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SPN 789 — ABS Wheel Speed Sensor, Axle 1, Left

Do not driveMinutes

J1939 code SPN 789. Below — how the fault is worded at the factory by Bendix ABS/ESP, Knorr-Bremse EBS, MAN, Meritor (ex-WABCO), Renault Trucks, SITRAK and WABCO ABS/ESC, and what the second half of the code (FMI) means in the standard.

Bendix ABS/ESPKnorr-Bremse EBSMANMeritor (ex-WABCO)Renault TrucksSITRAKWABCO ABS/ESC

Bendix ABS/ESP

FMI 1SA Left WSS Excessive Air Gap
FMI 2SA Left WSS Open or Shorted
FMI 7SA Left WSS Wheel End
FMI 8SA Left WSS Erratic Sensor Signal
FMI 10SA Left WSS Loss of Sensor Signal
FMI 13SA Left WSS Tire Size Calibration
FMI 14SA Left WSS Output Low @ Drive-Off

Knorr-Bremse EBS

FMI 4Sensor wheel speed, wheel 1. No signal
FMI 7Sensor wheel speed, wheel 1. Short

MAN

FMI 4Sensor wheel speed wheel 1 - No signal
FMI 7Sensor wheel speed wheel 1 - Short

Meritor (ex-WABCO)

FMI 1AirGap Failure of Wheel Speed Sensor (Front Axle Left)
FMI 3Short Circuit to UB of Wheel Speed Sensor (Front Axle Left)
FMI 4Short Circuit to GND of Wheel Speed Sensor (Front Axle Left)
FMI 5Interruption of Wheel Speed Sensor (Front Axle Left)
FMI 7Wheel Speed Sensor (Front Axle Left)
FMI 11Plausibility Check of Wheel Speed Sensor (Front Axle Left)
FMI 13Failure Detection 'OverEquipped' of Wheel Speed Sensor (Front Axle Left)
FMI 14RunOut Failure of Wheel Speed Sensor (Front Axle Left)

Renault Trucks

FMI 1Front left wheel speed sensor — air gap too large. Repair: Check the sensor air gap.
FMI 2Front left wheel speed sensor — open or short circuit. Repair: Check the sensor resistance (950-1930 ohms). Check the continuity of the speed sensor wiring (X2/4, X2/5).
FMI 7Front left wheel speed sensor — large air gap or damaged tone wheel. Repair: Check the sensor air gap. Check the sensor air gap. Check the toothed wheel for tooth condition and axial run-out.
FMI 8Front left wheel speed sensor — signal lost while driving or implausible, ABS control disturbed. Repair: Check the sensor air gap and the toothed wheel. If the fault persists, replace the speed sensor. Check the sensor resistance (950-1930 ohms). Check the toothed wheel for tooth condition and axial run-out. Check that there is no residual pressure in the brake chambers. Check the brake mechanisms for mechanical binding.
FMI 10Front left wheel — ABS control fault or tone wheel defect. Repair: Check the sensor resistance (950-1930 ohms). Check the toothed wheel for tooth condition and axial run-out. Check the condition of the toothed wheel.
FMI 12ABS unit internal fault. Repair: Replace the ABS unit.
FMI 13Wheel size mismatch (difference above 30%). Repair: Check the tyre size. Drive a few kilometres. If the faults persist, change the tyre size.

SITRAK

FMI 1Wheel speed sensor (front left): sensor air gap too large (signal below normal)
FMI 2Wheel speed sensor (front left): unstable data / bus error (deviation >10-14%)
FMI 3Wheel speed sensor (front left): sensor short circuit to battery (voltage above normal)
FMI 4Wheel speed sensor (front left): sensor short circuit to ground (voltage below normal)
FMI 5Wheel speed sensor (front left): sensor circuit open (current below normal)
FMI 6Wheel speed sensor (front left): internal sensor short circuit (current above normal / short to ground)
FMI 7Wheel speed sensor (front left): sensor/tone ring periodicity error
FMI 8Wheel speed sensor (front left): abnormal signal frequency/amplitude/period
FMI 9Wheel speed sensor (front left): abnormal or missing signal, harness miswired
FMI 10Wheel speed sensor (front left): wheel speed signal lost
FMI 11Wheel speed sensor (front left): wheel speed abnormal
FMI 12Wheel speed sensor (front left): tone ring damaged / abnormal rotational frequency

WABCO ABS/ESC

FMI 1Air Gap
FMI 2Incorrect Tire
FMI 3Shorted to UBATT
FMI 4Shorted to Ground
FMI 5Open Circuit
FMI 6Short Circuit
FMI 7Incorrect Tone Ring
FMI 8Excessive Slip
FMI 9Wires Mismatched
FMI 10Speed Drop- Out
FMI 11Abnormal Speed (Chatter)
FMI 12Frequency Too High
FMI 13Brake Performance issue LF,RR, L3rd; Brake Performance issue RF,LR, R3rd

What FMI means in J1939

SPN 789 FMI 1789/1 · 789.1data below normal range (most severe level)
SPN 789 FMI 2789/2 · 789.2data erratic or intermittent
SPN 789 FMI 3789/3 · 789.3voltage above normal or shorted high
SPN 789 FMI 4789/4 · 789.4voltage below normal or shorted to ground
SPN 789 FMI 5789/5 · 789.5current below normal or open circuit
SPN 789 FMI 6789/6 · 789.6current above normal or grounded circuit
SPN 789 FMI 7789/7 · 789.7mechanical system not responding
SPN 789 FMI 8789/8 · 789.8abnormal frequency or pulse width
SPN 789 FMI 9789/9 · 789.9abnormal update rate
SPN 789 FMI 10789/10 · 789.10abnormal rate of change
SPN 789 FMI 11789/11 · 789.11root cause not known
SPN 789 FMI 12789/12 · 789.12faulty device or component
SPN 789 FMI 13789/13 · 789.13calibration out of range
SPN 789 FMI 14789/14 · 789.14manufacturer-specific instructions

Can I keep driving

Do not drive. Stop as soon as it’s safe to do so — don’t keep going.

What happens if you keep driving

Time you have: Minutes

Part of the brake circuit or ABS/EBS is out of service. The pedal may still feel normal — until the first emergency stop or descent.

Next comes longer stopping distance, a skid on a slick surface, failure on a long downgrade. This is the case where "I will take it slow" does not work.

What to check on the spot

Let the air system build to working pressure and listen for leaks. Don’t drive with faulty brakes.

Nearby: brakes

Scanner threw several codes at once? Paste the whole list — we will show which one is the root cause and which ones simply followed.