Low Trac Light!

[freeon/neon]

I have a 98 lumina and everytime I press the brakes the low trac light comes on and it sounds like a turkey under the dash. Also my headlights dim and sorta flash a little when braking is this a faulty ABS? What is the turkey noise under the dash.

[mjtr21]

im guessing you also get the pulsating brake pedal when this happens. the "turkey noise" you refer to is the anti-lock brake motor working. if this happens every time you put on the brakes, you have a bad wheel speed sensor. have someone connect a scanner to get the codes and that will tell you what the problem is. most likely a faulty wheel sensor though.

[freeon/neon]

Can I just spray it with brake cleaner or should I remove it and clean the speed sensor? Is thier anything wierd about remove it doesnt have to be aligned or anything does it?

[jeffcoslacker]

Originally Posted by freeon/neon

Can I just spray it with brake cleaner or should I remove it and clean the speed sensor? Is thier anything wierd about remove it doesnt have to be aligned or anything does it?

Usually a WSS giving a faulty reading will cause the ABS light to be lit all the time (because the system is always looking at wheel speeds, not just when you brake), and cause a DISABLING of ABS operation, it defaults to standard operation in case there's a problem with ABS system, so I'm a bit skeptical of that being the cause.

The sound you hear is the ABS valving solenoids activating, and it does draw more electrical power when active, so you might see some flickering (though you might wanna have your alternator checked soon too, shouldn't load it THAT bad..)

There was another one here a while back that had unwanted ABS operation all the time, but I can't remember what the resolution was...I'll see if I can find it..

[freeon/neon]

O.K. took tire off and cleaned off the wheel speed sensor and the rotors and the hubs and the low trac light dosent come on anymore but it still makes turkey noise.

[smallbrady89]

what turkey noise are you talking about. when my ABS kicks in (97 lumina 3.1L), it makes a somewhat rattleing sound but no "turkey noises". can you describe the sound your hearing in more detail? because if its not the ABS then the noises and the light can be unrelated though if they started at the same time its unlikely.

[freeon/neon]

Originally Posted by smallbrady89

what turkey noise are you talking about. when my ABS kicks in (97 lumina 3.1L), it makes a somewhat rattleing sound but no "turkey noises". can you describe the sound your hearing in more detail? because if its not the ABS then the noises and the light can be unrelated though if they started at the same time its unlikely.

Ummmm it sound like eeeerrrrrrttttt,ert,ert,ert,eeeeeerrrrrrtttt. dont really know any other way to explain, its not a clicking or a rattling. Its only when the brakes are pressed and at least the low tract light doesnt come on anymore!