Traction control light on

Tiny
MIGHTYME552003
  • MEMBER
  • 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 11,500 MILES
WHAT MAKES THIS LIGHT COME ON?
Monday, April 6th, 2009 AT 12:11 PM

24 Replies

Tiny
JAMES W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 2,394 POSTS
If one of your front tires spins a little faster than the other, like on ice or snow, the computer picks up on it and closes a clutch in the differential to limit the slip and help control traction.

This guide will help

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

Please run down this guide and report back.
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Friday, December 16th, 2016 AT 4:41 PM
Tiny
RUCKS
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 87,687 MILES
I have replaced all the brakes on the car. Replaced all of the sensors on the brakes. Changed the brakes hoses and so many more thinge to do with the brakes. And the ABS, SERVICE AND TRAC OFF LIGHTS still continue to stay on. Do you know why.
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 12:22 PM (Merged)
Tiny
PHANTOM01
  • MEMBER
  • 79 POSTS
Try unhooking the negative battery cable for a few minutes then if light comes back on check the ecm hook up to the abs computer
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 12:22 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MMPRINCE4000
  • MECHANIC
  • 8,548 POSTS
ABS codes are "C" chassis codes. Most autoparts stores only read "P" powertrain codes. You will have to get codes read with a chassis scanner, usually at a local shop or dealer.
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 12:22 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JRR1820
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
2004 Cavalier, 94,000 miles, 2.2 L engine, auto trans

Where do I begin.

ABS, Trac Off, and Service lights are on 90% of time. This has been happening for a year but car didn't start running badly until three weeks ago. The code shows a bad speed sensor on wheel bearing. The couple of times all three aren't on the trac off light goes on and off every minute or so.

About 25% percent of time car dies or nearly dies when put in gear.

When air conditioning is running, after about ten minutes of driving car starts to jerk. It feels like I'm tapping the brakes while I'm on the gas. Once it starts jerking it does not stop even if I turn the air conditioning off. It has to sit for a couple hours before it will stop. Also, engine light comes on 25% of time and now the brake light comes on about the same time it starts jerking. Just discovered today that cruise control works intermittently. Runs fine on 50 minute drive to work without a/c on.

Fuel injectors have been cleaned, spark plugs changed, and alternator checked since this started about three weeks ago.

It has been to a mechanic several times in the last few weeks and the only codes that show are for the speed sensor on the wheel bearing.

Any thoughts would be appreciated as my mechanic has given up.
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 12:22 PM (Merged)
Tiny
E40WATER12
  • MECHANIC
  • 522 POSTS
Well the speed sensor is the problem, Thats located near the tranny area. When u replace that, It should correct all youre problems

Good Luck.
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 12:22 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DAVID WOOD
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 81,000 MILES
The trac off light came on while I was driving home today. The car ran rough and sluggish when this warning light appeared, but it got me home. Luckly I was only a half mile or so from the house. When I stoped the car died and now it want even start. What does this trac off light mean? And does it have anythng to do with the car not starting now?
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 12:22 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SMOKINGALLOWED
  • MEMBER
  • 12 POSTS
My light came on once.I got my hands on a rear wheel sensor from a parts car. Then got under the car, plugged in the left side to it. Nothing, the light stayed on. Pluged in the right side to it and "poof" all my problems were gone. So I installed it and everything has been just fine. The car didn't go dead or anything. Your problem is going to be fuel or fire. Determine which is not present. ICM'S(ignition control modules) do that crap, take it to Oreilly auto parts and have it tested NOT AUTOZONE and fuel pumps can do anything they want to do. Check that fuel pressure.
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 12:22 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CAPTAIN161
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 21,000 MILES
Will the ABS sensor create the above problems?
Also the speedometer isn't registering but all other guages in the instrument panel function without problems. The only info I have run across says something about ABS sensors.
Hope you can help
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 12:22 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MMPRINCE4000
  • MECHANIC
  • 8,548 POSTS
Have the PCM scanned with an ABS scanner, most DIY scanners only scan the PCM. You would need a chassis scanner. Hopefully it is just a wheel sensor.

The speedometer problem could be the speedometer sensor or the gauge itself. A portable scanner will tell you if the PCM is seeing speed (MPH).
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 12:22 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MOULTRIEDAWG
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
  • 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 49,321 MILES
Traction off light comes on when the ac is on. You can disconnect the battery and reconnect it and the traction light will be off. Turn the ac on and only the fan will run. When the compressor kicks in the traction off light comes back on.
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 12:23 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JAMES W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 2,394 POSTS
Try disconnection the A/C clutch and see if the light comes on. This will help narrow it down. Both of these systems are controlled by the ECM and it may be a problem in it.
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 12:23 PM (Merged)
Tiny
LANDSCURTIS
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 130,000 MILES
Can the trac off light indicate a transmission problem on an '04 cavalier?
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 12:23 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,747 POSTS
Chances are you have a sensor issue. The trans is most likely fine.
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 12:23 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CAVALIER28
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
  • 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
  • 149,000 MILES
90% of the time it will turn on when I'm at about 1/4 gas. But I'll be driving at all different speeds and it will come on and when the car shifts its really hard. But as soon as I turn the car off and back on the car is fine, but the trac off will continue to come on until I get gas in the car. Then it's fine until I get back down to 1/4 tank. But like I said it does come on occasionally with more gas in the car, but rarely. I have changed the TPS sensor and IAT sensor (The ponytail was hanging on by a thread) which was also fixed. Any suggestions. No one can scan the car due to only the Trac off light is on. And once you turn the car off the light doen not reappear right away.
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 12:23 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
A basic scan tool cant read C followed by a four digit number. What kind of scan tool are they using?
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 12:23 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Have the electronic brake control module checked and try scanning the computer for code/s
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 12:23 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CAVALIER28
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Auto Zone and I brought it to a transmission shop.
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 12:23 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
A transmission shop only needs to read transmission codes which is P followed by a four digit number. The codes you want are C followed by a four digit number. Not sure if the transmission shop has a scan tool to read those codes. Not every scan tool can read every computers codes in your car.
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 12:23 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CAVALIER28
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
So basically I should just spend the $150 to get it scanned at a dealer?
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 12:23 PM (Merged)

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