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Trac off light

Tiny
ZACK1977
  • MEMBER
  • 2001 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
  • 2.2L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 152,000 MILES
Good day, when I started my car today the (trac off) light was illuminating on the dash and the transmission was very strong kicking when I put it from P to R or D. Please help.

Thanks,

Zack Essak
Sterling Heights, MI
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Monday, April 23rd, 2018 AT 7:33 AM

17 Replies

Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Good morning.

Is the ABS light on as well?

The trac system is part of the ABS system. If you have an ABS light, that system needs to be checked for the failure. Once that is repaired the trac system will come back on line.

Roy
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Monday, April 23rd, 2018 AT 8:09 AM
Tiny
ZACK1977
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  • 8 POSTS
Nothing wrong with the ABS and there is no ABS warning light that came on.
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Monday, April 23rd, 2018 AT 2:14 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
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If I may, the trac light can come on if you have an input shaft speed sensor out on the transmission. can you please read the codes?

Here is a guide:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/checking-a-service-engine-soon-or-check-engine-light-on-or-flashing

Please let us know what you find. We are interested to see what it is.

Cheers, Ken
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Monday, April 23rd, 2018 AT 2:16 PM
Tiny
ZACK1977
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
Thanks Ken, I am trying to jump wire the OBD2 connector on the car so I can read the codes correctly, but I am not sure how to use the hair clip method to jump which terminals? Is it 4 and 16 or 5 and 16 or 4 and 5? This is what is stopping me.
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Monday, April 23rd, 2018 AT 2:38 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
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You cannot jump out the obd 2 connector and get blink codes as you could in the old days with the obd 1 connector. You need a code reader for this operation. You can go to a parts store and have them read it for free.

Roy
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+1
Monday, April 23rd, 2018 AT 4:12 PM
Tiny
ZACK1977
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
Thanks Roy, I will do that.
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Monday, April 23rd, 2018 AT 4:36 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
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Get back to us with the code so we can help you continue to a resolution.

Roy
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Monday, April 23rd, 2018 AT 4:39 PM
Tiny
ZACK1977
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
Thanks Roy, I believe it is the VSS vehicle speed sensor because the jerky shifting of the transmission happened after a TRAC OFF warning light illuminated on the dash.
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Monday, April 23rd, 2018 AT 5:08 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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If the sensor is bad, it should set a 500 code in the system. Better to be sure than guess.

You may be right but I like to be sure when I call a failed part. Guesses are expensive and sometimes wrong.

Roy
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Monday, April 23rd, 2018 AT 5:13 PM
Tiny
ZACK1977
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I absolutely agree with you. I will not start any move without being sure. Thanks Roy.
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Monday, April 23rd, 2018 AT 5:37 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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You are welcome.

Keep us updated.

Roy
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Monday, April 23rd, 2018 AT 5:38 PM
Tiny
ZACK1977
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
Will try to do. May our Lord bless you and the family.
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Monday, April 23rd, 2018 AT 6:07 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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Thank you. Same to you and yours.

Roy
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Tuesday, April 24th, 2018 AT 4:25 AM
Tiny
ZACK1977
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
Hi Roy,
i did not have time today to go for code readings at AutoZone. A while ago I started the car and the idle was very hesitating. I checked for any air leaks, could not find a thing. But, the TRAC OFF light went off and the jerky shifting went off too. I went for a drive and the engine was very responsive and the shifting was smooth as for a 2001 car. Hmmm, weird.
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Tuesday, April 24th, 2018 AT 3:56 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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Interesting.

When they checked the system, were there any codes stored or in history?

Roy
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Tuesday, April 24th, 2018 AT 4:10 PM
Tiny
ZACK1977
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  • 8 POSTS
No one checked my car. I checked it myself. Regardless, I will go to AutoZone to look if any code in the system tomorrow. Will let you know.
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Tuesday, April 24th, 2018 AT 4:24 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 42,961 POSTS
Here is a video that shows the ABS getting scanned:

https://youtu.be/rTtAnsOlZU4

Please let us know what you find. We are interested to see what it is.

Cheers, Ken

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Wednesday, April 25th, 2018 AT 9:43 AM

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