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C0516 – Right Rear Wheel Speed Sensor A Intermittent/Erratic (OBD2)

C0516 means "Right Rear Wheel Speed Sensor A Intermittent/Erratic". The wheel speed sensor signal briefly drops out or jumps. The fault comes and goes – often with vibration, heat or moisture – so the part may test fine in the workshop.

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C0516 quick summary

Fault codeC0516
MeaningRight Rear Wheel Speed Sensor A Intermittent/Erratic
SystemChassis
VehiclesGeneric OBD2
SeverityMedium
Can I drive?Yes, carefully. ABS, traction and stability control are usually disabled, and the speedometer or gearbox may be affected. Keep more distance and avoid hard braking on slippery roads.
Repair cost€20 – €400

How wheel speed sensors work

Each wheel has a speed sensor that reads a toothed or magnetic tone ring; these codes mean the ABS module has detected a missing, implausible or electrically faulty wheel speed signal.

Modern cars use active (Hall or magnetoresistive) wheel speed sensors that read a magnetic encoder ring in the wheel bearing or a toothed tone ring on the drive shaft or hub. The ABS module supplies the sensor and receives a square-wave signal whose frequency rises with wheel speed. Older cars use passive inductive sensors that generate their own AC voltage.

The ABS module compares all four wheels. Codes report an open or shorted circuit, a signal out of range, an erratic or missing signal, a mismatch with the other wheels (correlation), a damaged tone wheel or a wrong sensor type fitted. Because the vehicle speed for the engine, gearbox, speedometer and cruise control often comes from these sensors, one faulty wheel can affect many systems.

Typical causes are rust lifting the sensor away from the ring, metal debris on the sensor tip, a cracked or corroded tone ring, a damaged magnetic seal in a wheel bearing (often after a bearing was fitted the wrong way round), broken wiring near the suspension and corroded connectors.

The code refers to the right rear wheel. Left and right are always seen from the driver's seat looking forward – on a left-hand-drive car the left side is the driver's side.

C0516 is a chassis code in the standard (SAE) numbering. Some manufacturers – for example GM, Opel and Ford on certain models – use their own meanings for some C codes, so always check the text your scan tool shows for your vehicle.

Symptoms of C0516

  • ABS, ESP and traction control lights on
  • Light comes on only above a certain speed or on rough roads
  • Speedometer or cruise control not working (some cars)
  • ABS activates at low speed when braking gently
  • Harsh shifting or limp mode on automatic gearboxes

Most common causes of C0516 (most likely first)

Mechanic's Pro Tip

If a new sensor does not fix the code, look at the tone ring and the wheel bearing. A bearing fitted with the magnetic encoder facing away from the sensor, or a rusty tone ring on the drive shaft, produces exactly the same code as a dead sensor.

  1. 1.Loose or corroded connector pin

    Most likely

    Pins that have spread lose contact as the engine vibrates.

  2. 2.Chafed wire that shorts only now and then

    Often where the harness moves with the engine.

  3. 3.Internal intermittent fault in the wheel speed sensor

  4. 4.Failed wheel speed sensor

    Internal failure, often after heat or water ingress.

  5. 5.Dirt or metal debris on the sensor tip, or rust lifting the sensor

    Increases the air gap so the signal becomes weak or erratic.

  6. 6.Damaged, cracked or corroded tone ring

    Tone rings on drive shafts rust and crack; magnetic encoders in bearings get damaged.

  7. 7.Wheel bearing fitted the wrong way round or worn

    The magnetic encoder side must face the sensor; excessive play changes the air gap.

Step-by-step diagnostic guide

  1. 1

    Read codes and compare wheel speeds

    Read the ABS module and watch all four wheel speeds in live data while driving slowly in a straight line. The faulty wheel shows zero, drops out or differs from the others.

  2. 2

    Do a wiggle test

    With the engine running and the wheel speed sensor value in live data, gently move the harness and connector. If the value jumps or the code returns, the fault is in that section. Also check pin tension with a matching terminal.

  3. 3

    Inspect sensor, wiring and connector

    Check the sensor and its cable along the suspension for damage, and the connector for corrosion. Swap the front sensors left/right if possible to see if the fault moves.

  4. 4

    Measure the sensor

    Check supply and signal on active sensors; resistance and AC output on passive sensors.

    Multimeter: Active sensors: supply from the module usually about 8–12 V (two-wire current signal around 7/14 mA). Passive sensors: often about 0.8–2.5 kΩ and an AC voltage rising with wheel speed.

  5. 5

    Check the tone ring and bearing

    Remove the sensor, clean the bore and check the tone ring or magnetic encoder for cracks, missing teeth, rust and correct bearing orientation.

  6. 6

    Repair and test drive

    Replace the sensor, ring or bearing as needed, clean and lightly grease the sensor bore, clear the codes and confirm all four wheel speeds match on a test drive.

Frequently asked questions

Can I keep driving with C0516?

Yes, carefully. ABS, traction and stability control are usually disabled, and the speedometer or gearbox may be affected. Keep more distance and avoid hard braking on slippery roads.

How much does it cost to fix C0516?

Typical repair costs are 20 € – 400 €, depending on the cause and the vehicle. The most common fixes are: loose or corroded connector pin; chafed wire that shorts only now and then; internal intermittent fault in the wheel speed sensor. Always confirm the cause with the tests above before buying parts.

Which wheel is the faulty one?

The code names the position. Left and right are seen from the driver's seat looking forward. Confirm it by comparing the four wheel speeds in live data before buying parts.

Can a bad wheel speed sensor affect the gearbox?

Yes. On many cars the vehicle speed signal for the engine, gearbox and speedometer comes from the ABS sensors, so one faulty sensor can cause harsh shifts or limp mode.

What is the difference between C0516 and similar codes?

C0516 belongs to a group of codes for the same component that differ in the type or location of the fault: C0513 – Right Rear Wheel Speed Sensor A Range/Performance; C0514 – Right Rear Wheel Speed Sensor A Circuit Low; C0515 – Right Rear Wheel Speed Sensor A Circuit High; C0517 – Right Rear Wheel Speed Sensor A Correlation; C0518 – Left Front Wheel Speed Sensor Mechanical; C0519 – Right Front Wheel Speed Sensor Mechanical. The tests on this page apply to the whole group; the type of fault tells you where to start.

Related fault codes

This guide is for information only. Working on vehicles can be dangerous — if you are unsure, have the car checked by a qualified mechanic. Values can differ between model years; always check the manufacturer's repair information.