Truck shakes and traction light coming on.
My water pump and thermostat were replaced and now my car shakes. The traction light comes on and the car shakes when it is standing still.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Replacing the water pump in your vehicle is quite a labor intensive job. Part of the job requires removal of the timing chain that runs the engine. If the chain is not reinstalled properly it will cause the engine to shake. This is also known as a misfire. Many times a misfire will trigger a fault in the traction control system due to the shaking of the engine. The chain controls when the valves in the cylinder head open and close. If the chain is installed correctly the valves will open at the wrong time and cause your engine to run poorly. Your engine is also known for ignition module going bad as well. When the ignition module goes bad one or more cylinders will not have the spark necessary to ignite the fuel in the engine. I would suggest you ask for help from a mechanic from YourMechanic who has the experience and diagnostic equipment to determine exactly what is causing your engine to shake and turn the traction control light on.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
This is usually caused by a failing throttle body. The throttle motor or sensor fails and will cause this to occur.
Yes, an engine misfire can cause the traction control light to come on. if the engine misfire is so severe, it is capable of producing enough jolt to affect the stability of your car. The traction control system will then detect this change in stability and cause the traction control light to come on.
Anti-lock braking system (ABS) problems
or a faulty pedal sensor, then it can cause both (or either) of the traction control or Check Engine lights to come on. Unlike a loose gas cap or a fussy air filter, this one can be quite serious and is one of the reasons why you don`t want to ignore those lit warning lights.
Traction Control Is Turned Off
So, if your vehicle`s traction control light is on, it may be as simple as making sure your traction control is not turned off. Commonly located near the steering wheel on the instrument plane, you will be able to turn it back on via a simple switch.
The most common cause of the shaking most often happens near your tires and rims. The tires and wheels connect your vehicle to the road, and if anything is a bit wonky, will notice. It may be something like a broken transmission or a broken control arm.
Even a harsh transmission shift or badly misfiring engine can cause wheel spin and illuminate the traction control light.
If the traction control light won`t turn off, there can be some reasons. One reason could be that the fuse for the traction control system has blown. Or it could be that there is a problem with the traction control sensors causing the light to stay on.
Often, the computer will apply the brakes just a little bit to slow that out-of-control tire down until the tread can get some bite on the road and prevent it from slipping. If further steps are required, traction control can even reduce engine power and torque until the tire slows down enough to get a grip.
The traction control system uses active sensors called yaw rate sensors in your four wheels. The sensors monitor each of your tires, including the vehicle`s speed and what the tires are doing.
Hi There, The Stability Track light relates to the vehicles traction control system. When the computer detects an issue with this system, it will often times put the vehicle into a reduced power phase in an effort to prevent further damage and to keep the passengers safe.
It`s almost always located as close to the very center of the car as possible. If you were sitting in the driver`s seat, the yaw control sensor would be under your right elbow, somewhere between you and the passenger.
In some vehicles it is located under the hood and/or is a part of the ABS control module. Other vehicles may have the traction control module located in the interior or trunk areas.
Any unusual shaking or vibrating forces coming from the engine is cause for concern. It could be something as simple as old spark plugs producing an uneven power delivery, it could be something serious like worn or broken engine mounts, or it could be even more serious in the case of internal engine damage.
The traction-control light is usually a sign that your vehicle is working properly by maintaining traction on a slippery road, but it can also mean that your car has some damaged sensors or wires. Keep yourself safe on the road by taking your vehicle to a trusted auto repair shop at the first sign of trouble.
This is typically controlled by a combination of sensors, including wheel sensors, transmission speed sensors, and even differential and gear sensors for rear wheel vehicles. You often feel the gas pedal pulsating or hear unusual engine sounds when traction control engages.
A misfire feels like your engine suddenly loses power. You might experience a hesitation when you try to accelerate the vehicle. If it feels like your vehicle is accelerating slower than usual or if it feels rough, the cause could be an engine misfire.
If the traction control light comes on while you`re driving, but no other warning lights are illuminated, don`t panic. Find a safe place to pull over, turn off your vehicle, and then restart it. If a fluke in the TCS system triggered the warning light, it should turn stay off when you restart the engine.
The magnetic operation on the traction control sensors or Anti-lock Braking sensors can be interrupted by dirt or other buildups. Another common sensor problem is with the electrical connections between the sensors and the vehicle`s computer.
Yes. Modern cars have dozens of computers that monitor all of the sensors that listen to your cars operation. Any of them goes out, and your car gets confused.
The electronic stability control (ESC) warning light can be caused by electrical issues such as a low car battery or a blown a fuse. If your car`s ESC warning light is on, see your mechanic as soon as possible to get the problem diagnosed and fixed.
In most cases, you can still drive your car just fine without traction control, so long as the roads are clear and dry. The trouble comes as soon as it rains or snows. Once you start driving on wet or slippery surfaces, it`s more difficult to prevent slippage during acceleration.
In order to operate, your ABS system needs electricity. This is controlled by the anti-lock fuses and relay. The first fuse (a 10 amp fuse) must be good in order for electricity to flow to the relay, and the relay must function to provide power to the second fuse (a 30 amp fuse).
You can still drive without a functional ABS control module, as long as there`s no problem with your conventional brake system. However, take extra care, especially in wet or slick conditions, as the brakes` anti-lock element won`t work, and you likely won`t have steering control if your tires lock up.
Faulty throttle and pedal position sensor
Any problem within the TAC system can cause the reduced engine power warning light to go on. One of the more common reasons includes one or both APP sensors in the accelerator pedal or the pair of TP sensors.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
My truck shakes at traffic lights
ANSWER : Hi. The symptoms you describe could be a dirty or malfunctioning idle air control valve. Especially when hot, when the engine gets a leaner mixture of air and fuel, the idle air control will have a greater effect on idle and low speed running. In general, it will not set a Check Engine code either. I would recommend having a rough idling diagnostic completed by a mobile professional mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, to inspect the problem and replace the idle air control valve if needed.
Read Full Q/A … : Truck shakes and traction light coming on.
Traction light/reduced engine power and check engine light coming on
ANSWER : Hello. From what you describe, it would appear that your vehicle may be experiencing some sort of intermittent wiring or sensor issue. If the problem occurred again after driving over a bump, then it may be possible that a damaged or loose wire is shorting or having contact issues. A common issue that can cause stalling is a faulty crank position sensor or wiring. I would carefully examine the engine for any loose or damaged wires. If the Check Engine Light comes back on, I would recommend having the trouble codes scanned before resetting the computer.
Read Full Q/A … : Truck shakes and traction light coming on.
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.
Read Full Q/A … : Truck shakes and traction light coming on.
Battery light goes on when I start car then turns off, if I rev engine light comes back until rpms go down. Abs goes comes on/off
ANSWER : Batteries can die due to faults in the charging system so ideally a suspected "faulty" battery should be load tested before a decision is made to condemn it. The only exception to this rule is if the battery is already clearly "old" (greater than 5 years) but even then once you put a new battery in, as a replacement for a "dead" battery, you have to comprehensively check out the charging system. Diagnostic Trouble Code P0460 will result in disruption of the dashboard fuel gauge’s ability to accurately report your tank’s fuel levels. The fuel gauge readings may be erratic, or read somewhere off scale. Vehicles equipped with a low fuel warning light feature may also suffer from erratic low fuel warnings in the event of a code P0460. Unless the P0460 code has been reported alongside other trouble code, all of the vehicle’s essential systems should otherwise function normally. I would recommend that you request a check engine light diagnostic to first resolve the fault causing the P0460 code to set. The check gas cap light warning light could be due a faulty gas cap and/or small leaks in the EVAP system.
Read Full Q/A … : Truck shakes and traction light coming on.
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.
Read Full Q/A … : Truck shakes and traction light coming on.
Low coolant light comes on when AC, defrost or heater is on, but only if the car is in gear and stopped, what’s wrong with my car?
ANSWER : First, you want to make sure your cooling system is full. Check the radiator not the coolant jug. And check it when it is cold. If it needs coolant, add some. Of course, I don’t feel this problem is an actual low coolant condition. I would expect to find an electrical failure in the instrument cluster or from a component or wiring harness that is connected to the instrument cluster.
As a technician, I have access to reports from technicians across the country. I could not find any reports of this problem, so diagnosing this will require an experienced tech as this is not a common problem. In addition, this happens at intermittent times making it difficult to recreate. The most challenging part of this diagnosis will be recreating the symptom. I suspect it has something to do with the brake switch circuitry because it only seems to happen when you have your foot on the brake. I would begin my diagnosis there with a wiring diagram and test light in hand. The brake switch, instrument cluster, and environmental controls all interact with each other. Something is crossed either because of a failed module or damaged wiring in a harness.
Aside from making sure the coolant is full, this will not likely leave you on the side of the road. If you take it in to be diagnosed, be prepared for them to spend more time than usual to figure it out. Since it isn’t a key problem, you may need to live with it until it completely fails making it much easier to diagnose. Either way, I do recommend having a certified mechanic diagnose the warning light to make sure there isn’t anything serious going on.
Good luck.
Read Full Q/A … : Truck shakes and traction light coming on.
2012 equinox reduced power light engine light and traction light came on. Lost a lot of power got home and all light except engine
ANSWER : Your car has what is called a "safe mode" that will be engaged by the computer when it detects that something critical has gone wrong related to any of the major components in your engine chassis or power train. This may be related to a number of things, most of which should have been registered in the computer when the check engine light came on. I recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to inspect your check engine light and diagnose any codes registered by your vehicle’s computer.
Read Full Q/A … : Truck shakes and traction light coming on.
ABS light on, ESP light on,Traction OFF light on, engine light on, rides perfectly OBDI reads only Front Right Wheel Speed Sensor
ANSWER : If a faulty component is still in place, the fault codes will return almost immediately after clearing them. ABS, ESP, and traction control systems all rely on input from wheel speed sensors to determine as the name implies, the speed of each wheel. When a wheel, or wheels are spinning faster than others due to wheel slip or the vehicle is sliding, the ABS and ESP systems can reduce throttle input as well as apply braking to an individual wheel or all of them if needed. With a wheel speed sensor fault code stored, these systems cannot determine the rate that all 4 wheels are spinning and sets a fault. That is why the abs/esp light is on. The system should be scanned by a certified technician and the wheel speed sensor replaced if found to be the cause. The warning lights will stay on and these systems will not function as designed until the fault is corrected. These lights do not come on to indicate a need for routine service. Rather they only come on when a component in the system is at fault.
Read Full Q/A … : Truck shakes and traction light coming on.
