ABS and Trac light on

[roba]

For my 2000 GP both the abs and trac off sensor lights are on while driving. When I push the Track on button nothing seems to happen. In snow conditions I feel that the car is slipping much more than other cars that I drive in the same conditions. Is lack of traction a problem related or enhanced by the Trac system not working properly or is it something completly different. Any suggestion would be much appreciated.

[Ripn12s]

Check fuse #28 in the engine bay fuse box. If that's not the problem then it sounds like you have a shorted out wire on one of the wheel hubs.

It could feel like the car is slipping more becuase of the lack of ABS???

[kilroypr]

Could be the lack of ABS mostly, but only applies when stopping. The TCS would apply when starting or accelerating...

[roba]

Thanks for the information I will check out the fuse and then go from there

[Ripn12s]

The TCS will only kick in when the front wheels start spinning at different rates. Has nothing to do w/ starting and only applies to acceleration when you get the tires spinning.

[rockford0384]

if both lights come on at the same time you mostlikely (Almost positive) have a wheel bearing going bad. I am having the same problem but its already happened to me once so i know. whats going on. when the lights started going on I drove about 3000 miles till it started humming. then i knew what side it was.

[roba]

Both lights are on constantly on so i will ask about the wheel bearing. How much impact would a wheel bearing going bad have on general road traction? One other thing I did have the brakes replaced just about two months before the lights started going on and replaced the rear tires only two weeks before the lights came on.

[Ripn12s]

Take the tires off and check for cut/or disconnected wires going to the sensors

[rockford0384]

I was driving through mountains and speeding and also drove from detriot michigan to la, california before it started humming....112 degrees through death vallley probably did it.... but yeah check out your connections first...are you mechanically inclined? let me know and you can test yourself. a wheelbearing from NAPA auto part for 186 dollars-including tax. lifetime warranty too. check around

[roba]

I am mechanically challenged and that is why I found and entered this site. You have all been very helpful and provided me with enough insite to allow me to ask the right questions or appear mechanically inclined when I go and have the car fixed. The temperature here has been a brutal -44 the last few days making it difficult to even look at the car let alone examine it. I becoming more sensitive to the feel of the car and actually it seems like the steering is loose and tends to have the car move to the left. This is what feels or causes the slipping movement. In any case thank you for all your help and I will take some action this weekend.

[Clam]

I had the same problem on my 2001 Grand Prix GTP. However with mine the wipers quit with the ABS and TRAC light coming on AND it was very intermitent. IT'S NOT UNDER WARRANTY anymore. A Dealer wanted to replace all the brake sensors! That's a shit load of bucks and I refused. TIP: Near the brake manifold, by the firewall, drivers side, you will see the harness in all of its ugly assed glory.(Tip: remove the main air intake hose and that stupid brace over the airbox first to give you some room to work) Check for loose connections there(on the harness, connectors and at the rotors...as someone already stated earlier FIRST before anything! How? with engine running, move wires and watch and see if ABS light goes on and off. Wives/girlfriends are handy for the complicated task of watching the light. 90% of ABS problems are electrical in nature and almost 100% of those are bad connections or shorts. BUT unfortunately those damn sensors do go bad also.
In GM cars that have it, the traction control and ABS share many circuits with other systems.

[kilroypr]

Originally Posted by Ripn12s

The TCS will only kick in when the front wheels start spinning at different rates. Has nothing to do w/ starting and only applies to acceleration when you get the tires spinning.

My dear friend, you know what I meant. The TCS is constantly monitoring the traction tires and is most noticeable when starting from 0mph when the car torque could make the tires smoke, this system would add kr to reduce the torque the engine is producing to reduce the tires slip. It could trigger at any time tought, on a sharp turn or corner and gas is being applied but is most noticeable when starting(as soon as the tires start to slip).

[Clam]

Here's a quick question....Any of you with 99-02 Grand Prix's get a faint ticking noise in your dash like its comming from the speedometer?

[kilroypr]

And is easy check for loose cables but if the hubs are humming most probable that the bearings are broken and you should replace them. Both systems rely on the reading from the ABS sensors

[Fireflynj]

Originally Posted by Clam

Here's a quick question....Any of you with 99-02 Grand Prix's get a faint ticking noise in your dash like its comming from the speedometer?

I have a 99 Buick Park Ave that does that intermitantly.
don't know what it is.