Hi, My abs/traction control light inop is on, the computer isnt sending back any codes to my programmer. Is it a wheel sensor putting it into safe mode? if so, how do i fix it, help! lol

 

The INOP light isn't just for traction control. My car doesn't have TC and it has an INOP light. There should be a small sensor going into the top of the rear differential. Inside the differential it is a magnet, and if it gets a ton of metal particles on it that might set it off.

 

Would that keep me from being able to use my traction control though? just to clarify, it says ABS INOP and ARS OFF

 

Possibly. When my transmission was on its way out, and made horrible grinding noises and shook the car it would turn the ABS INOP light on for a while.

If the car thinks the rear axle isn't turning it might prevent the use of TC. Only one way to find out, and only 2 quarts of oil. The sensors in the wheels themselves might also set that off.

 

Mine did that last winter when I drove it through slush and ice on streets. Both did not function either, but when it sat for a while and I guess dried out, no more light and they both functioned. I wondered about a sensor or somthing...

 

Well, no slush or wet conditions here, my rear end seems fine, no winding or anything. The condition has existed for about 5 months now. One morning i got in the car and the rest is forum history. From what i understand, its called "safe mode" but other then that i have few clues as to what causes it. You would think that the computer would generate some kind of code. My predator doesnt pick it up and neither does a diagnostic machine. Does anyone know how the wheel sensors work?

 

Check the wires on the ground terminal on the passenger side fender, just behind the battery. Make sure everything there is clean and tight.

 

I think they're the kind that generate an AC voltage- the faster the rotation, the higher the frequency. If they get dirty they can sometimes cause problems. Also, don't traciton control cars use 4 channel abs?- I didn't think they used the one in the diff but two rear wheel speed sensors instead. Not sure though, no one's brought it up in a long time, can't remember it too well.

 

If you have traction control, you don't have the sensor on top of the differential housing. You have a sensor on the backing plates and a reluctor on the end of each axle.

When you say the system "computer isnt sending back any codes to my programmer", what tool are you trying to read the EBCM with?

 

well, i first used my predator programmer, made by diablo sport, and then i took it to cp racing and they couldnt pull any codes either. They used some standard ob2 diagnostic reader. They aren't quite sure what is causing it either. I will say this though, i have not invested much time into the problem untill now. I usually turn off traction control anyway, however we have had some ice, and since i bought it with it, i might aswell fix it. Thanks for the help.

 

Mine did that when the ABS computer took a poop. I checked all wheel sensors with a standard electrical tester, and found they all worked, that left only the computer. Took it out and it was indeed fried.

 

My hazzards set off my ABS light...

 

You can't read the EBCM computer with and OBD-II scanner that is limited to the engine computer. If you have access to a Tech 2, like the dealer uses, you can read all the computers on the car, but you can't access the EBCM computer with the Predator.

 

Those tech 2 readers are good. They used it to read my transmission when it decided to die on me. They literally read almost everything you want plus some.

 

you most likely have an issue with a wheel sensor...

If one of them reads a funny reading then the rest it goes wierd.

ideally, all 4(since you have TCS) should read about the same speed. If one or more isn't, causes things to go haywire...