Safety Warning
DIY auto repair can cause serious injury, fire, or vehicle damage. These guides are for informational purposes only. Always follow OEM torque specs, wear PPE, and consult a certified mechanic if you are unsure. You are solely responsible for your safety.
Traction Control
When the drive wheels lose traction and begin to spin, with vehicle speed under 100 km/h (62 mph), the ABS module commands the hydraulic pump motor on and commands the HCU to open and close the appropriate solenoid valves to modulate the brake pressure to the brake caliper(s) while simultaneously sending a request to the PCM over the high-speed controller area network (HS-CAN) bus to reduce engine torque to maintain vehicle traction. The PCM accomplishes this by minor incremental timing changes and fewer fuel injector pulses until the ABS module ends the request. The request ends when the driven wheel speed returns to the desired speed. After the vehicle speed exceeds 100 km/h (62 mph), the traction control is accomplished only through the PCM torque control. The traction control system can be deactivated by pressing the stability/traction control switch in the instrument panel.
When the traction control system activates, any of the following can occur:
- A small deceleration or a reduction in the acceleration of the vehicle
- The traction control indicator in the instrument cluster flashes
- If the driver's foot is on the brake pedal, a vibration will be felt in the pedal much like ABS
NO RELATED
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When to See a Mechanic
Stop DIY work and contact a certified mechanic immediately if any of the following apply:
- β’ You smell fuel, burning insulation, or see smoke.
- β’ Brakes feel soft, pull hard to one side, or make grinding noises.
- β’ The engine overheats, stalls repeatedly, or misfires under load.
- β’ You are missing required tools, torque specs, or safe lifting equipment.
- β’ You are not confident in the next step or safety outcome.