active handling warning message
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
From: Cortez Colorado
active handling warning message
the past few times I have fired up my Vette......2003 Z, 28,000 miles, I get a dash warning to, "service active handling, Check ABS system". If i stop, turn the car off and restart, the warning goes away. Is more of a nuisance than any thing but is it something i should have checked?
Pro
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 715
Likes: 17
I would check the ground points, especially behind the headlights. I had that error and reduced engine power that would come on after 10 mins of driving then go away when I restarted. I cleaned the grounds 2 weeks ago before a road trip of 1000+miles and it did not come back! I'd try that first.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 299
Likes: 1
From: Punta Gorda Florida
the past few times I have fired up my Vette......2003 Z, 28,000 miles, I get a dash warning to, "service active handling, Check ABS system". If i stop, turn the car off and restart, the warning goes away. Is more of a nuisance than any thing but is it something i should have checked?
Here is a How To
http://www.conceptualpolymer.com/Ele...l%20Module.pdf
PM me for who to send it to. You ship, he will rebuild and ship back for about $60. Turnaround time for me was 4 days.
Last edited by GeneT; Mar 27, 2014 at 02:42 PM. Reason: sp
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 170
Likes: 1
From: Lafayette La
If your battery is low it will cause your car to throw all kinds of codes. Once the car is started and the battery is charged back up and you clear the codes,
the codes will not return until the battery is low again.
the codes will not return until the battery is low again.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,738
Likes: 10
From: Austin, Texas
As 8VETTE7 said, pull the codes. They should tell you exactly what the issue is. My '02 was doing the exact same thing, and the code was for the passenger front side sensor. I swapped the pigtail with the drivers side, and haven't had the issue since. It's been several months. I'm sure it would have been fine to just clean/re-seat the connector.
There may be no need to pull the EBCM to send out for repair.
roscoe
There may be no need to pull the EBCM to send out for repair.
roscoe
Racer
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 299
Likes: 1
From: Punta Gorda Florida
A dealer will charge you between $2,000-$4,000 for it.
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 75
Likes: 1
From: Fort Hood Texas
My '04 gives me a "service active handling" followed by "service soon". The message appears randomly while driving. I don't push the limits on taking curves or do any road courses. I do accelerate fast, but i can't say that i get the message after doing that. It just seems random, and sometimes it comes right back up after i clear it from the display. I assume this is the same message everyone is talking about. Someone mentioned cleaning some grounds and checking some connectors. Do you have any pictures or direction to where to check/clean? Also what effects would this have on the car?
Also there is no Current codes for anything on the car other than a seat switch.
Also there is no Current codes for anything on the car other than a seat switch.
Last edited by Corvette_chris04; Jun 13, 2015 at 11:23 AM.
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Advanced
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 75
Likes: 1
From: Fort Hood Texas
Having the Service AH message and no codes to go with it is usually symptomatic of the steering wheel position sensor going bad.
Did you pull the codes with the engine running after you got the message and before you cleared the message from the DIC?
Some "C" codes that occur when driving can disappear once you shut the engine off.
Next time the message appears in the DIC pull over and pull the codes BEFORE you shut the engine off. To pull code with the engine running you MUST first use the reset button to clear any messages displayed in the DIC. The pull codes as normal. Post back in this thread ALL the codes including the H or C or HC that follow each 5 character code.
Did you pull the codes with the engine running after you got the message and before you cleared the message from the DIC?
Some "C" codes that occur when driving can disappear once you shut the engine off.
Next time the message appears in the DIC pull over and pull the codes BEFORE you shut the engine off. To pull code with the engine running you MUST first use the reset button to clear any messages displayed in the DIC. The pull codes as normal. Post back in this thread ALL the codes including the H or C or HC that follow each 5 character code.
Thanks for the advice, the next time i see the message I will do that. I have cleared all the history codes to speed the process. I took a video of all the history codes as a historical file. Do you know which section in the codes it falls under?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 940
Likes: 81
From: Lake Villa IL
When the SWPS went bad on my 04 it didn't leave any codes for quite awhile. But when they did show up they where C1287 and C1288. Replaced the sensor and all is fine now. They cost about $65.00 and take about 2.5 to 3 hours to replace.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 16,028
Likes: 170
From: oregon
there is a service bulletin update they can flash to our cars to make it a bit less sensitive too
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 75
Likes: 1
From: Fort Hood Texas
Where did you get yours at? I saw them on eBay, but i prefer to order parts from places with customer service, and a reputation.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 940
Likes: 81
From: Lake Villa IL
Ordered it from Gene at gmpartshouse.com but he is using a different web sight now. I think it is www.gultage.com or something like that. The part # is 88965543 and it cost $63.83 plus shipping. Very nice guy to deal with and great service.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
It is true that a low or bad battery will throw all kinds of codes. My TC/ABS warning went from intermittent to constant when my battery went bad. A new battery didn't fix the problem. The ECBM repair did. The ECBM is a known issue, and an easy DIY repair, for less than $70 is, if nothing else, a good pre-emptive use of an hour in your garage.
A dealer will charge you between $2,000-$4,000 for it.
A dealer will charge you between $2,000-$4,000 for it.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,873
Likes: 134
From: Bushkill Twp. PA
St. Jude Donor '17
I had the 1214 code. It was intermittent and quickly went on full time. I checked the ground continuity and it was good. So I pulled the EBCM and shipped it to the ABS fixer. I should have it back tomorrow, hoping this fixes it.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,862
Likes: 594
From: Prescott, Arizona
If the symptom goes away after a shutdown and restart I add a potentially failing ignition switch to the list of possible culprits.
At first, only one or two codes may be triggered by a failing switch, but as the switch contacts continue to burn, codes can include service active handling, reduced power, low voltage and a host of others.
I've gone through two ignition switches so far in my 2001 A4 Coupe. Both included the symptoms you describe and a shutdown and restart would usually clear the warning(s) at first.
At first, only one or two codes may be triggered by a failing switch, but as the switch contacts continue to burn, codes can include service active handling, reduced power, low voltage and a host of others.
I've gone through two ignition switches so far in my 2001 A4 Coupe. Both included the symptoms you describe and a shutdown and restart would usually clear the warning(s) at first.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 16,028
Likes: 170
From: oregon
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 75
Likes: 1
From: Fort Hood Texas
Having the Service AH message and no codes to go with it is usually symptomatic of the steering wheel position sensor going bad.
Did you pull the codes with the engine running after you got the message and before you cleared the message from the DIC?
Some "C" codes that occur when driving can disappear once you shut the engine off.
Next time the message appears in the DIC pull over and pull the codes BEFORE you shut the engine off. To pull code with the engine running you MUST first use the reset button to clear any messages displayed in the DIC. The pull codes as normal. Post back in this thread ALL the codes including the H or C or HC that follow each 5 character code.
Did you pull the codes with the engine running after you got the message and before you cleared the message from the DIC?
Some "C" codes that occur when driving can disappear once you shut the engine off.
Next time the message appears in the DIC pull over and pull the codes BEFORE you shut the engine off. To pull code with the engine running you MUST first use the reset button to clear any messages displayed in the DIC. The pull codes as normal. Post back in this thread ALL the codes including the H or C or HC that follow each 5 character code.
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 75
Likes: 1
From: Fort Hood Texas
I saw on a different thread a guy was able to spray cleaning in and around the plug, and it fixed the issue. I am sure i can google and find the sensor, but does anyone know where it is off the top of your head?