Stabilitrak and service engine light

Tiny
MATHCARL
  • MEMBER
  • 2007 CHEVROLET EQUINOX
  • 6 CYL
  • AWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 66,000 MILES
I think it has 2 problems the first is every day stabilitrak warning light comes on and says service traction control but resets itself every day then you drive 5 miles and its back on. Had it scanned for codes nothing comes up I was told if you changed the oil in the transfer case that might fix the problem changed oil still does it. The other thing is service engine light comes on you fill it up with gas drive 10 miles light comes on stays on till it has less than a half tank and then goes out till you put gas back in no codes on this problem either.+ Any help would be appreciated
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Saturday, May 23rd, 2009 AT 8:42 AM

29 Replies

Tiny
DOCFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,828 POSTS
Hello,

This sounds like one of the front bearing hubs is out causing the ABS wheel speed sensor not to work correctly. To find out which one lets run the codes by following this video.

https://youtu.be/rTtAnsOlZU4

Instructions on how to replace the hubs is in the diagrams below.
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Saturday, May 23rd, 2009 AT 11:36 AM
Tiny
JFLOOD
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Yeop the right front hub was out for me cost $121.00 for the part all set up this site is great!
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Thursday, December 19th, 2019 AT 2:57 PM
Tiny
LATISHA
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  • 2007 CHEVROLET EQUINOX
  • 57 MILES
My traction and stability control lights came on then my check engine light came on. When stopped, after applying the gas it takes alot longer than usual to get going and move. But once going it will keep speed and go but****** almost like it's out of gas but it's not. Feels like in the back end of the car.
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Thursday, December 19th, 2019 AT 2:58 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
https://www.2carpros.com/articles/service-engine-soon-or-check-engine-light-on-or-flashing

Have the computer scanned for code/s-you have a problem within the engine management system that caused the CEL to turn on-This is your starting point of diagnosis,finding out what's going on
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Thursday, December 19th, 2019 AT 2:58 PM (Merged)
Tiny
2CP-ARCHIVES
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  • 4,544 POSTS
  • 2007 CHEVROLET EQUINOX
  • 155,000 MILES
Service traction control comes on and engine powers down is this something I can. Fix myself
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Thursday, December 19th, 2019 AT 2:58 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
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It sounds like you have a sensor problem. Have the computer scanned to identify a trouble code. That will point you in the right direction.
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Thursday, December 19th, 2019 AT 2:58 PM (Merged)
Tiny
WOESS55
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  • 1 POST
  • 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX
  • 2.8L
  • 4 CYL
  • AWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 95,000 MILES
Been experiencing problems with the ABS/Traction Control dash lights coming on sporadically. The drivers front brake would 'lock-up' at times, too. I did some research, and it was a common problem with the Equinox's, and the 'fix' involved the front wheel speed sensors being faulty. I replaced both front sensors and brake pads, and didn't have an trouble for a couple weeks. Now, the lights come back on (I can't get them to tho), but there isn't any problem with the brakes. Does the 'computer' need reset to keep the warning lights from coming on? I try to do as much mechanic work as possible, as the expenses at shop won't allow My disability 'budget' to fit in. Any HELP is truly appreciated. I THANK YOU in advance. DeanO!
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Thursday, December 19th, 2019 AT 2:58 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CARADIODOC
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The common problem on GMs with removable sensors is rust builds up under them and pushes them up. That increases the air gap and decreases the signal strength. These sensors develop rather wimpy signals to begin with, so a decrease is exaggerated when the vehicle slows down. Movement between parts is one of the three ingredients in generating a voltage, and as speed of that movement slows down, the signal being generated gets weaker, until it reaches the point where the computer can't read it and it thinks that wheel has locked up.

The clues here are generally the faults will be detected at slower speeds. The anti-lock system will only activate when the brake pedal is pressed, and you usually don't do that for very long at higher speeds. The traction control part of the system activates during acceleration. A signal dropout during braking or accelerating will activate the appropriate system, but when you're cruising at a steady speed, a dropout is detected as a defect, and that's when the diagnostic fault code is set and the warning lights turn on.

You didn't indicate that you actually had the fault codes read and recorded, so you're just going by what other misinformed people thought fixed the problem. It's important to understand that when the warning lights turn on, there is a diagnostic fault code to tell you which circuit or system needs further diagnosis. Even with wheel speed sensors, there are multiple fault codes that can be set and they mean very different things and have different repair procedures. A code can relate to a break in the electrical circuit to a sensor. A common cause of that is corrosion buildup between the mating terminals in a connector. Replacing the sensor can make the problem appear to be fixed due to scratching action of sliding the connector together. That scratching creates clean and shiny spots for the terminals, but the corrosion always comes back weeks or months later.

A speed error code related to a speed sensor is often due to a cracked tone wheel, but a tire of the wrong circumference will do that too. A sensor's signal can be missing, as I first mentioned, but electrically the circuit is still intact. That will set yet a different fault code.
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Thursday, December 19th, 2019 AT 2:58 PM (Merged)
Tiny
REZRIDER
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  • 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX
  • 13,200 MILES
What does it mean when the car wont move but is able to shift in all gears and the TC light comes off and on? This is a 2005 chevy equinox LT

This all escalated after changing the hub assembly and rotors, after that my daughter was able to drive home but it started freezing up like locking when she would give it gas it wouldnt want to move when accelerated, and also the T C light and check engine light was coming off and on
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Thursday, December 19th, 2019 AT 2:58 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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So this all happened after the hub assemsbly was changed?If so all the work that was done needs to be rechecked.
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Thursday, December 19th, 2019 AT 2:58 PM (Merged)
Tiny
PAU2099
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  • 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX
  • 112,400 MILES
I have a 2005 Equinox FWD with about 112,400 miles. It's in great shape, but I just encountered a problem today. It is quite cold here with freezing rain, and as I pulled out of a parking lot, the check engine, reduced engine perfor, and traction control lights all lit up and stayed on. The car would also barely accelerate in drive unless I put the pedal down to about 25000 rpms, and then it would accelerate slowly. I cut the car off and let it sit, then tried again with the same results. I ended up having to put it into L2 to get home (2 min drive). (Shifting from L2 to L4 to Drive worked okay, but I only tried it once in order to see how the car responded.) Any help about possible problems would be much appreciated. Thank you.
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Thursday, December 19th, 2019 AT 2:58 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
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You either have a failed throttle body or pedal sensor for the fly by wire system/

turn off the car and re start. It may bring everything back on line for now but will fail again.

Roy
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Thursday, December 19th, 2019 AT 2:58 PM (Merged)
Tiny
TEQUELLA
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  • 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX
  • 139,000 MILES
After driving in some heavy rain and flooded streets my check engine light and traction control light keep popping on and off and the car moves slowly. After turning the car off and then back on it drives fine. Could the transmission be bad or is it some other possible problem?
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Thursday, December 19th, 2019 AT 2:58 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
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I don't feel there is anything wrong with the transmission. It sounds like an ABS sensor may have been affected by the water. You see, if the computer feels the vehicle is sliding or spinning a wheel, it will cut the power from the engine to help the driver regain control. Have the computer scanned to see if there is a problem with one of the sensors for the ABS.
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Thursday, December 19th, 2019 AT 2:58 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CHAMELEON_CRP
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  • 2007 CHEVROLET EQUINOX
  • 105,000 MILES
The service stabilitrak light comes on after driving for a while. The light does not come on when the car is started only after driving for a while and sometimes is goes away and then comes back on. The manual that comes with the car says the system is not operational and to adjust your driving accordingly so that is why I haven't been paying much attention to it. Yesterday the check engine light came on and is still on. I went to AutoZone today to check for the codes for the service engine light and got codes: P0404(Failed EGR position sensor, open or short circuit sensor, failed EGR valve, Failed EGR pressure sensor where applicable, and failed EGR position sensor where applicable), P0405(same list as P0404), and P1779(open or short circuit condition, poor electric connection, low or dirty transmission fluid, and faulty shift solenoid). The people at AutoZone said that anyone of those but not all could be the problem. I don't know where to start. My car is not under warranty anymore and don't want to spend a lot of money. My mechanical skills are okay and I feel comfortable working on it but will it be better for a professional to deal with the problem?
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Thursday, December 19th, 2019 AT 2:59 PM (Merged)
Tiny
HMAC300
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You can try to replac the egr valve but no guarantee if it fixing it. The wiring cold have ashor tor bad connection at pcm or eger. And is best left to pros to diagnose it. The other see if your trans fluid is dirty if you have a dipstick otherwise you need a trasn pro to look at it. For the stabilizer you need apro scanner to test what is wrong if anything with it.
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Thursday, December 19th, 2019 AT 2:59 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DRACHX
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  • 2007 CHEVROLET EQUINOX
  • 75,060 MILES
I have a 2007 chevy equinox and I'm having a lot of indicator lights come on for example parking brake light traction control light and the abs light on the dash but all systems are working.

I have checked the fuses and disconnected the battery for 3 hrs.
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Thursday, December 19th, 2019 AT 2:59 PM (Merged)
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
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No, all systems are not working. The ABS system has recognized a problem and shut the system down. You need to have someone with a professional scan tool read the stored codes and go from there. DO NOT disconnect the battery. You're just erasing all the important diagnostic data. Make sure you have checked your brake fluid level first.
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Thursday, December 19th, 2019 AT 2:59 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BBBAT
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  • 7 POSTS
  • 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX
  • 0.6L
  • 6 CYL
  • AWD
  • AUTOMATIC
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Antilock brake making noise no lights on dash
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Thursday, December 19th, 2019 AT 2:59 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,699 POSTS
That isn't much to go on. If the noise only occurs when you're applying the brakes, the noise is probably normal when the system is activating. The issue then is false activation when it isn't needed. The most common cause on GM vehicles is a loss of signal from one of the wheel speed sensors. That can be caused by rust buildup under a sensor that pushes it away from the toothed tone ring. Rust buildup on the tip of the magnet in the sensor can do that too.

The fastest way to find this is to connect a scanner to view live data during a test drive. Wheel speed signal strength is related to speed. As the vehicle slows down, the signals get weaker. If something causes the signal to be abnormally weak to start with, it will get even weaker at slow speeds to the point the computer can't read it. When that happens it will assume that wheel has locked up and will activate the hydraulic controller to try to get the wheel spinning again.
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Thursday, December 19th, 2019 AT 2:59 PM (Merged)

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