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Traction control light on

Tiny
ABDUL. A
  • MEMBER
  • 2008 FORD GALAXIE
  • TURBO
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 133,000 MILES
I have been having the Traction control sign coming up very regularly. One garage said did a System Diagnostics and said it was the turbo.

I did the MOT at another garage and they said: I have to change all 4 of my tires and get them tracked (get wheels set to the optimum position) and he said that the Traction control sign issue should be solved.
How accurate is this?


What I want to know is if the garage that did the MOT is right or wrong?

Many thanks.
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Friday, July 10th, 2020 AT 8:52 AM

17 Replies

Tiny
4DRTOM
  • MECHANIC
  • 467 POSTS
Hello,

No, it wont be the turbo, most likely it's a wheel speed sensor. You're not getting any codes? When it first came on was there anything out of the ordinary happening or low tire pressure?
Tom
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Friday, July 10th, 2020 AT 9:18 AM
Tiny
ABDUL. A
  • MEMBER
  • 14 POSTS
Hi there Tom,

Well, every time the sign comes on I get all of these 'Engine Malfunction' and 'Transmission Service' and the Traction control sign.

The car would feel heavy and would no be able to accelerate.
If the windows are open then I do sometimes spell something coming from the tires.

When it comes on I find a place to stop and turn off the car, then turn it back on and everything is fine!
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Friday, July 10th, 2020 AT 9:51 AM
Tiny
4DRTOM
  • MECHANIC
  • 467 POSTS
Hi ABDUL. A,

So you're getting a smell at times? Check all the fluid levels in the car. You may be low on transmission fluid. Verify that's all good and let me know.
Tom
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Friday, July 10th, 2020 AT 10:49 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 48,363 POSTS
It does sound like a wheel speed sensor. this video will help confirm the issue:

https://youtu.be/InIlnsjOVFA

and

https://youtu.be/rTtAnsOlZU4

Please run down these guides and report back.
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Friday, July 10th, 2020 AT 11:44 AM
Tiny
ABDUL. A
  • MEMBER
  • 14 POSTS
Hi there guys, sorry for the late reply.

Many thanks for your responses.

Tom, I have checked the fluid levels in my car and they are all good.
Ken, I was unable to do any of those checks as I don't have a the gadget for it !
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Monday, July 13th, 2020 AT 12:29 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 48,363 POSTS
The readings are about $50.00 on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07525GNFR/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=2carprcom-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B07525GNFR&linkId=b8ebd74d9b8ba754e425dbd699660f83

Please let us know what happens.
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Monday, July 13th, 2020 AT 1:04 PM
Tiny
ABDUL. A
  • MEMBER
  • 14 POSTS
Hi there Ken,

Thanks for your help once more... the reader you listed to me will take more than a month to get to me (as I am in the UK) !!

Do you think this one is okay : https://www.amazon.co.uk/AUTOPHIX-Reader-Diagnostic-Scanner-Monitor/dp/B07S3S57QZ/ref=sr_1_37_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=Innova+OBD2+Scanner&qid=1594672491&sr=8-37-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUFGQkxLSE1UWFhUQksmZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTA3MjI4MjgzTDNCQjkyMlRMUE8yJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTAxMTk3MDgzTFVXS1RNRlVVNkJHJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYnRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

Like does it have the tests yours had...

Many thanks once more.
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Monday, July 13th, 2020 AT 1:41 PM
Tiny
4DRTOM
  • MECHANIC
  • 467 POSTS
Hello,

Yes, the scanner you have available will work just fine.
Let us know what comes up and if you have any problems with the testing.

Tom
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Monday, July 13th, 2020 AT 10:00 PM
Tiny
ABDUL. A
  • MEMBER
  • 14 POSTS
Hi there Tom,

Many thanks for your response. I will order it and it should be with me by Saturday and hopefully I will be able to send you codes that come up. Until then many thanks once more.
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Tuesday, July 14th, 2020 AT 7:57 AM
Tiny
4DRTOM
  • MECHANIC
  • 467 POSTS
Hello,
Sure thing we look forward to hearing back from you.
Tom
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Tuesday, July 14th, 2020 AT 9:45 AM
Tiny
ABDUL. A
  • MEMBER
  • 14 POSTS
Morning,

I got the device and it seemed to work fine !

I got these 2 codes:

- P2566
- P2263

I think they are both related to a turbo.

Many thanks.
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Friday, July 17th, 2020 AT 2:50 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 48,363 POSTS
Yep, you are correct. lets remove ether the intake or exhaust portion of the turbo to check endplay, it should be less than 1/8 inch. This guide will show you how the turbo works and the turbine position:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-turbo-chargers-work

Please run down this guide and report back. Can you please shoot a quick video with your phone so we can see what's going on? that would be great. You can upload it here with your response.
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Friday, July 17th, 2020 AT 10:54 AM
Tiny
ABDUL. A
  • MEMBER
  • 14 POSTS
Hi there Ken,

Thank you very much for you help and cooperation.
Unfortunately I don't have the equipment and skills to measure the turbo's endplay. However, I will around for someone to assist me with this and I will make a video to send to you.

But, I have been to a garage today to change my wheels and we noticed that the wheels have been worn more from the inside than the outside.
Could this be a triggering the Traction control sign?
As the reader unit I bought turned out it cant test ABS.
So the garage suggested to get the wheels tracked and that may resolve the Traction control sign issue.

What do you this Sir?

Many Thanks
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Friday, July 17th, 2020 AT 1:18 PM
Tiny
4DRTOM
  • MECHANIC
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Hi Abdul,

Well maybe, if your wheels, not necessarily outer and inner, wear pattern is different. But over-all wear is different then yes. If say one tire is very worn and another tire is like new then the computer will pick this up. Did you clear all the codes after the wheels were done? Now you have a scanner, after any work or changes always clear the codes and re scan after the light comes back, its good to write them down also. We want to make sure we are seeing fresh codes not stored ones. Also, Can you feel or hear the turbo system kick in when your driving it around?
Tom
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Friday, July 17th, 2020 AT 2:31 PM
Tiny
4DRTOM
  • MECHANIC
  • 467 POSTS
Hi Abdul,

If you were able to test your speed sensor and it tested okay I believe we are looking at the TCM being bad. Transmission Control Module.
Try this to reset it and see what happens:
Turn on the car, shift to n, then shift to p after 15 seconds. Then turn the car off and turn back to on and p to reset the transmission.
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Friday, July 17th, 2020 AT 3:37 PM
Tiny
ABDUL. A
  • MEMBER
  • 14 POSTS
Hi there Tom,

Appreciate you support.

To be honest I can hear the cars system becoming very loud once I drive for a few miles, which now I expect to be the turbo.

I got the wheels aligned today and they said that if the sign keeps coming up then it may be a sensor.
But having done a service check a weeks ago, there was no issues with any sensors.

Now reading your reply about TCM and researching a bit about it, it may be a good idea to reset it. Therefore, can you please find me a video that explains this very well as I went on another website and they had different instructions to the once you gave me?

Many Thanks
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Saturday, July 18th, 2020 AT 12:37 PM
Tiny
4DRTOM
  • MECHANIC
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Hello,

I believe we did that at some point but one way is by erasing the codes with the scanner you're using to read them and the other is to disconnect both battery terminals and short them together for 10-15 seconds. This will discharge the capacitors inside the ECU that holds the memory. Let me know if you get a change.
Tom
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Saturday, July 18th, 2020 AT 3:07 PM

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