My car drove over a pothole, and its traction control, ABS light and brake lights
immediately illuminated. Additionally, every few seconds there would be an audible
whirring sound coming from inside of my vehicle which made driving feel unsafe.
ABS systems consist of speed sensors, hydraulic pumps and valves, and a control
module. However, occasionally computer systems malfunction resulting in error
codes being returned which illuminate the ABS/traction control warning light.
What is ABS?
ABS systems are designed to prevent wheels from locking up when you suddenly
apply brakes, especially in snow or rain conditions. Should that happen, your car
could potentially skid out of control into any direction and become hard to control.
Whenever your ABS light illuminates, it is wise to visit a professional mechanic as
soon as possible for inspection. They can tell if the issue lies within your ABS module
or with one of your vehicle’s wheel speed sensors – although these inexpensive
sensors tend to fail relatively frequently.
Your ABS system includes dual hydraulic circuits to act as backup should its main
lines fail, though these are less likely to do so if improper parts or fluids are used.
Most ABS codes can be read using standard OBD II scanners; some might require
specific ones designed specifically for your make of car.
What is Traction Control?
Traction control is an essential feature in maintaining vehicle stability, providing
your car with better traction on slippery roads or when driving in bad weather
conditions. Traction control does this by monitoring both its braking and stability
systems to detect any potential issues within them – should a warning light appear it
indicates an issue which must be dealt with immediately.
Accidents happen. Accidents range from simple things such as inadvertently
disabling traction control, to more serious issues like defective sensors that cause
your brakes to fail while on the road. With an OBD II scanner you can read your
codes stored in the computer to see what has occurred and where.
One of the primary causes for this light to illuminate is due to a wheel speed sensor
malfunction. When this happens, information from the sensor fails to reach the ABS
module which reduces pressure applied to your wheels preventing them from
locking up and locking up prematurely.
What is the ABS Light?
When an ABS light comes on it indicates something has gone wrong with your antilock braking system. It could be something minor such as low brake fluid levels or
blown fuses, to more serious issues like sensor failure or module malfunction. ABS
modules monitor wheel speed sensors and will turn on warning lights if any problems
are identified by them.
If your OBDII scanner can read ABS fault codes (not all do), you can hook it up and
see what the computer indicates is triggering ABS activation. Otherwise, take your
vehicle into a mechanic who uses a specialist scanner designed to read ABS fault
codes.
Blown fuses are an often-experienced problem, often caused by corrosion or simply
age. A quick search through your owner’s manual should yield a list of all fuses on
your vehicle so you can identify which one might be at fault.
What is the Traction Control Light?
The traction control system keeps track of each wheel using sensors. If a wheel
begins to slip on icy or snowy roads, the computer detects this problem and shifts
power away from that particular slipping wheel – this transfers traction onto other
wheels, keeping your car moving safely. A light will illuminate when the system has
been engaged – typically an icon representing a car with wavy skid lines will indicate
its engagement.
If the traction control light illuminates and stays illuminated while driving, this could
indicate that either it was turned off by accident due to an accidental switch or
button press in the dash or that its functions are no longer operating as intended.
Take this warning seriously as this could prevent your vehicle from maintaining grip
in adverse weather conditions.
Traction control systems can be complex and must operate correctly to keep you
safe on hazardous roads. Therefore, it’s wise to visit a mechanic as soon as possible
in order to have the light reset and system checked for faults.