I have a 2002 silhouette and the Service Traction System message displays in the message center and the Traction System is turned off upon start up. After driving a few feet the message goes off but the trac off light stays on. Any ideas of what could be happening and is it an unsafe condition to be driving the van?

If the system fails to turn on or activate, the StabiliTrak®

light along with one of the following messages will be

displayed on the Driver Information Center (DIC):

TRACTION CONTROL OFF, SERVICE TRACTION

CONTROL, SERVICE STABILITRAK. If you see these

conditions, turn the vehicle off, wait 15 seconds, and then

turn it back on again to reset the system. If any of these

messages still appear on the Driver Information Center
(DIC), your vehicle should be taken in for service.

what type of vehicle are you talking about, normally the traction systems use the vehicle abs/ speed sensors to monitor traction of the vehicle

If the system fails to turn on or activate, the StabiliTrak light along with one of the following messages will be displayed on the Driver Information Center (DIC): TRACTION CONTROL OFF, SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, STABILITRAK OFF, SERVICE STABILITRAK. If these DIC messages appear, make sure the StabiliTrak system has not been turned off using the StabiliTrak on/off button. Then turn the steering wheel clockwise from the nine o'clock position to the three o'clock position. If this clears the message(s), the vehicle does not need servicing. If this does not clear the message(s), then turn the vehicle off, wait 15 seconds, and then turn it back on again to reset the system. If any of these messages still appear on the DIC, the vehicle should be taken in for service.

Hi,the traction control light coming up means there is a fault detected in the system and a scan tool will be required to learn what fault has been detected. Possible steering angle sensor, wheel speed sensor or brake pressure sensor since the light comes up when making turns or when backing up. Faults are to be checked and proper diagnostic procedures carried out before parts replacement remedies.....

There is a symbol of a padlock and a van in my message center. The van won't start or even turn the motor over. How do I fix this?

how do service the traction

A diagnostic scanner that reads OBD1 (the system by which your vehicle processes trouble codes) will be required, many parts stores do this a s a free service. Check with them to see if they charge. Remember though, when they read the car and turn the light off that in order for the light to stay off, the problem must be fixed. Even if it was a one time fluke of a problem, get the code that their scanner gives them so that you know what the issue is.

those lights come on when the system is shut down by the computer. You have to scan the abs system. It is usually one of the sensors. I have seen many of the front wheel bearings being the problem because the sensor is built in and when the bearing goes bad.

The ABS and Traction control both work off the abs system .

Hope this helps.

I agree with the post about the tail lights. And the symptom about the brakes on when starting was also helpful. When I took off my rear tail lights and removed the top light bulb (top of the 4 is closest to connector) then repeat starting the car the problem is gone. I have a whole drawer of these bulbs that I removed, not because the filament was burned out, but because the base (similar to circuit card edge connector) had heat damage and melted. I am not sure exactly what the problem is but I think there are multiple conductors in the fixture which are too close or get moisture shorts. Anyway I hypothesize the circuit for daytime running lights is leaking current into the brake light circuit, and it causes that module that controls traction control and ABS to declare a fault. When you start with foot on the brakes the brake lamp is pulled on (I don't know if switches hi or lo) so that module doesn't declare the fault until you release the brakes.

I put in new bulbs and it works fine for now, but I know it may reappear some day then I will repeat, disassembly of the fixtures and inspect bulb bases for heat damage and clean out and replace. That is what did the trick for me.

Thanks Fixya and all contributors

This light is usually caused by a problem in the ABS system. A problem in the ABS system will dissable the traction control system. you will need to have the computers scanned for trouble codes.


Tech JK
-------------------------------