Trac Off warning light on!

Tiny
MANNING79
  • MEMBER
  • 2001 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 112,000 MILES
I was driving down the road when my Trac off warning light came on, and I don't know why it came on. Any answers to this question would be greatly appreciated!
Sunday, January 6th, 2008 AT 7:16 PM

42 Replies

Tiny
BMRFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 19,053 POSTS
Did ABS light come on two or check engine light
you can scan the car to pin point the reason
because it will range from a fuse to a sensor
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Friday, December 16th, 2016 AT 4:41 PM
Tiny
TRX680
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2001 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
  • 2.2L
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 180,000 MILES
About two months ago while driving the "trac off" light came on and the transmission shifted really hard after winding out the gears.
The next day the problem was gone. I changed the trans fluid and filter.

It started again today. The "transmission " light came on and shifts hard! The check engine light has always been on since I owned the car because of emissions issue. So I am not sure if there are additional codes to be read with this issue.

Any ideas? Maybe a sensor going bad?
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 12:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
It sounds like you have an input speed sensor that it not working right. We just had one in the shop with the same problem.
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 12:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
TRX680
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
That was easy! Thanks everything working good again I love this site.
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 12:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
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Nice work, we are here to help, please use 2CarPros anytime.

Cheers
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 12:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
HMENTZER
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2001 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
  • 160,000 MILES
2001 chevy cavalier. Trac light sometimes comes on and shifting becomes very jerky. Then when restarting vehicle those symptoms go away. The last time this happened the car started shifting very jerky.
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 12:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,761 POSTS
You will need a professional scan tool capable of accessing the codes in the ABS module and use therm for a starting point.
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 12:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ETRINIE
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
  • 2001 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
  • 145,000 MILES
I recently replaced my pcm in my 01 cavalier because it stalled on the express way and the trac off light came on. I finally got the relearn procedure for the theft system so the car is now starting but when I put it into drive it immedietly dies. I can restart it but once it goes into drive it dies. The car will drive in reverse but not forward gears any suggestions will be great.

Thnx
Eric
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 12:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
HMAC300
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Scan for codes and check fuel pressure first. Then clean throttle plate with choke cleaner on both sides.
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 12:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ETRINIE
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Thanks I will try that. I did get a code of P0113 which is the iat sensor but that was it. Is there anything else I should do with the pcm I got this one from a junk yard.
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 12:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
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Normally these have to be reprpogrammed to the car because theya are vin specific, but try it and see what happens.
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 12:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ETRINIE
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
If I have to get it reprogrammed then do I take to my nearest dealer and if so about what is the cost for that?
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 12:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
TRACYB
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2001 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 138,000 MILES
My trac off light is coming on. What does that light mean? My car is wanting to overheat really quickly.
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 12:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,700 POSTS
I don't think the two are related. Check to make sure the coolant level is full. Make sure the cooling fans are working. If they are, replace the t-stat and flush the cooling system.

As far as the trac light, you need to have the computer scanned to identify where the issue is. Most parts stores will do it for free.
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 12:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
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Do the things I suggested first as anyo fthose could set that code also if there is an air lek between air filter and throttle body it may set the same code. If a dealer has to do it I wold imagine at least $100 possibly more. Just call them up and ask. If you still have the old computer try that as it probably wasn't that to begin with. That is why you need to scan for codes and check fule pressure first before any repairs are made. You have to find out what the problem is an dyou can't guess work by doing this or that it just ends up costing you more money and the car runs like crap anyhow.
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 12:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ETRINIE
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Thank You I will try those few things first.
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 12:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CHERYL5050
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2001 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
  • 4 CYL
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 103,000 MILES
I just purchased a 2001 cavalier ls with 103k miles on it it is still under the lemon law in Massachusetts. The first day the check engine light went on took it to be fixed they said when they replaced the o2 sensor the purge or surge sensor went so they fixed that now the next day the check engine light, the trac off light and the abs lights are all on... How can I be sure they are actually fixing the problems and not just replacing sensors.
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 12:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
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"Just replacing sensors" is a big waste of their time and money unless it fixes the problem. You would know that when you drive away from the dealership and the warning lights are off and everything is working properly.

For the new problems there are going to be diagnostic fault codes stored in the Engine and Anti-lock Brake Computers. Without knowing what the first engine code was, there's no way to know if you have the same problem or a new one. If it's the same code as before, if a sensor is referenced in that code, it is only the cause of it about half of the time. The other half there could be wiring problems related to it. Typically they will just replace the part to get the car back to you faster, and they'll hope that takes care of it. When it doesn't, you have to make a return trip and they have to look further. Also, it isn't that uncommon to get a defective new part. They don't have any control over that except to replace it again.

For the ABS light, by far the most common problem is minor play in a front wheel bearing. GM has had a lot of trouble with them for many years. The play that develops is completely normal but in this case the wheel speed sensors develop a pretty wimpy signal to begin with, and with the little play in the bearing, it reduces even further the strength of that signal. When the signal gets weak enough that the computer can't read it, it sets a fault code, turns the system off, and turns the warning light on to tell you. You can further verify that by watching the live data display on a scanner during a test drive. You'll see one of the front wheel speeds drop to 0 mph while the other three read properly.

It's real important to understand with this type of problem that most of the time once a signal is lost and a fault code is set, many of the other self tests are halted because they need that missing signal for comparison. If you have the problem repaired fairly soon, that's usually the end of it, but if you put it off for weeks or months, a second problem, (typically the other front wheel bearing), will develop the same problem but it won't be detected by the self trests, and there won't be any fault code related to that second problem.

This is where it gets real frustrating for owners and mechanics. When you finally take the car in for a diagnosis, all the mechanic has to go on is the one fault code, so he gives you a repair estimate for the one wheel bearing. It's not until he goes on the test-drive that the other self-tests resume and the second problem is detected. The warning light turns back on and he has to start all over with the diagnosis and tell you more parts are needed. My reason for telling you this is to avoid that frustration in the future. These wheel bearings can develop problems in as little as 15,000 miles but it's more common to need new ones around every 50,000 miles. Those old bearings will work fine on a similar car without anti-lock brakes.

The Traction Control system is an add-on feature to the anti-lock brake system, so even though that warning light is on, it's unlikely there is a second problem in that system. Fix the ABS and the traction control system will work again.

We know that your state has some really strange rules related to lemon laws, but that doesn't apply to your car. You likely have some type of warranty, usually 30 days, included by the dealer, and most commonly that only covers half the cost of repairs. Basically you pay the actual cost of repairs which is half of their bill, (that helps you out), and the dealer doesn't lose any money but they don't make any profit either. They DO lose when your repair ties up the mechanic and equipment which can't be used for another customer.

In most states the lemon laws state you can request a refund if your car is in for the same repair three times while it's under the manufacturer's base warranty, usually 12 months, or it's out of service for a certain number of days. A lot of people think they'll get all of their money back, but they will deduct the depreciation due to the age and mileage and refund the value of the car after that. It would be the same as if you had rented that car for the length of time you owned it. The laws in your state include provisions for crushing cars that aren't repaired within their guidelines. That doesn't benefit anyone, but our politicians know what's best for us.

You may have some type of lemon law for used cars but in most states they only involve new cars. There's usually limitations too for real high warranty periods. If a new car has a 100,000 mile power train warranty and the same thirty-dollar sensor fails three times, 30,000 miles apart, there's no chance they're going to call that a lemon.
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 12:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KEVIN GUIDEN
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  • 1 POST
  • 2001 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
Got a 2001 chevy cavalier light came on and said trac off. What does that mean.
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 12:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,870 POSTS
The traction control system is disabled. Usually the anti-lock brake light will turn on too because the traction control makes use of the existing anti-lock system. A problem in the anti-lock system means the traction control won't work properly so both are turned off together.

Caradiodoc
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 12:29 PM (Merged)

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