Traction control off on start up
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 218
Likes: 11
From: Portland Maine
Traction control off on start up
Hi everyone....
Any reason why the traction control on my bone stock 98 TR A4 turns itsself off when ever I start the car? I noticed it the other day. DIC throwing no codes, and the traction control seems to be working just fine.
thanks for any help...
Don
Any reason why the traction control on my bone stock 98 TR A4 turns itsself off when ever I start the car? I noticed it the other day. DIC throwing no codes, and the traction control seems to be working just fine.
thanks for any help...
Don
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 218
Likes: 11
From: Portland Maine
what part of "DIC throwing no codes" was not understood?.... I wouldnt have posted this question if I threw a code and could look it up myself. I hate to sound rude but my original post said that no codes were present.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 2008
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From: Oak Hill Virginia
How are you checking your codes? Did this just start happening all of the sudden or has it been going on for a while? Any recent work done to the car?
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Kannapolis NC
You may be "throwing no codes", but you could still be "storing codes". If there was an error occurring, a code would have been stored, whether you saw it "throw" or not.
Last edited by 65GGvert; Nov 22, 2011 at 11:50 AM.
Tech Contributor
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From: Forney Texas
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 218
Likes: 11
From: Portland Maine
I may have been a bit short...and i apologise... but i know how to check codes and there were none in the DIC. I havent done any work to the car. It just all of the sudden happened. The car appears to be running and operating as normal. except for the fact that everytime I start it, the traction control turns itself off.
Again, I'm sorry for my first response but no codes are in my DIC...history or current.
Again, I'm sorry for my first response but no codes are in my DIC...history or current.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,902
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From: Oak Hill Virginia
If this didn't just start happening all of the sudden I'd think the previous owner may have installed one of these: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-p...5-tracmem.html
Does your TCS button work? Can you turn it back on after it goes off?
Does your TCS button work? Can you turn it back on after it goes off?
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 218
Likes: 11
From: Portland Maine
Yes... the traction control button works fine...It turns on and off perfectly...On demand. Ive owned the car for 6 years... Ive never modified it with a traction control memory chip. Its just completely weird how all the sudden it start with the traction control turned off... I wasnt sure if anyone knew of it happening to someone else or had any information on what is causing it.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Did the previous owner program the AH/TCS to fire up in the disabled mode? You'll need to find someone with a Tech II programmer to check the settings.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 218
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From: Portland Maine
to be quite honest i think the previous owner died behind the wheel of it.. It is an early 98 model so it does not have active handling. If it was programmed that way, why haven't I noticed it in the last 6 years and 80,000 miles?
Tech Contributor
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From: Oak Hill Virginia
Pro
Joined: Aug 2010
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From: San Antonio Texas
If some one turned the system to Competition mode would it initially come on as traction control off on the DIC? I believe if you hold the T/C button down for a certain number of seconds it goes into Comp mode. Not sure but you might check to see if you are in that mode.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 2008
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From: Oak Hill Virginia
If some one turned the system to Competition mode would it initially come on as traction control off on the DIC? I believe if you hold the T/C button down for a certain number of seconds it goes into Comp mode. Not sure but you might check to see if you are in that mode.
FWIW, on a stock C5 with active handling, if you turn the car off while it's in competitive driving mode it will be in TC/AH ON when you start it. PITA for road courses if you forget...
Safety Car
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From: Easley SC
Tech Contributor
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From: Dyer, IN
"AlohaC5" Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: Madison, AL
Perhaps the previous owner installed Lap Trax, which allows the driver to automatically shut off the AH/TC at start up. I have one in my C5, but I don't believe they're sold any more..... this wouldn't throw any codes. You can change whether the car starts up in Competitive Mode, No AT/HC, etc. Since you said this problem began recently, then perhaps you may have triggered a new traction control setting with this equipment, if installed...
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
As suggested several times, pull the codes via the DIC. If you don't have the Active Handling button in the center console which a '98 probably doesn't have, then you do have a code for the anti-lock braking system or some other item with the traction control.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
Its been posted a gazzillion times in here and one post has the detailed procedure from Bill Curlee. I'll give you the short and quick version. Push and hold the OPTIONS button, then touch the FUEL button four times within five seconds. It will launch the diagnostic display. You can use the other buttons to manually go up and down the code display and into specific modules to get to multiple codes for the same system. E/M will exit the diagnostic and yes, you can do this while driving although extra caution is needed. Now please pay attention to the "H" or "C"s with each code...H is for History and C is for Current. If the warning lights are on, you have "C" codes. Write them down. Once you've recorded all codes, you can use the RESET button to clear the individual codes as desired. If you clear a "C" code item and it comes right back, then you've got a problem for whatever that module is reporting. Post the codes and we can assist you if needed.