ABS, traction control, and Stabilitrac MIL

sdeeter19555 · April 6, 2017

What would typically cause a ABS, TC, Stabilitrac CEL? Shut down last night and things were fine, started this morning (didn't even drop into gear) and lights are on and MIL is scrolling "service Stabilitrac" and "service Trailer brake".

I tried scanning codes, but nothing I could read. I will try my handheld tonight, see if my Actron can pick anything up.

I'm assuming this could be as simple as a bad wheel sensor or as bad as a faulty ABS unit? Just looking for things I could check myself...already got an appointment with my local mechanic.

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JimCost2014 · April 6, 2017

What would typically cause a ABS, TC, Stabilitrac CEL? Shut down last night and things were fine, started this morning (didn't even drop into gear) and lights are on and MIL is scrolling "service Stabilitrac" and "service Trailer brake".

I tried scanning codes, but nothing I could read. I will try my handheld tonight, see if my Actron can pick anything up.

I'm assuming this could be as simple as a bad wheel sensor or as bad as a faulty ABS unit? Just looking for things I could check myself...already got an appointment with my local mechanic.

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Seems this is the same question for most of the electrical problems, how old is your battery? There seems to be no warning until they are failing, then weird DIC messages, or completely dead.

sdeeter19555 · April 6, 2017

Two batteries, no issues that way...starts and runs the same as it always has...

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Coby7 · April 6, 2017

Had that problem with my 2011. Cleaned terminals on the fusible link and problem never came back. 5 months now. It also cleared a few other gremlins I had.

Waterfowler41 · April 6, 2017

I had this issue WHILE driving on the expressway. Scared the piss out of me. GM blamed it on my aftermarket auto start, faulty key, led lights and light bars, hid conversion.

Ended up being the battery. Haven't had a single issue since I bought a new battery.

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sdeeter19555 · April 6, 2017

Well, went out...raining and cold. Read codes with two readers, the Actron saw nothing, the little POS from Harbor Freight got two codes: $7E8 and $7EA. Those mean nothing to me...haven't had a chance to look these codes up on Google.

I checked the leads to each wheel sensor, nothing odd. I pulled the fuses for the ABS, two small fuses, two large fuses...they were fine.

I restarted, and things seemed to have cleared. The last message was "service trailer brakes", which cleared scrolling through the DIC. Keep in mind this is a LS, with limited DIC options. Moved the truck to the front of the house, and everything stayed normal.

So I don't know if the ABS needed reset? Not sure what caused it in the first place.

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sdeeter19555 · April 7, 2017

MIL popped back on this morning before I even got it in drive.

About 10 miles from the house, Stabilitrac tried to initialize based on the DIC, all the lights went out, and things were fine for another 15 to 20 miles, then the MIL popped up again and stayed on until I got to work.

I'm going to go through the electrical grounds this weekend since that's a known problem spot. My guess is that it's a wheel sensor going/gone bad.

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Coby7 · April 7, 2017

If it was a wheel sensor the EBCM would set a code for the particular wheel when MIL pops up. By the way the 2 codes you listed aren't GM codes and probably gibberish.

sdeeter19555 · April 7, 2017

If it was a wheel sensor the EBCM would set a code for the particular wheel when MIL pops up. By the way the 2 codes you listed aren't GM codes and probably gibberish.

Yeah, but I don't have a sophisticated enough code reader to see those codes if they were set. The guy I use for inspection and other work should be able to scan them...he's resourceful.

And those codes aren't gibberish, they are like an electronic file folder, the codes are stored within them and some code scanners actually report them. I researched them on Google last night.

It acts like a sensor, the system will out of the blue reinitialize, the MIL goes away for a few miles then, ping, back on.

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Coby7 · April 8, 2017

Well I'm still putting my bet on a bad connection or ground.

sdeeter19555 · April 8, 2017

Scanned codes today, two codes for bad right rear speed sensor. Ordered one through the local GM dealer...will be here Tuesday.

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sdeeter19555 · April 8, 2017

They used a newer/better model of Actron, I might have to see about getting a more modern code scanner. Any suggestions?

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davester · April 8, 2017

I use Autogenuity with the GM enhancement for my truck. works great for scanning all the computers in the truck. also has the ability to help with various diagnostics and things like bleeding the abs module.

Podor · April 8, 2017

They used a newer/better model of Actron, I might have to see about getting a more modern code scanner. Any suggestions?

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Launch makes a great little scanner, CRP123P, that does OE level data and codes on all makes and models 96 and up on engine, transmission, abs and air bags. It's about $330 including updates for life.

sdeeter19555 · April 15, 2017

Ok, great thoughts GM engineers...design a system that detects a fault in a wheel sensor and LOCKS OUT YOUR TRAILER BRAKES! Only something an idiotic engineer would think of.

Replaced the rear sensor (only fault showing), light was out, code was gone...came back on a day later so it must be the tone ring. Thought there was no way GM would make a system that would take out your trailer brakes...I need to tow a trailer Monday and I need to tow my RV on Friday. Hooked to my trailer just five minutes ago...NO FREAKING TRAILER BRAKES!

So a warning to anyone with one of these trucks, if you lose a sensor, it wipes out the ABS, TC, Stabilitrac, AND your trailer brakes. So that means if you are driving with a big honking trailer behind you, and a wheel sensor messes up; you lose your trailer brakes while driving. How safe is that?

What a poorly designed system...had I known this, I would have never bought a truck with the integral trailer brakes; I would have installed an aftermarket controller.

So now, I have no time to get this fixed before we leave for vacation, let alone work on Monday. This may be my first and last GM over this little quirk that puts you into a totally unacceptable unsafe condition for no reason.

Yes, I'm a little freaking heated...

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