ABS/traction control lights come on/no codes set

Tiny
JIMROBIN98
  • MEMBER
  • 2004 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX
  • 3.8L
  • V6
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 200,000 MILES
While driving car, ABS/traction control lights come on and stay on, then go out. No code is set and no difference is felt in either braking or traction control.
Friday, November 15th, 2019 AT 5:58 AM

5 Replies

Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Good afternoon,

What kind of scan tool are you using? A code reader will not show an inactive code for the ABS.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/abs-warning-light-on-easy-repair-guide

You have an intermittent issue with the ABS.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/abs-wheel-speed-sensor-test

Roy
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Friday, November 15th, 2019 AT 3:12 PM
Tiny
JIMROBIN98
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Thank you for the reply. As a mechanic of close to thirty years, I know it's important to get as much information from owner (my daughter) as you can. Another thing to know is-- that just because a part is new --does not mean it's good! I have seen new products, right out of the box, be bad. With this in mind, I have tried to put good quality parts on our cars. My scanner is an OTC, but will only read set codes for ABS problems, not intermittent codes. With this in mind, I have done a more in depth visual inspection, only to find ice from the snow and freezing rain we had recently. What I found was all kinds of winter road garbage packed, not loosely, but packed and frozen all around the two front wheel hubs. This summer, I replaced these two front hubs because of a bad wheel bearing noise on the drivers side. I thought, it might not be a bad idea to replace both front hubs, because the car had over 200.000 miles on it then. So, I cleaned out all the snow and ice and checked the speed sensors on both hubs. They both check out good. I cleaned all the ice from both axle shafts, where the ring is. I found ice and rocks, packed around it also. I am surprised that the ABS light did not come on and stay on and set a code. So far, the light has not come back on. This is why it is so important to get as much information as possible from the owner about the problem. It cuts the diagnosis time in half.
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Saturday, November 16th, 2019 AT 4:59 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Keep me updated.

Roy
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Saturday, November 16th, 2019 AT 5:09 AM
Tiny
JIMROBIN98
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Will do. Thanks for the information.
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Saturday, November 16th, 2019 AT 10:16 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
You are welcome.

Always glad to help.

Roy
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Saturday, November 16th, 2019 AT 10:23 AM

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