97 GA ETS off & check engine on need help!

[fastasshell]

hi i have a 1997 Grand Am problem. one day on the way to work my ETS light goes to the off mode in the dash now at this point it will not go back on with the little button on the gear selecter pushed in or out. then the next day goes by and the check engine light comes on. so now i have two lights on. but the car seems to run fine. so i stop by the local parts store(auto zone) to have the codes check and they said that it came back as a tranny code i wish i had the code so i could post it here. by the way i forgot to mention that my grand am has an automattic tranny. anyway the lights are still on. but the car is still running ok knock on wood! now i took it upon myself to reset the codes by unhooking the neg post from the batt but this is not a fix to my problem i know this because the lights always seem to find away back up to the dash. Now i would like to know this ETS is it somethig i need and is this way the check engine light is on? please help because this seem to be a nice running car other than the annoying lights being on in the dash.

[xeroinfinity]

Welcome to AF !

Autozones scanners dont usually read tranny codes
Or ABS.
But I'd say its probly your wheel speed sensor(s).
You neeed to get it scanned somewhere better than the zone, Advance has better equepment(if you'd call it that ) that can read more codes, bbut still limited.

Other wise you are going to spend money on repairs that are not necessary.

[fastasshell]

thanks i will get it rescaned at advance auto and then what ever code they give me i will post it here. thank you for your reply!

[fastasshell]

today i went to a local mechanic to have the codes pulled and the first thing he said was to jump in the car and press on the brakes. so i did. and then he said that i had a driver side brake light out and also the brake light in the back window was out. he said to fix the lights and then go from there with the scanning. now would that have anything to do with my ETS light. please tell me what you think?? someone at work that works on cars alot said that he thinks that it could be the wheel sensor.

[fastasshell]

i will try to get the car scanned today on the way to work. then i will get back to you on that result.and i will look at that button on my shift selector.thank you for all your input. i really appreciate it!!

[xeroinfinity]

the other thread you brought up might be a clue to your problem but dont post on that dead 3yr old thread!

I'll copy that TSB over here.

Enhanced Traction Control Systems

ETS OFF INDICATOR LAMP STAYS ILLUMINATED #67-65-20 - (04/15/1996)
SUBJECT: ETS OFF INDICATOR LAMP STAYS ILLUMINATED AND/OR A RPM SAG ON A HOT SOAK RESTART WITH THE A/C ON, SAE J1978 OBDII SCAN TOOL MAY NOT COMMUNICATE WITH THE PCM (NEW FLASH PROM)

MODELS: 1996 BUICK SKYLARK 1996 OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA 1996 PONTIAC GRAND AM WITH 3100 V6 ENGINE (VIN M - RPO L82)

CONDITION:

SOME OWNERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE ETS (ENHANCED TRACTION SYSTEM) OFF LIGHT LOCATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL STAYS ILLUMINATED AND/OR A RPM SAG ON A HOT SOAK (45 MINUTE) RESTART WITH THE A/C ON. ADDITIONALLY, SOME SERVICE TECHNICIANS MAY COMMENT THAT THEIR NON GM TECHLINE SAE J1978 OBDII SCAN TOOL WILL NOT COMMUNICATE WITH THE PCM (POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE) WHEN IN "CURRENT", "FREEZE FRAME", OR "TEST PARAMETERS AND RESULTS" MODE.

CAUSE:

FOR "ETS OFF" INDICATOR LAMP STAYING ILLUMINATED, THE DIAGNOSTIC CALIBRATION WAS SET UP SO THAT IF CERTAIN DTC (DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES) WERE SET, THE PCM WOULD THEN DISABLE THE ETS. DISABLING THE ETS WOULD THEN ILLUMINATE THE "ETS OFF" INDICATOR LAMP. VEHICLES WHICH HAVE HAD RPM SAGS ON HOT RESTARTS WITH THE A/C ON WERE CAUSED BY ENGINE CONTROL ALGORITHM. A SOFTWARE/CALIBRATION ANOMALY PREVENTED THE NON G.M. TECHLINE SCAN TOOLS FROM COMMUNICATING WITH THE PCM.

CORRECTION:

A NEW FLASH PROM HAS BEEN RELEASED TO ADDRESS THE CONDITIONS MENTIONED ABOVE. THE CALIBRATION WILL BE AVAILABLE FROM SERVICE TECHNOLOGY GROUP STARTING WITH THE # 5 CD RELEASE.

PARTS INFORMATION

DO NOT ATTEMPT TO ORDER THE CALIBRATION NUMBER FROM GMSPO. THEY ARE PROGRAMMED INTO THE VEHICLES PCM VIA A TECHLINE TOOL DEVICE.

CALIBRATION NUMBER EMISSIONS

16238674 NATIONWIDE

16238684 UNLEADED EXPORT W/O OBDII

WARRANTY INFORMATION:

FOR VEHICLES REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY, USE:

LABOR CODE: J6355 USE PUBLISHED LABOR OPERATION TIME.

FIGURES: 0 ATTACHMENTS: 0

GENERAL MOTORS BULLETINS ARE INTENDED FOR USE BY PROFESSIONAL TECHNICIANS, NOT A "DO-IT-YOURSELFER". THEY ARE WRITTEN TO INFORM THOSE TECHNICIANS OF CONDITIONS THAT MAY OCCUR ON SOME VEHICLES, OR TO PROVIDE INFORMATION THAT COULD ASSIST IN THE PROPER SERVICE OF A VEHICLE. PROPERLY TRAINED TECHNICIANS HAVE THE EQUIPMENT, TOOLS, SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS AND KNOW-HOW TO DO A JOB PROPERLY AND SAFELY. IF A CONDITION IS DESCRIBED, DO NOT ASSUME THAT THE BULLETIN APPLIES TO YOUR VEHICLE, OR THAT YOUR VEHICLE WILL HAVE THAT CONDITION. SEE A GENERAL MOTORS DEALER SERVICING YOUR BRAND OF GENERAL MOTORS VEHICLE FOR INFORMATION ON WHETHER YOUR VEHICLE MAY BENEFIT FROM THE INFORMATION.

COPYRIGHT 1996. GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

INFO. ON 'ETS OFF' INDICATOR LAMP ON #63-50-09 - (03/01/1996)
SUBJECT: INFORMATION ON "ETS OFF" INDICATOR LAMP ON WITH NO DTC'S SET

MODELS: 1996 BUICK SKYLARK 1996 CHEVROLET CAVALIER 1996 OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA 1996 PONTIAC GRAND AM, SUNFIRE

ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ENHANCED TRACTION SYSTEM (ETS), THE "ETS OFF" INDICATOR LAMP MAY COME ON AND ETS AND CRUISE CONTROL MIGHT BECOME DISABLED. THERE MAY BE NO ABS OR PCM DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTC'S) STORED AND THERE MAY BE NO "CHECK ENGINE" LAMP ON. THIS CONDITION HAS CAUSED A HIGH RATE OF UNNECESSARY IPC REPLACEMENTS.

THE PCM SETS A TYPE "C" OR "D" FAILURE RECORD WHICH SENDS A MESSAGE TO THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE (EBCM) TO TURN THE "ETS OFF" INDICATOR ON AND TO DISABLE ETS. THE PCM CAN THEN DISABLE CRUISE CONTROL, BUT MAY NOT TURN ON A CORRESPONDING "CHECK ENGINE" LAMP. THESE TYPE "C" OR "D" FAILURE RECORDS ARE NOT STORED IN THE NORMAL CURRENT OR HISTORY MENUS.

THE TECHNICIAN IS INSTRUCTED TO CHECK NORMAL OPERATION OF THE "ETS OFF" SWITCH AND THE ETS SYSTEM. THE TECHNICIAN IS THEN INSTRUCTED TO CHECK FOR FAILURE RECORDS AND DIRECTED TO SECTION 6E3-A OF THE SERVICE MANUAL, SEE ATTACHED CHART. WHEN THE PCM FAILURE RECORD IS CORRECTED, NORMAL OPERATION OF THE ETS SYSTEM AND CRUISE CONTROL SHOULD RETURN.

FIGURES: 00 ATTACHMENTS: 01

Figure 1

GENERAL MOTORS BULLETINS ARE INTENDED FOR USE BY PROFESSIONAL TECHNICIANS, NOT A "DO-IT-YOURSELFER". THEY ARE WRITTEN TO INFORM THOSE TECHNICIANS OF CONDITIONS THAT MAY OCCUR ON SOME VEHICLES, OR TO PROVIDE INFORMATION THAT COULD ASSIST IN THE PROPER SERVICE OF A VEHICLE. PROPERLY TRAINED TECHNICIANS HAVE THE EQUIPMENT, TOOLS, SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS AND KNOW-HOW TO DO A JOB PROPERLY AND SAFELY. IF A CONDITION IS DESCRIBED, DO NOT ASSUME THAT THE BULLETIN APPLIES TO YOUR VEHICLE, OR THAT YOUR VEHICLE WILL HAVE THAT CONDITION. SEE A GENERAL MOTORS DEALER SERVICING YOUR BRAND OF GENERAL MOTORS VEHICLE FOR INFORMATION ON WHETHER YOUR VEHICLE MAY BENEFIT FROM THE INFORMATION.

COPYRIGHT 1996 GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

[fastasshell]

today i fix the bad bulbs in my tail lights. then i had the same mechanic shop scan for the codes. and he came up with this.(it looks like you have tranny componets slipping.) and then he ask if the car shutters when going up hill. and my reply was no.so at this time he had cleared the codes.then he said to drive the car and to see if the codes would come back. well guess!! just about five to six miles away from his shop. here comes the emfamous/world renowned (ETS)light then on the way home from work the also well known friendly side kick. check engine light showed up as well. now im pulling my hair out on this one. but i did notice this. when i go to leave work at night it starts up fine but then i go to drive off and it seems like it has a little dead spot like the engine winds and then a surg and then its fine. at first this just seem to me like the car just had not warmed up to operate like it should. and this would last about ten seconds after take off. well i hope someone with this same problem give me some info on what my next step should be.i am thankful for any info that comes my way.but for now i will be doing this.... and that...

[xeroinfinity]

So he didnt giv you the DTC #'s ?

[fastasshell]

no i did not get the # from him. he just said what the scanner told him.but then he said that i might as well change the tranny fluid and filter just to see if that would help. i have had this car for about three months. and when i first seen the mileage it had 121xxxmiles on it now it has 129xxxmiles on it so i dont have any idea if the fluid in the car is the origenal or if it has been changed.he even check to make sure that the fluid was at the full mark and it was. anyway please get back to me on this to tell me that i was a knott head for not getting the code # from him.and i would like to thank you once again for taking the time to chat with me about the problems i am having with my car.

[xeroinfinity]

No prob fastasshell !

You should try and get that DTC code, it would help identify your troubles better.
But a trany fluid & filter change(no flush!!!) would not hurt. Chances are it never beeen changed.

keep us posted

[fastasshell]

thanks for that info. i will get the codes and in the mean while i will get that tranny fluid & filter change.

[fastasshell]

hello) well i hope this is much help to you to identify my problems. i just received the codes that you ask for.(TCC) is what he came up with on the scanner. please get back at me on this and further let me know what you have for me. okay thanks.

[fastasshell]

oh and i have not yet did the filter & fluid change to my car yet. just because it seems like it runs okay. other than the annoying lights being on in the dash. the car runs great. the mechanic that i got the codes from today ask if its running okay. i said yes. his come back was to just put black tape over the lights if they annoy me. then he said that i might have problems with my tranny in the near future. that was enlighten to hear. anyway please get back to me on anything you know. and i will be all ears.

[xeroinfinity]

well just saying its the TCC doesnt really tell me that much other than it has thrown a code. The Tcc is in the trany
If you changed the fluid and filter It could clear up(if this hasnt been done recently).

Pretty sure Your transmision is the 4T60E, I tried a search for the TCC but nothing turned up in the GA forum.
I would really worry unless it start doing anything like dying everytime you stop. Heres a little selfhelp site with some good info.
http://www.quality-trans.com/selfdiag.htm

Check out #18 on the trans info frequently asked questions, it talks about the tcc .

[fastasshell]

Originally Posted by xeroinfinity

well just saying its the TCC doesnt really tell me that much other than it has thrown a code. The Tcc is in the trany
If you changed the fluid and filter It could clear up(if this hasnt been done recently).

Pretty sure Your transmision is the 4T60E, I tried a search for the TCC but nothing turned up in the GA forum.
I would really worry unless it start doing anything like dying everytime you stop. Heres a little selfhelp site with some good info.
http://www.quality-trans.com/selfdiag.htm

Check out #18 on the trans info frequently asked questions, it talks about the tcc .

.......................... hello im back. well i changed my tranny fluid/filter. but just before the change i was at work and i was just getting ready to pull off when i notice my car could bearly move so i had to let it warm up before i could take off and even then it would rev more than it would move. so i had to do the tranny fluid/filter change to see if that would help. but i also put some lucus tranny fix in with the change.is this a good thing.i mean the lucus tranny fix stuff. anyway when i change the fluid/filter i also disconnected the neg post from the batt to reset the codes in my dash.so i drove the car today about halfway to work and guess what. the stupid lights in the dash came back to punch me in the face with a heehee haha we're back. anyway please get back to me on this problem that i have now even with the fluid/filter change. but i must say the car act's better than it has with the fluid/filter change than with out it. but i still have lights the ETS and my check engine still glows.