Why is my traction control light on on my dashboard?
Wheel-speed sensors are supposed to detect when one drive wheel is spinning faster than the others — meaning the vehicle is slipping or losing traction. 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.
What does a traction control dashboard warning light mean?
Traction control symbols are amber in colour and the type of symbol varies. These are the symbols most often used. This dedicated traction control symbol illuminates when TC is manually turned off or has a fault. A dashboard warning light question often asked is: ‘What does a car with squiggly lines mean?’
What causes the traction control to go offline?
The traction control computer in your vehicle is the “brain” that controls the entire system. A defect, corroded contacts or water damage in this computer can result in the entire system going offline, which will turn on the TCS warning light. As the TCS and ABS often share a computer, this may affect your ABS system and turn on that light, too.
What does the amber light on the traction control mean?
Some makes and models of car may simply use the letters ESP or ESC in amber. The warning triangle in this symbol is used to warn the driver that the safety / stability program has been turned off or has a fault. Traction control and other stability programs are turned on by default during engine startup.
Why does my traction control light come on and off?
Typically the light is seen when the system intervenes to maintain traction. It may light up for a brief period and then go off, or it may flash while it is operating. Solution: This is normal — your traction control is operating properly and notifying you of that fact. Read the TCS section in your owner’s manual to familiarize yourself with it.