Traction light

Tiny
YAP1
  • MEMBER
  • 2002 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 90,000 MILES
Trac light just comes on car shifts real hard
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Monday, November 24th, 2008 AT 4:11 PM

24 Replies

Tiny
RHALL77
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,361 POSTS
I would suggest having the vehicle scanned for trouble codes. is there a abs light coming on also? get back to me with the trouble codes and ill see if i can help you.

This guide will help

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/abs-warning-light-on-easy-repair-guide

Please run down this guide and report back.
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Friday, December 16th, 2016 AT 4:41 PM
Tiny
BENSJETS
  • MEMBER
  • 64 POSTS
  • 2002 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
  • 65,000 MILES
I stopped my 2002 Cavalier LS SPORT and before I shut it off, the headlights flashed three times and the service engine light came on. I shut the car off right away, started it back up, and had no problems till later in the evening. This time the headlights flickered And I think the traction control light wanted to come on but didn't. I shut the car off and it starts right back up and no warning gauges are lit. Just guessing, but could it be in the ignition system being the headlights flashed 3 times or in the passlock system? It runs great, but it is trying to tell me something is wrong. Any help will be greatly appreciated as always.
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 12:27 PM (Merged)
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Have it scanned for codes usually if it's a security problem the light on dash comes on
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 12:27 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BENSJETS
  • MEMBER
  • 64 POSTS
I tried that today. No trouble codes, but did find that I have a burnt out low beam headlight. I'll start there and hope that fixes the problem. Thanks hmac300
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 12:27 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JWALKER1980
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2002 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
Transmission problem
2002 Chevy Cavalier 4 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic

my traction control light came on and will not go off. Causeing transmmion to shift hard. Ireplaced the ecm bu it still came back on could I have a short and causeing the car to go into safe mode
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 12:27 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MMPRINCE4000
  • MECHANIC
  • 8,549 POSTS
If you replaced the PCM you wasted your money, TC is controled by BCM or EBTCM.

Have car scanned at dealer or garage that can scan "B" body, and "C" chassis codes.
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 12:27 PM (Merged)
Tiny
2CP-ARCHIVES
  • MEMBER
  • 4,544 POSTS
  • 2002 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
  • 109,000 MILES
What does a lit trac light mean?
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 12:27 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Traction control system.

Is the abs light on? Usually when there is an abs fault, the trac system is off line till the abs is repaired/

Roy
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 12:27 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BELLABUNNY
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2002 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 102,000 MILES
My car drives fine, than all of a sudden the Trac off light comes on and my car feels like I'm slamming into gear. This happens everytime I drive it. If I turn off the car and turn it back on, the trac off light goes away but my check engine light comes on. If I turn the car off and on again, the check engine light goes away and the car drives fine again. WTF? I get a Throttle Sensor malfunction- Sensor Low Voltage code. Could this sensor be the problem? I refuse to pay $90 just to know what the problem is. Can anyone help?
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 12:27 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MERLIN2021
  • MECHANIC
  • 17,250 POSTS
Grab your voltmeter and measure the values shown here.


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/62217_TP_1.jpg

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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 12:27 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MECHIA821
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2002 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 86,000 MILES
Once in awhile my trac light comes on and check engine light my car starts jerking like its gonna throw you out of it I have to pull over because it wont take no gas at all and has no power I shut it off and restart and it runs real good after that until the next time it could be 1month or a couple of weeks before it does it again
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 12:27 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BMRFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 19,053 POSTS
Should and have to get the codes
PCM will store a history of what is happening
and when you get the codes
it will help in diagnosing the problem
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 12:27 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MECHIA821
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
We had it put on a diagnostic machine everything is showing okay
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 12:27 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BMRFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
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If using an OBDII reader will not help as this will only give you the present codes
and since you don't have check engine light on all the time this will not detect any faults
if you are to use this OBDII reader you have to scan when check engine light on
need to have it scanned with a scanner it will give you more options as to look up history and different modules readings and codes
good luck
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 12:27 PM (Merged)
Tiny
NATISE512
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2002 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
  • 4 CYL
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 111,000 MILES
On my 2002 Chevy Cavalier, my battery light came on first, then my ABS and trac off light came on together before the car just suddenly cut off. Any ideas to as to what this can be?
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 12:27 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ERNEST CLARK
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,730 POSTS
You'll need to have your computer scanned for codes.

Keep in mind, all scanners aren't created equal. The cheaper brands can't read ABS or TRAC codes.

Once you get the codes, write back and I'll help you from there.
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 12:27 PM (Merged)
Tiny
FLYANDSHEMIGHT
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2002 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
  • 117,000 MILES
My 2002 Chevy Cavalier's spedometer is stuck at 0, but the RPMs continue to go. The trac off light came on and has stayed on, but the car feels like it's in neutral or won't go above possibly 10mph without forcing it. It's laggy and feeling sluggish. Any thoughts on what the problem might be caused by?
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 12:27 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,005 POSTS
Start by checking the vehicle speed sensor.
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 12:27 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DIANNEBOGERT
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2002 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 240,000 MILES
I just recently had a mechanic to replace my air compressor and then shortly after my fuel pump was replaced. We had below freezing temps for only a few days. I did not drive my car but did go out to start it now and then. It would start. When I did finally drive it the Trac off light came on along with the Check engine light. My mechanic ran his code instrument and ended up resetting so the lights would go off (not finding any reason right away of why they came on). They came back on after leaving his garage. He reset them again. They came back on. They're still on. It was randomly mentioned it could have something to do with the wheel speed sensor. Another mentioned a wheel bearing going out. Ive taken excellent care of this car for 8 years and I drive a good distance to and from work. Im hoping you have a good idea of what I need to think about getting repaired next. Or is it time to consider another vehicle? Thank you. Dianne
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 12:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
The car is 12 yrs old so youmight think about another one, but just look around and you shouldn't be in a hurry the light being on won't hurt driveability of it. You really need the code so we can help because what you mentioned is 2 different things and it cold be a short in wiring as well. But don't be real concerned about it just have it scanned again, autoparts do for free unless it's abs or another type of problem that they can't scan for. It also depends on wha tis wrong if it costs over 1500 then think about another vehicle for sure. But also if the car is paid for then 1500 is a lot cheaper than a car payment but age catches up with all of us. Cars too.
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 12:28 PM (Merged)

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