Why Is My ABS Light and Traction Control Light On?

If the ABS or traction control lights are illuminated, it is crucial not to disregard these
warnings. There can be various reasons for their illumination; usually these signs
point towards serious issues with your car.

Wheel speed sensors, commonly referred to as wheelspin sensors, transmit
information to the ABS/Traction Control module for analysis. Unfortunately, these
sensors can become dirty or damaged over time and become inoperable.

Wheel Speed Sensor

Most modern cars include a wheel speed sensor that resembles a bicycle sprocket
with “teeth.” This sensor detects when each of those teeth passes by and
communicates this data back to a computer system that can determine each
wheel’s speed.

These sensors, wires and connectors are located in an inhospitable environment at
each wheel, making them susceptible to becoming dirty, blocked or damaged from
road grime, brake dust or snow/ice accumulation. When this occurs, modules that
control ABS and traction control systems cannot transmit accurate signals; warning
lights will illuminate in their place.

If the light on your dashboard is illuminated due to a blown fuse, you can usually
reset it by either consulting your owner’s manual and searching “fuses” in its index
or searching online for your specific year/make/model vehicle and looking up
diagrams and lists of fuses used on its year/make/model page. Once found, replace
each fuse with a new one as soon as possible for optimal operation.

ABS Control Module

The ABS control module serves as the brain of your system, performing diagnostic
checks and processing data from wheel speed sensors. Should it detect any
irregularities, it will turn on both ABS and TCS lights to alert users immediately.

If the light illuminates, this could indicate that either your wheel speed sensor is
broken or defective; or there may be software glitches or internal issues which
require attention.

An improper ABS control module may lead to harder brake pedal pressure, making
the vehicle stop less quickly, increasing risks to drivers and passengers alike.

As both traction control and ABS systems offer multiple redundancies, a single failed
component or circuit should not disable them all. But if the brake pedal becomes
harder to press than usual, an OBD-II scanner could help find and reset ABS and TCS
lights – simply locate and connect DLC with it to scanner.

Why Is My ABS Light and Traction Control Light On?

Brake Fluid

Your ABS and Traction Control systems rely on sensors to detect wheel slip, so if
they stop functioning or send incorrect information they’ll activate warning lights. A
dirty or damaged sensor could also be the cause; if this is the case for you, either
remove and clean it yourself or contact a mechanic as soon as possible to address
this issue.

Check if these sensors are working by inspecting your brake fluid levels and visually
inspecting all components of your brake system, such as lines, calipers, and pads for
looseness or signs of damage. This includes checking brake fluid levels regularly as
well as visual inspection.

Faults in your ABS module, wheel speed sensors, brake fluid levels or even blown
fuses could all cause warning lights to illuminate on your dashboard. Most issues can
be easily remedied so that you can get back on the road quickly; otherwise you
should seek professional auto technician advice or refer back to your owner’s
manual for further help.

Brake Pads

When the ABS and TCS lights illuminate together with the BRAKE light, this indicates
a fault in your Jeep’s braking system. Most often this stems from either a
malfunctioning wheel speed sensor or an error within its ABS control module.

Sensors and wires composing these systems are installed at each wheel and may
become blocked with brake dust, road grime or even snow and ice, disrupting their
connection to a computer and activating warning lights as a result.

Low brake fluid levels are another frequent culprit of poor car performance. Your
vehicle is designed with dual hydraulic circuits so one system can kick in if the other
fails; when brake fluid levels drop below an acceptable threshold, driving may
change or it may take longer to stop your vehicle than usual – something usually
easily remedied by adding more. Boosting up your fluid levels should resolve these
problems easily!

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