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abs and tcs help

J

jenningsbubba

New member
i have a 1999 pontiac grand prix gt and starting about a month ago the abs light and "trac off" light would come on randomly. About a week ago i was coming out of an alley and lightly applied the brakes and the abs came on though i was sure i had traction. with winter coming up i would like to be able to use the tcs so any suggestions would be great. i am a 17 year old highschooler and would prefer not taking it to a shop, and would rather fix it with my dad. Any suggestion would be helpfull, thanks!
 


you dont even have tcs. you have traction control.

its a less effective version.

It doesnt activate until a second after you're in trouble.

If you pay attention to what you're doing you can correct it by the time it kicks in.

Now the fix is generally checking your abs wires or replacing a hub or two.
 
matt5112 said:
you dont even have tcs. you have traction control.

its a less effective version.

It doesnt activate until a second after you're in trouble.

If you pay attention to what you're doing you can correct it by the time it kicks in.

Now the fix is generally checking your abs wires or replacing a hub or two.
Click to expand...

Another common problem with these cars (picking up an 03 GPGT tomorrow, own an 02 Impala LS already) is a bad or dirty ground connection to the ABS computer. If you remove your intake tube, you will see a wire attached to the body just inside of the inner fender that runs up the box that controls the ABS system. Use a 10mm socket to disconnect the wire from the body, clean the ring terminal there as well as the body where the wire connects, and it could solve those symptoms if that is what the problem was. I'll take pics when I get a chance if you need them.
 
scottb1982 said:
Another common problem with these cars (picking up an 03 GPGT tomorrow, own an 02 Impala LS already) is a bad or dirty ground connection to the ABS computer. If you remove your intake tube, you will see a wire attached to the body just inside of the inner fender that runs up the box that controls the ABS system. Use a 10mm socket to disconnect the wire from the body, clean the ring terminal there as well as the body where the wire connects, and it could solve those symptoms if that is what the problem was. I'll take pics when I get a chance if you need them.
Click to expand...

Checked that out... all clean as the day they were assembled.
 
i couldn't find the ground but i did some further reading on the internet about it and i heard you can take a multitester and the ohms reading on the hub sensor should be right around 1025, on the left front i was getting readings jumping around between 1400 and 1900, confused i tried it again and i got the same thing, so i went to the right front and it read at 1028 both times i tried it so im pretty sure i need a left front hub.
 


i had the same problem a while back the abs would just kick in for no reason and i would get a abs and trac light, try jacking up the car and push on opposite sides of the tire to see if theres any play, mine were pretty bad
 
Mine are pretty solid.

Hence not wanting to drop $400 on bearings.

Edit:

800-1600 ohms is spec.

The second test is to spin the wheel and measure the AC voltage across the sensor

It should be greater than 100 mV.

If one or the other isn't met then bad sensor.
 
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Mine light goes on and off.....If was constantly on when i needed a right side CV axle...put one in and it stayed off for a month now. Today it came back on....really annoying, wheel bearings were replaced in april So I am going to check the ground like you guys mentioned
 
I had to replace my right front hub twice on my 01. since the ABS is tied in with TCS both lights come on together. The wires get pinched and eventually will split on you. GM didnt think out the route for these wires very well. My guess is that is starting to happen with yours. Really easy job, i had it down to 30 minutes. Be sure you have a 34mm socket.
 


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