I have a 2000 Blazer 4.3L with 195K miles, 4WD and automatic transmission.

Originally my ABS light was almost always on. After driving the blazer for less than 1/4 mile the ABS would activate when I hit the brakes and then the ABS light would illuminate and disable the ABS brakes. It showed a code C0223 and I removed the ABS fuse until I could resolve the problem. I had previously tried replacing the driver side ABS wheel sensor (with a new unit) and also the ABS control module (with a hopefully good junkyard unit). Replacing those parts resulted in no change to way the ABS operated/malfunctioned.

Yesterday I replaced the passenger side front wheel bearing and wheel sensor (it came as a complete unit). I reinstalled the ABS fuse and took it for a test drive. The ABS kicked in every time I applied the brakes and it still kicks in every time I apply the brakes (stopping is difficult). I drove for several miles hoping it would generate a code and clue me in to the problem. But no code and no ABS light and the ABS still kicks in everytime I apply the brakes. It feels like the car is pulling a bit to the right when I apply the brakes and the ABS activates. If I am traveling less than approximately 5mph the ABS does not activate when the brakes are applied.

Any ideas as to what the next step would be to diagnose the issue?

 

I have another related question concerning ABS and cruise control.

When I remove the ABS fuse the cruise control also becomes disabled. Is there a way to disable the ABS without disabling the cruise control?

 

I would try unpluging the ABS relay

 

C0223 indicates a fault in the passenger side front wheel speed sensor circuit. Could be the sensor, or it could be a problem in the wiring to the sensor. If it turns out to be the sensor, replacing just the sensor might not necessarily fix the problem. Sensors are installed with shims, (if/as necessary) when the hub is originally assembled. If the air gap is not correct when you replace just the sensor, the DTC will return. For that reason, it's best to replace the entire hub assembly.

 

I did replace the entire hub assembly with a hub and sensor that came as a complete preassembled unit. And the abs still engages everytime I apply the brakes (unless I am going less than approximately 5mph)

 

I understand you replaced the entire hub, and that's fine, I was explaining what can cause C0223. When the EBCM does not receive a signal from a sensor, it sets a DTC in memory, and illuminates the ABS light. The most common reason that the EBCM doesn't receive a signal is due to a faulty wheel speed sensor, but an open circuit in the wires from the sensor to the EBCM has the same end result, no signal received. The ABS sensors generate AC, (alternating current) voltage as the wheel rotates, the faster it rotates, the more voltage is generated. The EBCM calculates wheel speed from that signal. If the sensor is reporting correctly at the connector, and the signal is not being received at the EBCM, there's a problem in the wires between the sensor connector and the EBCM connector. You'll need to remove the wheel, disconnect the wheel speed sensor connector, and connect a DVOM to the wheel speed sensor connector terminals in the connector. DVOM set to the AC voltage range, rotate the wheel by hand, voltage should be approximately 350Mv. If that checks OK, check the resistance on both sensor wires from the ABS harness connector to the EBCM connector, should be less than 5 ohms on each wire.