ABS light and code C00050

[FordMan77]

Been fighting an ABS light on my 2000 GT. Thought I'd fix it by replacing the pass. front hub as it was loose. New Timkin in and still have the ABS light. Had it scanned and came back as C00050, which states that there is no communication w/ the right rear hub. Checked the wiring harness to it and it's clean and wires look good (no broken or chaffed wires that I can see). Shop said it was either a wiring issue or the EBCM itself. I have a hard time thinking it's the EBCM as the light used to go out and come on when it felt like it, then finally stayed on. There's no play in the rear hub. I have metered out all the hubs w/ millivolts setting and when I am on the other 3 wheels I get a voltage reading when I spin the wheels by hand. I get on the right rear and my meter reads -OL-, which I is Open Loop/Out of Range. I have not tested for voltage on the harness side yet.

This car has 276K on it and I have good reason to believe that these are the stock rear hubs. If they're not then they have at least 150K on them now.

I don't want to be throwing another $100 at it hoping that a new hub solves the issue, but that's what my gut is telling me it is. Anyone have any other opinions/things to check before I just replace it and hope for the best?

[FordMan77]

Since no one apparently knows anything about the ABS issues on these cars, here's what I did to fix my issues. The fix for this was a new rear hub and a cut and splice job on the front right hub, as it was not getting voltage. Looks like the front harness was smashed in between the knuckle and ball joint at one point in time and cut the wire. From there corrosion took over and the white wire was corroded off at the pin in the plug and also corroded in half about 3 inches back from the plug. Cut the old wiring out and spiced some new in temporarily until I can get to a dealer and get a new pigtail. Shows 4.8v at the connector now as the others do and the ABS light went out immediately after it did it's self test at startup. Issue solved.

[152pilot]

Definitely a unique situation to cause that code. The C0550 "no communication" error code is almost always caused by a failed EBTCM aka the "ABS module." It's a common failure and very expensive part to replace. Given the simplicity of pulling the ABS module off the pump (it's actually bolted directly to the pump on these cars in the engine bay), it makes since to send it off for repair. Instead of shelling out a grand at the dealer for a new unit, you can get it repaired here for about $100: www.cheap-abs.com

They repair the 04-06 GTP units with JL4 active brake control option as well, which is helpful since it's virtually impossible to find one of these used.

So basically if you get a C0550 code and ABS light, pull it and send it for repair. It's usually cheaper to just let them run their free diagnostics on it rather than pay the dealer to scan it, so if you don't mind removing it, you'd only be out shipping worst case. Hope this helps.

[SlowNA06]

Solid first post, guy.

Except that it doesn't cost you anything to first inspect and test your wiring, which was FordMan77's actual issue.

[FordMan77]

That is really good info, thanks for posting as it will help others who may have this issue and know how to use the search feature on this site. I had just about given into the idea that the EBCM was shot, but made one last conscious effort to rule it out since pulling it can be a PITA and expensive to repair/replace. After replacing the rear hub and running out of time to get it to pass inspection it was my last hope. Luckily for me it was just a wiring issue which after some further research appears to be a common issue on the front harnesses of these cars. Thank god for my Fluke, lol...

[152pilot]

Solid first post, guy.

Except that it doesn't cost you anything to first inspect and test your wiring, which was FordMan77's actual issue.

If you have a multimeter like fordman77 then go for it. But if you have all the correct signals at the harness and are still getting C0550, it's the module. I buy and part junked cars. I've sent probably 7 or 8 JL4 ABS units to cheapabs for rebuild over the past 2 years. In response to Fordman77's comment that nobody seems to know anything about the ABS problems, I'm just saying that the ABS module failure is very common. And no, I don't have any of these for sale, I'm just trying to help others with the same issue I see a lot.