Fellow CF readers,

Being a road warrior for my employer I'll blink my hazard lights from my service van (a few seconds) with the intent of thanking other drivers for letting me into their lane (semi drivers do likewise).

During a recent 60+ mile trip to Indianapolis I did the same thing in our vert where I first noticed immediately afterwards the DIC displayed a service traction control message. I hit the reset button thinking a fluke, however I hit the hazards a 2nd time during the same trip, and again, got the same DIC TC message.

At this point my logically thinking wife traveling with me, told me not to turn on the hazard lights - how can I argue with that logic?

I was wondering if anyone has experienced the same issue? Our 02 is a bone stock automatic - well, maybe not, I did put a trunk popper on it.

I figure I'll put this easy test out there to CF readers before getting too concerned about further troubleshooting measures.

advance thanks!

 

Very odd. How is your battery? The C5 is known to throw some weird codes when the battery is on its way out. Maybe flashing the lights pulls enough power to trigger something. I'd say the battery is the first thing to check. I've never even pushed the hazard button before so I can't say I've ever had the same problem.

 

Yeah, pull the codes and see what's there.

 

Will pull codes as you suggest and get back to ya.

I did replace my battery back in 09 - I keep it on a battery tender thru the winter months.

Miles Date $$ Desc
33271 052109 94 DEK 7AG75MF AGM BATT 690CCA 18F BM ELECTRIC

Yes I use the blinkers more than I do the wiper blades - actually I think I've only used wipers once & that time I was caught in a hail storm...I was worried about hail ***** tearing thru the vert's top, but, like the fiberglass skin, I think our Corvettes are pretty resilient to hail stones be the tops & skins bounce 'm off.

 

Not an expert, but I can pretty much assure you there is no involvement or connection between the hazard switch and the AH system. Probably has to be the current draw (or some other electrical issue like a short) when the switch is pressed.

We often look for cause and effect on a lot of little things that pop up on this car, but due to the multitude and interoperability of many systems, coupled with the "less than stellar" components used....sometimes (too often) things just show up on an irregular (random) frequency. The natural tendancy is to ask "why did that happen?" and we go backwards through the preceeding actions we took and look for contributing factors. I guess you could say in this instance "well it wasnt on until I hit that switch" and you may be "right" but I'd bet they're not strictly connected.

Only thing thats gonna tell the tale (if we're lucky) is a fault on one of the components in the AH system with a corresponding code if there actually is a problem there.

Thats good advice above (about making sure the battery is load tested and in good shape and that the grounds on the frame rails are not corroded) as many faults that show up (AH/TC, Colum Lock, Pull Key and wait tenseconds . . .) are often triggered by low voltage or a bad ground and do not point to problems in any of those systems specificaly.

Hope its something simple.

Good luck

 

Great advice from Jistari.

I agree. Theres no direct link between the AH/EBCM and the hazards other than battery and ground. The hazard system grounds at G201 so its worth cleaning that one up.

The AH system is extremely complex so as the guys say, post up the codes and it'll probably be clear where the problem lies.

 

Right near the base of your battery, toward the engine, there is a ground wire, you might need to move the battery surround to see it.

That ground point has alot to do with those warning lights you are getting, I bet if it's not loose as hell you can move it with your fingers.

Tighten it up and try your 4 ways.

 

Mine does the same thing. I told Bill Curlee about it at CI VII and he said the switch is bad, to use it until it don't work anymore. When I restart the DIC message is cleared.

 

I no this is an old thread but I just purchased an 04 that had a bad hazard light switch which I replaced. I too turn on my hazard lights when I am coming up on slow traffic (a lot of tractors and combines this time of year) and all three times I have done this the Traction light comes on and this service message. Stop the car, restart and it clears. Battery is only 11 months old. I see that most of say there is no connection between the two systems but it seems pretty weird this happened 3 times exactly the same way. If I just turn the flashers on and I am not moving or only move a short distance, no issue. Traction works as described otherwise. Any more thoughts would be appreciated.

 

Well the traction control isnt going to throw a code unless it see's data out of range (in other words you would probably have to be moving). So I know its frustrating to have an intermittent error code showing......but....I wouldnt be looking at anything to do with the (new) hazard switch you put in.
Battery voltage with car not running?

 

Any LED bulbs installed or factory?

 

Yes, it happens when I'm moving pretty slow. As I mentioned coming up on farm equipment and slow traffic, and no, no led lights. The car is stock.

 

Checked the battery this am before starting with the DIC gauge and it was 12.2. That seems low to me for a surface charge and will explore this further. Yesterday the battery was so low the car would not start so I had the battery test and they said it was good, needed a charge and that something drained it. As I stated earlier the battery is only 9 month old. I just bought the car and did not buy or install the battery so there is no warranty so the guy passed up a sale so I think he was on the up and up with the test. I will do a current test to see what draw there might be on the car when it's off. Another "gremlin". This my first vette and a life long dream but so far it has been a nightmare with many little issues. I hope this is not the future of this car as it is going to be our sole driver 2 month out of the year when we travel.

more testing showed a current draw of .04 amp when car is "asleep". I don't know if this high. I did talk to VetteNuts and he said that the stoplights are part of the signaling for the traction so if there is an issue with the hazard light switch, he said that could throw the codes.I told him it was new switch and he said the clone switches can be iffy and the Delco replacement had been discontinued. I will explore this further. Rambling, I know but trying to cure electrical gremlins can be a pain and at 70, patience is not one of my virtues. Thanks in advance for any suggestions or help.

 

Moved to C5 Tech.

 

Talked to VetteNut and he is convinced it is the Dormin repop switch I installed. Is there other replacements that are more closely to the discontinued AcDelco 10359036

 

Changed the hazard light switch again with one from a different vender and the problem remains. I have read many threads and post on the subject so evidently it is a common problem but none of them have a definative answer. I did notice my third brake light has a flashing module and appears to be led. I have not been able to find out if this is stock or a mod. You would think as common as this issue seems to be someone would have an answer a simple shade tree mechanic can understand. Any help with issue would be greatly appreciated.

 

The third brake light is not supposed to flash

 

Thanks Smoken1, you lead me to the problem. First lets look at all I tried. I Replaced the Hazard switch twice from two different manufacturers, replaced all the bulbs, checked all the grounds I could find, had the battery tested (only 9 month old) and added a battery maintainer.

Then after I noticed the third brake light flashing, I posted the question was that normal and thanks to the answer from Smoken1 that they didn't. I removed the license plate holder and back up light plate and there I found the culprit. An aftermarket third brake light flasher module had been wired in. Remove it and put the wiring back to factory and NO MORE TCS WARNING LIGHT OR MESSAGES. I'm shouting because I am happy. I use my hazard lights often here in the Midwest because it is not uncommon to come up on slow moving farm equipment or other road slow downs and I like to give traffic coming up behind me a little warning. Thanks to all for the help and suggestions. My advice to any with the condition is start by looking for aftermarket doodads and remove them.

 

Rear Centre High Mount Smoked Housing LED 3rd Tail Brake Light Replacement for Chevy Corvette C5 97-04
This third brake light I bought off amazon made my Service traction control warning come on my 02 Corvette coupe. I WOULD OF HAVE NEVER narrowed the issue down to this if it wasn't for this post. I just don't understand how the 2 are related. To explain further it only happened when I turned on my lights or hazards. Put oem back on and no more issues.