when it gets slick on the road the traction control light starts flashing and the jeep seems to lockup will not move forward
when stopped at a stop light on a snow covered road the jeep commander doesn't want to move it seems to stumble and wants to lock up instead of moving
it also has a light that tells me to service 4 wheel drive
My car has 179000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.
it also has a light that tells me to service 4 wheel drive
My car has 179000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hello, thank you for writing in. The first step is going to be getting the vehicle scanned for diagnostic codes. With the warning light on, there are going to be codes set from the computer detecting issues. If this is something simple like a bad sensor, this would be one easy way to find it. Without that information to help us, we must look into the 4 wheel drive and see if there is anything obviously wrong with it. This would include damage to the wheels, steering linkage, brakes, a disconnected sensor, or a dirty sensor. You may also want to look into the systems that feed into the traction control such as the brake switch. Only further testing will tell. For more help, you can contact our service department to come give an inspection.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
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If the light briefly flickers on and off while driving in rough weather, it means your car`s traction control system is working correctly to keep you stable on the road. However, if the light remains on, it can indicate a traction control system malfunction. shop.
If the light blinks on and off intermittently, it can mean that the system is “hard coded” or beginning to deteriorate. This issue can be caused by faulty wheel-speed sensors — which alert your car`s computer to a potential loss of traction — or there could be a problem with the traction-control system`s computer.
Press the gas pedal 3 times in quick succession. Then, turn your engine on all the way and let it run for a minute. The TCS and ABS lights should reset and go away if there isn`t any underlying problem with your traction control system.
This is usually caused by a failing throttle body. The throttle motor or sensor fails and will cause this to occur.
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.
In some cases, the warning light may come on because wheel-speed sensors are covered with road grime or debris. When the traction control warning light stays on, that means you aren`t getting any help from the system to control traction and the system needs to be checked.
Is it Safe to Drive with the TCS Light On? It is only safe to drive with the TCS light on if it appears when you are losing traction: it means the system is engaging. Driving without traction control can make your vehicle susceptible to spinning out and sliding around on the road.
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.
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.
Wheel, Tyre or Brake Faults
If your car wobbles, vibrates or shakes while you`re moving, there`s a good chance there`s a problem with the wheels or tyres. Wheel and tyre issues account for the majority of death wobbles out on the road, so regular maintenance and upkeep are essential.
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.
Hello – mostly likely, a malfunctioning wheel speed sensor or other ABS sensor is causing these symptoms. ABS, traction control and auto-engaging 4WD are integrated systems, and share sensors. A malfunction in one system can bleed over to the other systems.
Resetting Your Slip Indicator Light
Technically, your slip indicator light should reset itself, as should the system, once you shut off and restart the engine and/or you`re back on stable ground. In some vehicles, on the main console dashboard, a button labeled TRAC exists.
The traction control system turns on each time you switch the ignition on. The button for the stability and traction control system is on the instrument panel. Press and release the button to switch traction control off.
Traction control can be fitted to a front-, rear- or all-wheel drive vehicle and the principle is the same no matter which wheels are driven.
Problems with sensors responding
Another common sensor problem is between the electrical connections from the sensor to the computer. If the connection is disrupted, it leaves the traction control system vulnerable to error. And that impacts the drivability of your car.
You should leave your traction control at all times so that you can benefit from this important safety feature. However, in very rare circumstances, you may need to turn the traction control off temporarily.
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.
If you are driving without traction control and hazardous weather occurs, your vehicle can spin out and veer off the road. If you know the road you are driving is slippery, make sure your traction control is turned on to help preserve your car`s stability in adverse conditions.
However, when it comes to wheel speed sensors, a minor-seeming glitch may turn into a major safety risk. That is why in general, it is unsafe to drive a vehicle with a broken wheel speed sensor.
Occasionally, these sensors can fail or become faulty working intermittently sending inaccurate signals to the ECU. In your case it may be possible that the transmission is receiving a faulty signal from the ABS system.
Potential causes of a vehicle shaking at idle include a loose gas cap, loose battery cables, a worn throttle sensor, a damaged engine mount, or bad spark plugs. Perform a general inspection of your engine bay to look for damage. If you can`t repair the problem yourself, take the vehicle to a mechanic.
Motor mounts keep your engine attached to the car. Weak or broken mounts can`t hold the engine tight in the engine compartment and creates a vibration at idle. If the shaking subsides when the car is in Neutral, this could indicate the motor mounts are responsible for the vibrations.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
when it gets slick on the road the traction control light starts flashing and the jeep seems to lockup will not move forward
ANSWER : Hello, thank you for writing in. The first step is going to be getting the vehicle scanned for diagnostic codes. With the warning light on, there are going to be codes set from the computer detecting issues. If this is something simple like a bad sensor, this would be one easy way to find it. Without that information to help us, we must look into the 4 wheel drive and see if there is anything obviously wrong with it. This would include damage to the wheels, steering linkage, brakes, a disconnected sensor, or a dirty sensor. You may also want to look into the systems that feed into the traction control such as the brake switch. Only further testing will tell. For more help, you can contact our service department to come give an inspection.
on starting engine light & throttle control and traction control light comes on and car idols hard no codes when scanned
ANSWER : Hello, and thank you for writing in. Unfortunately the first technician is correct in that this can be cause by a wide variety of issues. Considering that it is intermittent, we can assume that there is either an electrical issue (sensor or bad connection), or that there is a particular part which is dirty or failing. There are a couple of ways you can approach this. One being that you attempt to clean, repair, and replace the many number of components that can cause this. A second being that you attempt to replicate the issue by unplugging sensors and trying various tests to try and narrow down what system is being effected. When dealing with a misfiring situation, you need to look into the air intake, ignition (spark), and the fuel systems first. One last consideration is to have the vehicle scanned by another type of code reader. They vary in brand, manufacture compatibility, and software. For more diagnostic help, contact our service department to schedule an appointment, or to obtain a quote once the issue is diagnosed.
My check engine light and traction control lights are on and the cruise control light is flashing on and off.
ANSWER : Hi There,
What you are describing is common for a vehicle with traction control when it has been activated in a situation as you have described. The cruise control is also controlled in some cases by the traction control system and may be flashing as a need to have it reset due to the traction control being activated under those circumstances. The traction control system monitors the steering stability of the vehicle and engages when loss of traction has been detected. This is done by the use of electronic sensors at each of the four wheels that communicate with the Power Train Control Module (PCM) regarding steering performance and stability in adverse weather conditions. The traction control system works by reducing engine speed and determining which wheel to apply brake pressure to in order to prevent the vehicle from sliding. The anti-lock braking system and the traction control system work together to maintain the stability of the vehicle. The computer uses this information received from electronic sensors regarding the rotational speed of each wheel, the horizontal motion of the vehicle, and the vertical motion of the vehicle to determine how to direct the traction control system or the anti-lock braking system to best control the vehicle when needed. In some cases, the traction control system may simply need to be reprogrammed. I would recommend having a professional from YourMechanic come to your location to properly diagnose your traction control system.
What you are describing is common for a vehicle with traction control when it has been activated in a situation as you have described. The cruise control is also controlled in some cases by the traction control system and may be flashing as a need to have it reset due to the traction control being activated under those circumstances. The traction control system monitors the steering stability of the vehicle and engages when loss of traction has been detected. This is done by the use of electronic sensors at each of the four wheels that communicate with the Power Train Control Module (PCM) regarding steering performance and stability in adverse weather conditions. The traction control system works by reducing engine speed and determining which wheel to apply brake pressure to in order to prevent the vehicle from sliding. The anti-lock braking system and the traction control system work together to maintain the stability of the vehicle. The computer uses this information received from electronic sensors regarding the rotational speed of each wheel, the horizontal motion of the vehicle, and the vertical motion of the vehicle to determine how to direct the traction control system or the anti-lock braking system to best control the vehicle when needed. In some cases, the traction control system may simply need to be reprogrammed. I would recommend having a professional from YourMechanic come to your location to properly diagnose your traction control system.
Rebuilt engine, oil light on, stalling, traction control
ANSWER : Hi there. One of the biggest issues that car owners experience after having an engine replaced are symptoms like you describe. In most cases, the issue is that the ECU was not correctly reprogrammed by a dealership and thus, is not effectively communicating with sensors and monitoring systems. In other instances, small sensor wires, electrical connection harnesses and other components might be damaged and have not been replaced during the engine swap. Either way, it’s very difficult to pinpoint these issues without being there to inspect the vehicle personally. As such, I would recommend having a professional mobile mechanic come to your location and complete a warning light inspection, so they can inspect your vehicle onsite and determine the best course of action.
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.
This morning Engine Light, Traction Control Light, and Electronic steering light is on.
ANSWER : Hi there. The "good driver" light will not come on if there is a fault detected in the engine controls system; the other lights can accompany the check engine light as well, but there may be an additional cause for the power steering light. When the engine computer detects a fault in any system of the drivetrain, it sets a code and other systems can be affected by this. The others systems usually set codes in their computers that refer to engine computer communication has stopped. Have the codes checked and proceed with proper diagnostic steps from there. The codes are not a diagnosis, but a guide to the system that has the fault. Having a qualified technician perform an inspection will avoid replacing unnecessary parts. Your Mechanic has several available technicians that can assist you with a check engine light inspection.
Vehicle won’t start, once it’s jump started it only stays running until you turn it off, then it work start again without jumping.
ANSWER : Hi there. There could be two problems here. It is possible that your battery is bad and will not take a charge from your alternator while driving. In that case every time you shut your car off you will not have enough juice to start it again. Inspect your battery – it should have at least 12.5 to 13 volts to start your car, if it doesn’t you will need to replace the battery. The second problem could be that your alternator is bad and not charging your battery, in this case you will need to replace your alternator. Both the battery and the alternator can be tested in your car. If you would like to have the car checked for you, a certified professional from YourMechanic can come to your car’s location to diagnose the starting problem and proceed with repairs.
Car will not start, lights go on ,dashboard lights go on, sometimes will start in Neutral, sometimes I need to move steering wheel
ANSWER : Although it’s very difficult to diagnose your problem without being there, it looks like you’ve got an ignition cylinder assembly or other electrical problem in the steering column that is causing your Voyager difficulties. There are several individual parts that make up the ignition system, including several safety devices, so it’s best for you to have a mechanic complete a car is hard to start inspection.
