased as many of the pages as could.

 

What year is the truck? Assuming 2000-04.

There’s something called a yaw sensor that fails on those trucks, it detects a pitch from braking a sends the signal to the truck.

I believe it’s under the center console/arm rest. Sometimes they corrode or get drinks spilled on them.

Usually if the code is triggering it’s the sensor but I would take a look at it and see if it’s wiring.

 

Sorry. It is a 98 4x4 Extra Cab TRD off road with 5 speed.

While I was trying to locate the deceleration sensor I noticed that the clutch pedal is not fully retracting and in doing so it is not fully depressing the clutch return switch (see pic) unless I pull it the rest of the way by hand. Could this be causing the problem?

Also does anyone know where the deceleration sensor is located? i couldn't find it under the dash.

 

It’s under the center console next to the shifter.
See here - https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/1st-gen-deceleration-sensor-location.178644/#post-24901947

 

No dice on my truck.

 

yeah, pre 2001 might be different as abs wasn't as standard- you may need someone with year specific FSMs.

 

I found the sensor. It is right next to the brake pedal shaft going into the booster. It just didn't look like any of the images I saw online. Trying to find the testing procedure for it now. If anyone is able to locate how to test the sensor in a FSM that would be amazing if you could share.

 

My 01' 4x4 TRD 5 speed needs that same sensor. Did you price that out yet? Make sure you're sitting down when you do. Toyota is THE only source for it and finding a used one is sketchy at best. I have access to the procedure I can e mail it. It's just some resistance checks with the sensor tilted in different directions.

 

Thanks Rusty! I just sent you a DM.

 

If you search for "2003 tacoma FSM" you will find a download link. I am just not going to link it for the obvious reasons, but you should be easily be able to find the link.

 

Updating the thread. It seems that the sensor is working OK at least on the bench test. Here is what I have done so far.

1. Completed the continuity test of the sensor at the specified angles (per the service manual) and the sensor passed all bench tests. This means that it is turning on/off when it should at the appropriate angles.
2. Found a TSB from Canada (CAN-TSB0661) which gives you instructions to put the car in diagnostic mode then you are supposed to tilt the car forward and backward and the sensor is supposed to turn off the blinking ABS light which mine did not. So it failed this test. This tells me that the ABS ECU is not reading the voltage that is coming from the sensor.
3. I checked the actual plug that goes into the ABS sensor and it had voltage supplied at the plug at both power inputs. So the sensor is getting power and the ground wire is connected also.
4. Once I discovered this I jumped one of the power wires to the ground which should shut the ABS light off (per the TSB) since this would create the same condition as tilting the car up but nothing happened.

I am starting to think that the most likely thing that is wrong is the ABS ECU. I just had it rebuilt by module masters so I wouldn't think that would be the issue but all the testing makes it seem like that is the case.

 

I would suggest expanding out your search. Inspect all the wiring to the wheel speed sensors. Pop them off and clean each sensor and connector with an electronic contact cleaner. Let them thoroughly dry and reassemble. Did you see there is also a procedure for resetting the DTCs? I see you mentioned that you recently rebuilt the ABS ECU- did you perform a reset after that?

 

The ABS was fine for about 2 weeks then this code popped on. I would go to the speed sensors but since the deceleration sensor doesn’t pass the TSB testing to me it’s pretty much gotta be the sensor or ECU. See the attached TSB. When I do the speed test (applying the brakes at different forces) it does not behave how the TSB outlines. There is no change in the blinking ABS light.

 

Wanted to follow up on this thread to see if anyone else has anymore info or experience fixing this issue. The light went away after clearing it for about 6 months but is back again with only a Code 44.

 

Checking back in to help any future people that come access this. It seems the issue was the throttle position sensor. It seems weird but when you think about it the deceleration sensor is likely related to the TPS as far as computer inputs are concerned. The TPS went bad (check engine light) and after replacing it I have gone several months with no abs light ever coming on!

 

Which type of deceleration sensor is on your truck? The one mounted near the clutch pedal or the one under the passenger seat?

 

Mine is mounted under the steering column on the drivers side.

 

Thanks to everyone working on this. My 01 6cyl TRD is experiencing similar situation and after hrs of searching the entire web this is the most complete and current trouble shooting/diagnosis I have found.
Mine is the exact same sensor in the same location.
It appears there are several versions of this sensor and I'm not sure the correct test procedure for this one is here?
Volcano Tacos , are you still code clear after another month?
Mine is codes 34 and 44 pretty intermittent but getting worse. Checked all wheel sensors and wiring
/connectors, ohm ck and AC volt check. If above Decel check is correct I will check that next.
No ck eng lite or TPS code.
Thanks again all.
This is how mine came to me so it has plenty reason for Decel sensor fail, but it's been 10000 miles across the country since repair code free.
PS. If this is hijacking a thread please let me know and I will start a new one.. I'm kinda new at this.
I mainly want to know if Volcano is still code free.