Trouble shooting Stabilitrack and ABS

[Tozan]

It seems some where there should be a good trouble shooting guide for these problems. I have seen a lot of very different fixes for these lights coming on so, to help narrowing it down maybe we can start to document symptoms and how they relate to the repairs.

A full understanding of what the systems do independent of each other and how they work together.

I was an auto tech in the past and often trouble shooting would start with you asking just what is happening and when. What are the exact symptoms as they happen. This information would often narrow down what you are looking for and where.


Like:

What was the last thing you changed, fixed or just touched or maybe even just looked at it wrong?

When do the lights come on?

Do they stay on full time. This may indicate a sensor failure or a broken wire or?

Are they off when you first start the vehicle?

Do they come on after you start driving? How far?

Let's try and keep this thread as accurate as possible about the problems you have first hand experience with. If you are not sure about something state that. Lets keep simple and short when possible..

Thank you..

 

[Tozan]

I will start off on my first experience with these lights.

1. I had done a lift kit a few months earlier. The ABS light came on and stayed on. Then it tripped the Stabilitrack light.

2. I paid a dealership 3 hours just to find a broken brake sensor wire. Yes it was a $450 repair that should have taken far less time to find.

3. Solution replace the sensor and wire...

Problem fixed...

 

[Tozan]

Reason for this post problem number two.

It is now 2 years since the other problem.. lol


1. I replaced the upper and lower control arms.

2. I replaced the single speed transfer case with a used 2 speed unit I also replace the TCM, dash switch and the shifter on the transfer case.

3. The lights were on full time and it told me it is turning off the ABS and the same for the Stabilitrack.


First attempt of a repair;

1. I pulled on the wires and felt for a break in the wires going to each wheel and disconnected them sprayed with silicone and plugged them back in.

Result so far: The lights are off most of the time when I first start it and they come on after driving a 1/4 mile or less then it tells me it is turning off the ABS and the same for the Stabilitrack. Then the light stay on until after I turn it off for a while maybe an hour or more...

My next step when I get a chance will be to do a continuity check on each sensor or hopefully get some sound advice on here... lol

 

[Rocket Man]

Buy a Tech 2 clone for about $300 and diagnose it. It’s almost always an ABS sensor or speed sensor so if you can test them individually in minutes you’ll find the problem quickly.

 

[kbuskill]

Just to add to this thread...

If you have a misfire, the lights for traction control, Stabilitrac, and ABS will all be illuminated.

The reason for this is because the trucks are programmed to disable those systems in the event of a misfire to eliminate them as potential causes for the misfire.

It essentially goes into a default mode to see if any of those systems are causing the issue.

When a loss of traction is detected, by one of the wheel speed sensors for the ABS, the TC and Stabilitrac systems reduce engine power and pulse the brake on the spinning wheel to help you regain control.

Since these systems reduce power by retarding the timing and even not firing some of the coil packs they are a potential source for a misfire. By turning these systems OFF the ECU eliminates them as a variable to see if the misfire continues.

I found this out when I had a spark plug wire pull loose and my dash lit up like a Christmas tree.

 

[Doubeleive]

x2 what Mark said, invest in a tech2, save yourself a whole bunch of time & money, it will take you straight to the problem, and help diagnose any others down the road when the next problem crops up. that one time $300-350 investment will save you potentially thousands down the road, instead of paying that shop $450 to diagnose you can do it right in your own driveway for free, buy the required part at a lower price than that shop will charge you (they always charge 2x/3x the part cost) and install it yourself (also for free) or at minimum have it installed and skip all the rest of the cost's involved.
p.s. when you want a price to install a part at a shop just call and ask "how much to R&R (remove and replace) said part"

 

[Tozan]

I have a DashPaq tuner it supposedly will read the failure codes... But, for this problem it is telling me there are no failure codes...

 

[kbuskill]

I have a DashPaq tuner it supposedly will read the failure codes... But, for this problem it is telling me there are no failure codes...

Does it read ABS codes?

If not, and you have a bluetooth OBD2 adapter, you can download this app and it will read the codes...

Check out "ChevroSys Scan Free"
https://play.google.com/store/apps/...elm327.obd2.chevroletsys.chevroletsysscanfree

It will also read and clear ECM, TCM, BCM, codes.

 

[Rocket Man]

I have a DashPaq tuner it supposedly will read the failure codes... But, for this problem it is telling me there are no failure codes...

The Tech 2 will read the sensors themselves. I had a rear wheel ABS/speed sensor that had an issue due to the reluctor slipping inside the axle, causing the sensor to output the wrong speed. The sensor itself didn’t throw a code but it caused the stabilitrack
, abs and traction control to stop working. I was able to watch the Tech 2 while driving and see that sensor was reporting speed erratically and not the same as the others even when it was steady.

 

[Tozan]

Anyone in the Reno / Lake Tahoe area have one of these we can hook up to my Tahoe?