FAQ - Why is my "TRAC OFF" light on?

[Mischief007]

Have you ever wondered why sometimes the trac off light would just come on without any reasoning whatsoever?

Well my car throws a check engine light if I drive on the highway long enough. But before it throws the CEL, the trac off light comes on.

I checked with my code reader and my suspicion came true. The "TRAC OFF" light comes on because there is a code pending in the car's computer. What this mean is that the conditions are there for it to throw turn on the CEL light. Eventually, if the fault exists, the CEL light will turn.

[01silveralero]

my trac light was off for like 3 months after being on for a year. now its back on. i have been told that mine is the wheel hub bearing.

[[ion] C2]

mine comes on and the SES one or the other or both every once in a while, but that's due to me messing up some wiring lol

[Mischief007]

Well I knew it wasn't my hubs and this just proved my suspicion. It is not always wheel hub bearings or the sensors when the "TRAC OFF" light comes on. It is a pending code most of the time and you can usually find out about it with an OBDII reader.

I'm just bringing more insight to this forum.

[surreal_awakening]

My Trac Off light is lit, and my Brake light is lit because I have a bad EBCM (Electronic Brake Control Module). I think they actually may have integrated this into the BCM or PCM on later years. 99 was slightly different in a handful of ways.

[Cliff8928]

Nope, EBCMs are integrated into the ABS pump. They control the ABS, Traction control and for the alero, the tire pressure monitor.

[Vinalero]

Its a hub related problem if ALL 3 LIGHTS are on : SVS, TRACK OFF, and ABS

If only Track off is on, could be something else.

[Mischief007]

Originally Posted by Vinalero

Its a hub related problem if ALL 3 LIGHTS are on : SVS, TRACK OFF, and ABS

If only Track off is on, could be something else.

Exactly. And if it is on, get a code reader and read the codes .

[dbailey]

My trac off light cam on today when I pulled into the driveway and stopped. Not sure that I can come to a conclusion from the previous posts here what causes that light to come on. Has anybody had this problem since this thread was originally started and know what causes this light to come on? It is just the trac off light. No others. Thanks guys.

[lonnie]

Hey the next time someone gets these lights and decideds to check the brakes and stuff...do me a favor and look at the caliper pistons, because I almost think that they are seized. All of this happened to my car a long time ago and stopped until recently, and the only thing that I knew that was going on down there was the pins seizing.

[dbailey]

Bought accars hubs off of eBay and 90 days later they are both bad. They are standing behind them though and said they would refund my money. Taking mine to the dealer tomorrow for 2 new front hubs. They first tried to replace the wiring harnesses that go to the hubs as that has been a known problem but after they did that, the lights came back on and threw codes that the front hubs are bad. They game me a couple of hundred bucks off for having not fixed it with the harnesses. Gotta spend another $628 for the 2 fronts.

[dbailey]

Dealer called and said only one of the hubs is bad. Guess that's somewhat of a relief. Even said he would hold the discounted price for a few months just in case the other one goes bad.

[lonnie]

I think you guys need to look out for these super deals in the future...way to many people saying there hubs are bad after a short period of time.

[surreal_awakening]

Live and learn I guess. Unfortunately we all bought around the same time so we all ended up as guinea pigs. Results on mine are still pending. *fingers crossed*

[chomamma]

Is there a way to test which hub is bad. Cheap scan tools dont show anything. I thought maybe a ohm reading on each sensor may give a clue.