mrflint

My 1998 Lumina recently has blue light coming on that says LOW TRAC.
Its been coming on more frequently and now it comes on every time I drive, It goes out after a few minues. The equipment list on this car does not list traction control.

Is this traction control and how do I fix it?

jeffcoslacker

That's indicating the ABS is activated, seeing a discrepancy in wheel speeds. Do you hear the ABS chattering when you brake?

My guess is you have a wheel speed sensor fault.

MT-2500

You need to get it on a good professional scanner and look for ABS and transmission code.
Post back code no.

__________________
Remember proper testing gives us the answer to many problems.
MT

gw84

I'm pretty confident that these vehicles DO NOT have traction control as the light may lead you to believe. I believe that's an option that just recently became availiable. In my opinion, the LOW TRAC light is pretty useless. I've seen it come on when the tires slip a bit such as while driving on loose gravel

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jeffcoslacker

Like I said, it's just letting you know the ABS system has seen a difference in wheel speeds, and is in ready mode....I think it is also useful as a warning...say you were driving on the highway on what you thought was just a wet road, when it suddenly becomes black ice...the moment a drive wheel slip began, that light comes on and you realize something bad is about to happen, way before you'd hear the engine begin to overrun and you've already broken traction and are now in danger of loosing control of the car if you do anything sudden...

Also lets you know when your struts are shot...when you start seeing a lot of that light when braking on crappy pavement

gw84

I retract my earlier statement

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MT-2500

If light is on there is a problem and it should be checked out.
May not pertain to a 98 or newer ones but on older ones I have found transmissions problems or transmission codes will also trip the low trac.
If light is on there should be code/codes somewhere.
Needs to be checked out.

__________________
Remember proper testing gives us the answer to many problems.
MT

bleepster

'97 lumina here - mine comes on when tires lose grip. like when i try to stop and hit ice and slide a bit.

The light illuminates in BLUE.

I was under the impression that if there WAS a problem, the light would illuminate in AMBER/ORANGE or RED (I.E. Low Oil Pressure, Low Coolant, Security, Volts, Etc..)

If it was ABS related - wouldnt the ABS light come on???? (which is amber/orange by the way)