Service Vehicle Soon/Trac Off/ABS lights all on

[JTrujillo86]

On Friday I was moving my car into my driveway when all of a sudden the ABS, Trac Off, and Service Vehicle Soon lights came on. I called Oldsmobile roadside assistance (eventhough I was in my driveway) and they towed it to the dealership. I was told the next day that the only code logged into the PCM was "excessive wheel spin at right front wheel". The invoice said that "there are many things that could cause issue; don't want to guess at this time; cleared codes; lights off". The service advisor told me that he's seen this before and that usually after clearing the codes, many Alero owners don't experience this again. He also told me they check they checked the resistance in the wheel speed sensor and everything checked out okay. So I drove off hoping it was over with. Well it happened again last night. The lights came and went, but there is obviously something going on that keeps setting these lights off. I contacted the dealer and set up a day that I could bring my car in. He told me they would check it out again, and somewhat rudely I told them I wouldn't take my car out of the service drive unless they actually did something this time instead of just clearing the pending trouble codes. I have an appointment Wednesday morning so we'll see what they do. Does anyone have any ideas on what could be causing this? Has this ever happened to anyone else?

Thanks and sorry the post was so long.

Jeremy

[MNosbor]

Its your wheel bearing. You may have noticed a hum while driving over 35 that changes when you rock the steering back and forth. A while after this the lights come on as the sensor is part of the hub assm.

I just got back from my dealer today they knew right off what it was though they chose to say it was bad wiring instead of bad bearing. And they only changed the one that threw the code though both were noisy. I have to go to the brake guy to look at the rotors and Ill have him double check the other bearing.

In your situation I would call gm and then have them refer you to another dealer and report the one you went to.

Someone had posted somewhere else about getting customer survey cards and sending them in and how hard it is to get them from the dealer...the one I go to staples them directly to the ticket and will follow up if you dont send them in. I still hate dealers and only go in for warranty work I have a real mech for the rest.

As far as driving your car its ok to drive till you can get it in. The light may go away but will come back by rocking steering while driving at 35mpi.

And if you look around a bit the bearing thing is a common issue join the club

[JTrujillo86]

Thanks for your help. I appreciate it. As I stated, I am taking her in tomorrow so I will definately tell them to look into the hub assembly.

Jeremy

[DamienZ28]

Yep same problems here Wheel bearing caused all my lights and my abs to drop out completly and losing almost all my brakes for about 2 seconds wasnt real fun to drive but the new bearing fixed all my problems. Id say theres a 95% chance thats the problem!

[JTrujillo86]

Yep that's what it turned out to be. I am waiting for the wire harness to come in or some crap then GM will replace it on their tab.

Jeremy

[LURADO]

Hello there I have the same problem. I took my ALERO to the dealer they told me my left front wheel speed sensor & harness needs to be replaced. sensor costs $391.15 and the harness costs $174.86 .

[JTrujillo86]

Holy crap! I am so glad that I got mine done under the 3/36K warranty. That's crazy....

I would defintately try to find a good independent mechanic.

Jeremy

[Timswill]

I had the same problem today-Service Engine Soon light has been on a while now, ABS and then brake lights came on. Then dash lights dimmed, I lost headlights, and power steering. Then car stalled completely. Car started right up later, then same cycle accompanied by temp gauge going through he roof. Any thoughts on this unique mixture of probs?

Thanks,
Tim

[breddell05]

I am having the same problem with trac and ABS lights. I took some time looking around my wheels and found that the wires going into the front left wheel sensor have been ripped out from the wheel sensor.

My question is do you have to replace the whole wheel sensor unit or is there some way just to replace the wiring? The wheel sensor isn't bad its just the wires.

[Rush2112]

I drove through a puddle and it cost me $600 CAD at the dealer. The right wheel speed sensor failed causing the 3 lights (ABS,Service Soon, track off) came on. This sounds like it should be a recall on the sensor as I see this problem is everywhere on the net. Does anyone know GM's response? Has anyone heard of a recall? There should be.

[JTrujillo86]

Anyone know what can happen if these go unrepaired?

Jeremy

[Rivyndel]

I just bought my 2001 Alero a month ago and now these lights popped on as well. It happened the first day we had snow fall. The snow went away, it dried up and the lights went off. Now a week later its snowing again and on came the lights. It seems to me that its moisture related.

I can't afford to drop the $400-$600 that some of you are saying that it will cost to fix. Not this month any way. Any thought to prolonged driving without fixing the sensor if it has to be replaced any way?

I hate driving with those damn lights on tho!!!

[mrlsle]

The same thing happened with my 2000 alero a few months after I replaced the front brake pads. I jiggled the wire harness connectors at the wheel and solved the problem.
Another time it was caused by new tires that bounced too much when going over a curb.
Recently I had these lights come on and the cause was the wheel sensor.

[skrizan]

I replaced both wheel speed sensors/hub and bearing assemblies, last spring. I replaced the left front and the lights stayed on. I replaced the right front and they went off; for about 3000 miles. This spring my daughter turned 16 and I plan to let her use this car, and she needs to take her driver's test with it. They will not let you take the test wiht any warning lights on, so I had to try and fix it again. I took it to a dealer to diagnose it and they said left side wheel speed sensor. (They wanted $380 to fix it, I said no thanks. (The part is $100 at NAPA and I can change it in an hour.) I changed it and the lights were gone... Until I took it down the road. I hit the brakes at the first stop sign and the car acted like I was on ice, the trac control came on, but went off. At my next turn I hit the brakes and the anti-lock/trac control kicked in and the car dive to the left. The lights came on again and it is just like it was when I started. I can't believe that I would have a bed sensor out of the box? any Ideas? I hate to take it to the dealer again, but I am stumped.

[simit]

Hello evry1. Ok I have read the whole thing and each and evry1's complaint bout the abs/track off & service vehicle soon light being on or c'min on & off. I have '02 alero & I have 48200 miles on my car.
My lights have been actin the same way as jeremy and others. I took it to the dealer knowin my warranty was expired but hoping to get those 3 lights of my dashboad. But as all of u guyz agree, dealers r of no help. He wanted to charge me 100$ to just see it. I m a student and I really cant afford it. But wat I have noticed is that we all almost the same problem. we have the same make and model just few yrs here and there. Dont u guyz think this thing should be a recall ?? I mean without a doubt i can say there r many out there with the same problem but either they r 2 impatient or 2 rich or 2 poor to have a computer and visit sites like these or may be dunno how to use a computer or dunno bout web sites like these. I m going to get my car fixed sometime soon but I deff want your reply regarding considering this issue as "RECALL".