Why Won’t the Traction Control Light Turn Off?

One day when I was driving I noticed that my traction control light was on even though I was driving in good weather. The light stayed on for the entire drive. This has never happened before, as it usually only turns on briefly during bad weather, so I started wondering why it was happening.

The most common reason for your traction control light not turning off is when there is a problem with your traffic control system. Other reasons may include faulty wires, faulty computer software, a failing steering angle sensor, a damaged steering rack, a bad wheel speed sensor, or when there is too much air pressure in the tires.

When I started researching I found out that the most likely reason that the traction control light won’t turn off is when there is a problem with the traction control system, but fortunately, it is easily fixable. There are other less likely reasons that I will be covering below as well.

Why Is the Light for the Traction Control On?

When the traffic control light is on, it is an indication that the traction control system is online. The traction control system, or TCS for short, is an electronic stability enhancement that helps prevent wheel-spin and loss of traction when driving on slippery surfaces such as ice or snow.

It does this by automatically applying brakes to individual wheels and/or reducing engine power when one or more tires begins to slip. The TCS light comes on whenever the traction control system is actively engaged. But you might be asking yourself, should the traction control system even be on?

Should the Traction Control System Be On or Off?

Generally speaking, it is safer to have your traction control on than off. There are many benefits to having traction control enabled while you drive. Perhaps most importantly, it can help you avoid accidents by keeping your car from sliding out of control on slippery roads.

Even if you’re an experienced driver, it’s always better to err on the side of caution when it comes to safety. Additionally, leaving your traction control turned off may void your vehicle’s warranty. While the TCS can be extremely useful, there are also times when you might want to turn it off altogether.

For instance, if you’re stuck in mud or deep snow, engaging the TCS will only make things worse by preventing your wheels from spinning freely and digging yourself out of a tough spot. In these situations, it’s best to turn off the TCS so that you can regain some wheel spin and get moving again.

While the traction control system should almost always be on, that is not the case with the traction control light. The traction control light should only be turning on briefly either when you’re driving in bad weather, or when you’re driving on roads without much traction.

If the traction control light is on all the time, then it’s a sign that the traction control light isn’t working properly. You might be wondering about the reasons why the traction control light isn’t working properly and won’t turn off.

Reasons Why the Traction Control Light Won’t Turn Off

Here are some reasons why the traction control light won’t turn off:

  • faulty wires
  • faulty computer software
  • failing steering angle sensor
  • damaged steering rack
  • bad wheel speed sensors
  • too much air pressure in the tires

Faulty Wires

Faulty wires can cause the traction control lights to not turn off. If any of the wires get damaged, it can disrupt communication between various parts of the system and cause inconsistencies in how it functions, such as keeping the traction control lights on indefinitely.

In some cases, faulty wiring may be due simply to loose electrical connections which can easily be tightened up again, but if there is more serious damage then it will require more extensive repair work from a more professional mechanic.

The cost of repairing faulty wires varies greatly, depending on which part of the wires got damaged, but it could cost anywhere from $100 to $1000. If fixing the faulty wires doesn’t keep the traction control lights from not turning off, then there could be an issue with the computer software.

Faulty Computer Software

If the traction control system (TCS) light in your car is staying on, it could be because of a problem with the computer software.

When the TCS detects that one or more wheels are slipping, it automatically applies brakes to those wheels and/or reduces engine power to help keep the vehicle from skidding.

If there’s an issue with the computer software, it can cause false readings that make the TCS think a wheel is slipping when it’s not. As a result, you’ll see the light stay on even when there’s no need for traction control intervention.

To fix the software you will need to go to a mechanic, and it will cost anywhere from $500 to $2000. If fixing the software doesn’t stop the traction control lights from staying on, it could be an issue with the steering angle sensor.

Failing Steering Angle Sensor

A faulty steering angle sensor can cause the traction control light not to turn off. The Steering Angle Sensor (SAS) is a vital part of a car’s stability control system. It measures the angle of the steering wheel and relays this information to the electronic stability control unit.

The SAS helps to keep your vehicle stable when cornering by automatically applying brakes to individual wheels if it detects that you are losing traction. However, when there is something wrong with the steering angle sensor itself, it might not be able to correctly detect wheel position and as a result, it will keep turning the traction control light on even when there’s no actual need for it.

Try fixing it by taking it to a mechanic, who can fix it for you for around $100 to $500. If fixing the steering angle sensor doesn’t keep the traction control lights from not turning off, then it could be an issue with the steering rack.

Damaged Steering Rack

A damaged steering rack can often cause the traction control light to stay on, even when there is no issue with the car’s traction. This is because the steering rack plays a critical role in how the car’s suspension works.

When it becomes damaged, it can cause the suspension to become misaligned, which in turn can trigger the traction control system to think that there is an issue when there may not be one.

In this case, simply getting the steering rack replaced for around $100 to $500 will fix this problem and allow the light to turn off again. If fixing the steering angle sensor doesn’t help with keeping the traction control lights off, then there could be an issue with the wheel speed sensor.

Bad Wheel Speed Sensors

Bad wheel speed sensors are a common cause of the traction control light not turning off. When the wheel speed sensors fail, they can no longer accurately measure the speeds of the wheels and send that information to the vehicle’s computer.

As a result, the computer may think that one or more of the wheels is slipping and activate the traction control system to try to compensate.

This will cause the traction control system lights to turn on. This can happen even if there isn’t any slippage occurring. Take it to a mechanic to get it fixed for around $200 to $400 per sensor. If fixing the wheel speed sensors does nothing to stop the traction control light from turning on, it could be an issue with too much air pressure in your tires.

There is Too Much Air Pressure in the Tires

If your traction control light is staying on, even after you’ve restarted your vehicle, it could be due to too much air pressure in the tires. The system that controls the traction control light is sensitive to changes in tire pressure and can detect when there’s too much air pressure. This can cause the system to think that the tires are slipping, even when they’re not.

The best way to fix this problem is to let some air out of the tires until the light goes off. Once you’ve adjusted the tire pressure, restart your vehicle and see if the traction control light turns off. If it doesn’t, the next step you will want to take is to try to reset the traction control light.

How to Reset the Traction Control Light

Here are a few ways that you can reset the traction control light:

  • turn off the traction control
  • check and replace the ABS control module
  • reprogram the traffic control system
  • conduct a system scan
  • check the tires and wheels

How to Turn Off the Traction Control

In most cases, you can find the traction control system button in your car by looking for a button or switch that shows an image of a car with wavy lines underneath it. To turn off the traction control system, press this button.

This will then display the same image with the word “off” beneath it, indicating that the traction control system is now turned off. Traction control is a system that helps your car maintain traction on slippery surfaces. It does this by reducing engine power and applying the brakes when it detects wheel slip.

Turning the traction control system off and on again may fix the issue with the traction control light not turning off, but if it doesn’t, you can try other ways to reset the traction control light, such as replacing the ABS control module.

Replace the ABS Control Module

The ABS control module is responsible for controlling the anti-lock braking system in a vehicle. This system prevents the wheels from locking up during heavy braking and helps to maintain traction and stability on slippery or uneven surfaces.

The ABS control module monitors the speed of each wheel and sends signals to the brakes when it detects that one or more wheels are starting to lock up.

Since the ABS and the TCS share a lot of the same parts, one messing up could affect the other one as well. To fix this, you need to replace your ABS at the nearest mechanic, and it will cost you an average of $1000 to $1200 depending on what type of car you have. If replacing the ABS doesn’t help, you can try reprogramming the TCS.

Can The TCS Be Reprogrammed

You cannot reprogram the TCS at home unless you have the right tools that a mechanic has, so you will have to take it in to get it reprogrammed. It will cost anywhere from $150 to $250 to get it fixed.

If reprogramming the TCS doesn’t help with the traffic control light from turning on, then you can try to conduct a system scan on your vehicle. 

Doing The Final Checks

To conduct a system scan, first, you will need to purchase an OBD2 reader. You can find these online or at most auto parts stores. Once you have your reader, connect it to the port located under your dashboard on the driver’s side. If your vehicle is 1996 or newer, it should have this port.

Next, open up the software that came with the scanner and follow the instructions for scanning your car. The process may vary depending on what brand of scanner you have, so be sure to consult the user manual if needed.

After starting the scan procedure according to directions given by the manufacturer, the system will take a few minutes to run through all vehicle systems and complete the scan.

Now you can view the results of the scan. This will show any areas where there may be issues with your car. The scan may show why the traffic control light is on, and once you know the reason you can let your mechanic know, and they should be able to fix it. If it still doesn’t fix the issue, you can try checking to see if there is anything wrong with your tires.

Make Sure That Your Tires and Wheels Are Working Properly

  • Check the air pressure in your tires. If they’re low, fill them up and see if that fixes the issue.
  • Inspect your tires for any signs of damage or wear. If you see anything abnormal, replace the tire.
  • Make sure all four-wheel lugs are tight and secure – loose lugs can cause vibration and imbalance which will trigger the traction control system.

Now that we’ve gone over all of the reasons why your traffic control light isn’t turning off, and possible solutions to fix it, it’s time to give your car a little test drive to see if the issue is solved.

Give Your Car A Little Test Drive

Take your car out for a spin. Once you’ve driven around for a while and the light has had a chance to come on, it should go off automatically as long as there are no longer any issues with your traction control system.

If the light doesn’t go off after driving for a bit, then there is one last thing you can try. You can attempt to drive more carefully from now on.

Try Driving More Carefully From Now On

Traction control is designed to help your car maintain traction on the road. If you’re driving too fast or too roughly, it’s not uncommon for the system to engage and for the light to come on.

If the traction control system is turning on too frequently then it could be a sign that you’re driving unsafely. Try to slow down and try driving a bit more carefully, and see if it helps out the problem.

Conclusion

The traction control light is designed to come on when there is an issue with the traction control system, which is responsible for keeping the car from slipping or skidding. However, if your traction control is on and your car wont accelerate, there could be another problem at work

The most common reason for your traction control light not turning off is when there is a problem with your traffic control system. If you’ve tried all the methods above, then the issue with the traction control lights not turning off should now be solved.