ETS Problem

[AtomicX]

Hey yesterday I was driving down the road and all of a sudden my Trac Off light came on. It will not shut off for some reason. This was the same day I got my new radio installed.

[Vinman]

if it stays on and there is no other light, try shutting the car off and starting it up again. my ets used to do that then one day my abs light joined it and it hasn't gone off since..a tell tale sign of a bad wheel bearing (according to others on here who have given me advice), though i have checked mine and it doesn't have any play or makes the common moaning sound when you turn. So if shutting your car off and turning it back on doesn't work, it'll just be a matter of time before your abs light comes on as well, and you'd need to replace the whole hub assembly.

[AtomicX]

Yeah its been overnight and the Trac Off Light is still on. Thats the only light on now.

[Vinman]

well here's an obvious question, have you pressed the ets button? im sure you have but just in case....but if you have and its still on, you may just have something wrong with the traction control system, and not the bearing like i do.

[AtomicX]

Yeah I tried but it doesn't do anything :(
Do you know an approx cost it would be to fix this?
Also is it true it sucks gas if trac is off?

[Vinman]

im not sure, but according to the owner's manual its something you should go to the dealership for, but you could try the local garage if you have people you can trust to not screw you over...
I haven't really noticed a decrease in gas mileage, my car has never been good on gas since i got it, i changed the plugs and wires, but that didn't too much, and when the lights came on i didn't notice a difference, the only problem i had is my brakes felt weird, i would come to a stop going downhill, and it felt like i was trying to stop on ice and my abs wasn't working properly. now my brakes don't do that, but they aren't that strong...so yeah, i would go around getting prices, and finding someone who won't screw you over...I have the luck of if i have any issues, my best friend works for a local garage, and his boss likes me so i get deals..don't know if thats the case for you...good luck...

[lonnie]

last time that happend to me my button was just stuck from dirt and grim from previous owners and the dealership never cleaned it.

[AtomicX]

Mine is so weird it just turned on randomly when I was driving,
P.S. Is it bad that it is off? Will it hurt my car in anyway besides just not gripping good?

[Vinman]

i don't believe it would hurt anything...i've read posts somewhere on here where a few people say its actually a good thing to have it off, it supposedly saves the transmission...not sure if thats true, i haven't experienced anything negative besides the brake issue

[pimpalero2003]

id unplug the button take the staple out of shifter with flat head the just pull up on the plastic cove and unplug the button if the light goes off u just have a bad switch and did u check fuses????

[Gr1m]

Mine is so weird it just turned on randomly when I was driving,
P.S. Is it bad that it is off? Will it hurt my car in anyway besides just not gripping good?
you car will grip the same, just if you wheels start slipping, the engine will not be cut off until you regain traction, whereas with it on, your engine will be cut off for a second or two until you get traction back.

[AtomicX]

So basically im fine with it off?