Help: Service Engine Soon, Trac Off

Owner of a 1999 Alero with less than 65,000 miles. Last night, while coming home, the service engine soon light and trac off light came on. Car was hard to get moving (not usually a problem). Lights still on today. Afraid to drive the car as dealer said it could be the transmission. I'm just a "dumbroad" and could use some tech help.

[j-work]

It is probably you hub or your abs senor, better pray hard and hope it is not. Because it is very expensive. I had the same problem except my car shifted out of gears very hard... like throw you againist the steering wheel hard. There was a high voltage reading in the main wiring harness which shorted something and made the transimission computer go crazy. I t was 210 to fix at GM dealer. Have it checked!

you know i've had the same problem except mine comes on for a day and then goes off and comes on two days later and goes off again the next day. i've heard it could be just a loose wire for the sensor. does anyone know?

[brsexton]

Get the ECM scanned for codes. It could be anything. You need to get a code though so you will know where to start.

[Daytona]

Make sure your emergency brake isn't on even the slightest because that could eventually trigger it. And welcome aboard.

Thanks to all who offered insight about my 1999 Alero. Turns out to be the transmission and a local shop wants 2200 to fix. It is going to sit in the garage for a good long time now. Was told that the engine usually goes before the tranny. That was happy news.

NOT HAPPY DUMBROAD IN ILLINOIS.

[FormulaNERD]

i wouldnt trust a local transmission shop honestly.

i'd take it to the dealer. i dont think a tranny problem could ever trigger SES or Trac Off lights.

[99carseat]

our 99 alero 2.4 kept having the abs, low trac light, and check engine light. (Ours was never hard to get going though) I took it to a mechanic friend and they said the engine light was coded for an exhaust leak (could have been a gas cap not closed tight or something) the abs/trac light was the speed sensor...which is built into the hub assemble. They cleared the codes and the trac light/abs comes on every now and then. They also said it could have a short in the speed sensor wiring, or there is dirt/brake dust built up on the needle of the speed/wheel sensor.
I'm not too worried about since the check egine light is off.

alero hubs are on ebay with the abs sensor.

Gregg

[aLeRogrL21]

Mine did the same thing one night on my way to my girl's house, then I parked the car and we went out to the bars in her car. When I came back and was ready to drive home, the idiot lights weren't on when I started it. It hasn't done it since!

[stealthlero]

this happened to me today....the other day when i was leavin school my trac off button was on and the beepin was really annoying, now tonight after work my headlights didn't even go on automatically and my e-brake light was on...WTF, does anyone know whats wrong with it???

[Oldsman]

It's haunted................LOL

that is very strange and the dealer should look at it.

now to dumbroad, i had something like that and it was O2 sensors and Cat.

[Crazytaxi37]

I haven't seen an issue with these transmissions at all. Take it to an actual GM dealer. I'm betting that it's not the transmission.

[smlzalero]

Don't even think about forking out $2200 for the tranny when your Trac Off light is on! Follow FormulaNerd's advice and go to a dealer! there's no way a transmission prob would cause that to light up. Also, are you sure it's the Service Engine Soon or is it the Service Vehicle Soon? probly the second.

[stealthlero]

hahah...i took it to my GM dealer this mornin....and sure enough it was aboslutely nothin serious, one of the screws from underneath the shifter bezel came out, and turns out when i pulled my e-brake a little, the screw got underneath it and stopped it from not bein able to go down all the way....... i needed an oil change too so it wasn't a total waste of a dealership visit....ahaha