Parking brake, ABS and traction control lights are all on
Hello my vehicle is a 2009 expedition 5.4L the Parking brake, ABS and traction control lights are all on. Everything seems to still be working fine. Any recommendations? Should I be worried? I was told it could be the sensors but all of them? Then I was told it could be the ABS module. No idea what that even is.
My car has 160900 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hi There,
It sounds like you are correct in that the lights may be on due to one or more faulty sensors. It is hard to say how many. It only takes one of them not working properly to set the light off. It could also be a faulty ABS control module as well. I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose your ABS and traction control systems.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
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Because the ABS and traction control often share the same module, a problem with one mechanism might be indicated by a light for both. If the brake system is malfunctioning, the traction control light might come on as a result. The light for your ABS might also come on if the brake fluid is low.
The brake warning light and traction control light illuminate when the computer has detected an issue with either system. They illuminate together because they effect and rely on each other.
As the wheel speed sensor is located very close to the braking system, the high heat generated by the brakes cause the wheel speed sensor to be more susceptible to damage. This in turn makes it one of the more common causes of the ABS light coming on.
If the TCS and the ABS warning lights both come on, along with the red main brake warning light, you should not drive the car until the problem has been fixed. Your entire braking system is affected, and may not be able to stop your vehicle when you need it to. Have your vehicle towed to a repair shop.
The ABS (anti-lock braking) and ESP (electronic stability program) lights usually come on at the same time because the two systems share components. WHen the lights are on, it means that the controller has seen a malfunction and stored a fault code describing that malfunction.
There are a few things that can cause the ABS light to come on, and a bad brake caliper is one of them. If the caliper is not working properly, it can cause the brake pads to wear down quickly. This will cause the ABS system to activate, and the light will turn on.
Resetting Your ABS Dashboard Warning Light
Step One: Disconnect the positive cable from your car battery. Then, hold down the brake pedal to drain the vehicle`s electrical system. This will result in a reset of the car`s central computer. Plug the cable back in to restore power.
The four common reasons that typically cause this light to turn on include a malfunctioning ABS module, low levels in the fluid reservoir, broken wheel speed sensors, or the system is turned off. Your ABS actually shares some important components with another system in your vehicle: your traction control system.
Signs of a failed ABS system include ABS light always ON, on your dash, the car not braking correctly (brake pedal feels different to normal), or loss of control while braking. Reduced braking performance – A failing ABS relay can cause reduced braking performance, especially during hard braking.
One reason your vehicle`s ABS light is on is because it may be sensing abnormally low levels of brake fluid. You`ll be able to notice if your brake fluid is low by the way your car brakes.
ABS Light On After New Tires
If youre ABS light comes on after installing new tires, it`s likely that one or more of these sensors were accidentally damaged or bumped during installation. In which case, i tmay be best to have your vehicle inspected to ensure your wheel speed sensors are still intact.
On many modern cars, a bad wheel bearing will trigger a warning light. The ABS or traction control warnings will often illuminate, since a bad bearing will trip the system to deactivate.
ABS Light On After New Tires
If youre ABS light comes on after installing new tires, it`s likely that one or more of these sensors were accidentally damaged or bumped during installation. In which case, i tmay be best to have your vehicle inspected to ensure your wheel speed sensors are still intact.
On many modern cars, a bad wheel bearing will trigger a warning light. The ABS or traction control warnings will often illuminate, since a bad bearing will trip the system to deactivate.
If your ABS light comes on individually, you are safe to drive your car to your destination, as your normal brakes will still work. You will, of course, have to be more careful as your ABS will not respond in case of an emergency.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
Abs light, emergency brake light, steering wheel assist light, engine light, EPC light, traction control light
ANSWER : Hello, thank you for writing in. The vehicle does utilize a lot of the same sensors for these systems. Are there any other codes that are coming up when this code appears? If so you will want to take these into consideration when processing the repair and making a diagnosis. The module may be bad, and replacing it should fix the problem. The lights should turn off once the main computer recognizes the new module and the sensors sync up. If you believe the sensors need to be cleaned you may do so. Do as minimal as possible to make sure you are not damaging the sensor or disrupting the wiring inside. A bad connection would make the lights stay on. With so many lights that are effected by the module being illuminated, the module is likely bad or does not have a connection. Check the connection first and then resort to replacing the unit. For more help with these electrical tests, contact our service department.
EPC light on 2004 Jetta. Code said brake switch faulty, but brakes lights worked. Replaced brake switch, now no brake lights.
ANSWER : Hi there. The first thing that pops in my mind beyond of what you have listed is perhaps the electrical harness attached to the brake switch. Perhaps the harness itself is damaged or you have an exposed wire, loose ground wire somewhere. You might want to have a professional mobile mechanic come to your location and complete a brake lights not working inspection to help you diagnose this issue.
When I put my foot on the brake my back left brake light goes off, when I take it off the brake the brake light comes on
ANSWER : I would suggest trying to disconnect and reconnect the wiring to the rear lights. I have seen these older Toyota vehicles rear lighting short out on the lights themselves due to the way the light circuit was made on the lamp housing. Look at the housing circuit on the light to see if one is touching another, and that could tell you why it is malfunctioning. There could also be a problem with the brake light switch. If you are not comfortable dealing with wires, I recommend getting in touch with a certified mechanic who can look at your brake light issue for you to see what’s going on.
Brake lights are not working. replaced brake light swtch still no brake lights. the third brake light the connection was melted at
ANSWER : The first thing to do is to repair third brake light and replace the brake light fuse and then see if the third brake lights work and the lower lights start working? If only the 3rd brake light starts working then you may need a further checks on the turn signal flasher or switch could be bad.
The ABS light, emergency brake light and traction control light are on along with the unresponsive speedometer
ANSWER : Failure of one or more of the wheel speed sensors will cause all of these conditions to happen all at once. The wheel speed sensors and the DSC control unit will need to be checked and fault codes read out first. Then the wiring, connection, and wheel speed sensor of the affected circuit if a fault code is found. You may want to enlist the help of a mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, who will have access to proper tools and service information to diagnose and correct these issues. If necessary, they will also be able to replace your wheel speed sensor(s).
While driving on freeway truck goes into a limp mode, and the check engine light, abs light, parking break light, service brake
ANSWER : It is possible that you could be having an issue with your powertrain control module. This is somewhat of a common problem on many GM vehicles. I would recommend having your vehicle inspected by the dealership to determine if the powertrain control module is functioning properly. If not, a reflash of the powertrain control module may resolve the issue but often times it must be replaced.
signals, daytime running lights are not working, park brake light on dash is on steady and chime is dinging steady 4×4 wont engage
ANSWER : This is likely a brake light switch problem. I would suggest testing the brake light switch which should be located down by the brake pedal. This may also be a computer problem as well as indicated by the other lights on in the dash. I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your home to possibly replace the brake light switch and diagnose with a scanning tool which will download useful data from the truck’s computer indicating what specifically the problem may be.
No dash lights, back right tail light is out, no parking lights. Brake lights work though as does head lights.
ANSWER : Hi there. In many cases, when you have electrical problems like you’re describing, it’s caused by multiple electrical component failure. It’s likely that a few electrical relays are not working; especially if you have systems that utilize the same components (such as your brake light and tail lights). I would recommend having a professional mobile mechanic come to your location to complete an electrical problems inspection first, so they can pinpoint what is damaged and recommend the right repairs.