The service traction control Chevy Impala plays an important role in maintaining your vehicle’s stability and giving you safety.
It is one of the foundational features to sensing the slip of the car’s wheel and tire while accelerating and stabilizing traction.
Thus, it’s important to detect the potential problems with this system to avoid further damage to your vehicle and reduce the dangerous risks while driving.
Let’s continue reading this article to learn more about the common failures of service traction control in Chevy Impala. Also, I will guide you on fixing them without hassle.
What Is Service Traction Control On Chevy Impala?
A service traction control system ensures your vehicle’s safety by detecting when your vehicle’s wheels are slipping and losing traction.
It will automatically intervene – correcting the troubles with your wheels and maintain automotive stability, if you don’t turn it off.
The system can only get disabled if you’re stuck in the sand, snow, ice, or mud.
The Chevy Impala service traction control is indeed essential, but it can come with various problems.
Service Traction Control Chevy Impala: What Are Common Problems?
One problem is that the system becomes sensitive; the wheel-speed sensors can be at fault. Besides, the sensors easily trap debris, grime, or dirt.
Another problem is the failure of the traction-control system’s computer.
Sensitive System
Traction control benefits me a lot, but it also easily becomes a hassle, especially when I leave and enter a parking space with thick snow.
Besides, the system can be more sensitive that warns me of the slipping wheel and quickly reduces power or brakes really hard, leaving me nowhere to go.
Yet, most vehicles allow you to turn off the traction control system if it gets any problems.
Thus, you may rely on the old-fashioned way of rocking your automobile back and forth to remove the snow if necessary.
Faulty Wheel-Speed Sensors
Wheel speed sensors in the system are designed to determine if one car’s wheel spins faster than the others.
This means your vehicle can lose traction or experience wheel slip. As a result, the system reduces power and applies brakes on that wheel.
Plus, braking a spinning wheel transfers power to the others with more traction.
This allows the vehicle’s ABS-based traction control system to play the role of a limited-slip differential that serves the same purpose.
With disabled traction control, you must monitor tire slip by a traditional way – lifting the accelerator off.
Debris, Dirt, or Grime
If the wheel speed sensor traps grime, dirt, or road debris, the service traction control system can go wrong.
Wheel speed sensors, connectors, control modules, wiring, and other components may all have intermittent issues or completely fail.
My Chevy model has sometimes experienced problems with debris or grime damaging the sensors over the past few years.
Thus, I recommend checking the sensors to identify and fix the root cause as soon as you can.
Problems with Traction-control System’s Computer
If the traction control light (TCL) comes on while driving in good weather, there’s a problem with the service traction system.
When you see this light blinking intermittently, the traction control system may be “hardcoded” or begin to degrade.
This problem can originate from a faulty wheel speed sensor, which warns the car’s computer of a possible loss of traction.
Or, there could be a failure in the traction control system’s computer.
Flashing TCL can indicate that your vehicle’s system doesn’t fully function, so pay close attention to your drive in bad weather.
If the TCL comes on without flashing, this could show that the service traction control Impala can be deactivated. Thus, the car’s computer cannot detect the wheels slipping.
Although it is still safe for your vehicle to run in normal conditions, it is necessary to re-enable the system if you encounter slippery surfaces.
How To Fix Chevy Impala Traction Control Problems?
Properly diagnosing and fixing the numerous problems of the service traction system Chevy Impala will help you save money and time. Follow the simple steps below to do this task.
Battery Disconnection
Disconnect the battery from the negative cable when working on the vehicle’s electronic components.
I used a wrench to help loosen the nut and remove the cable. After removing the negative cable, continue with the positive one.
Identify the Traction Control Module’s Position
You should then look for this component’s position. It sits under the hood on some vehicles as an element of the ABS control module on my car.
On some vehicles, it is located towards the car’s interior or in the trunk.
Traction Control Module Disconnection
Remove the electrical connection. Take some pictures along the way.
Or you can label all links with masking tape like I did, which assists me in placing these parts back together in the correct positions.
Then, take out the screws securing the module.
New Module Connection
Replace the old module with the new one by putting it in place. Connect all cables and connectors removed from the original component.
Be careful when working with plastic connectors when working on an older car, as the plastic is brittle and easily broken.
Start Your Car
After reconnecting the battery’s negative terminal, start your vehicle.
Yet, you shouldn’t ignore the symptoms of a bad ABS module and monitor the engine traction control system light to see whether this light comes on shortly and then goes out.
The light in my car was still flashing, so I ignited the car several cycles, and the codes in the system were cleared.
What Are Signs Of a Faulty Chevy Impala Service Traction System?
Traction Control System (TCS) Light Keeps On
One of the most popular symptoms of a faulty or bad traction control system is the warning light of the traction control system (TCS) that comes on in the dash.
This light can tell you a potential failure exists and needs addressing immediately.
TCS Not Turn On & Off
The Impala service traction control switch allows you to turn the service traction control off or on.
This will be helpful in some cases where acceleration and wheel spin is necessary to get the car unstuck.
If the module fails or goes bad, the traction control will remain, even when switched off. Also, it’s sometimes impossible to turn off the traction control.
This may be a sign of a faulty traction control module, telling you that the switch gets malfunctioned and needs a proper replacement.
TCS Feature Loss
Without a good traction control system, it can be hard to maneuver your vehicle or manage your brakes in bad weather, such as rain or ice.
Normally, the TCS can work well with an anti-lock braking system (ABS) to keep you in control during hydroplaning.
Yet, if your TCS fails, it may not help you control your vehicle when hydroplaning occurs.
ABS Features Loss
If the ABS (Anti-lock Brake System) and Traction Control System (TCS) use the common module, the Antilock Braking System (ABS) may lose functionality.
This may reduce your safe braking ability, and you may have to press the brake pedal harder when stopping, making hydroplaning and traction more likely to happen.
Inconsistent Brakes
A failure of the traction control system can affect the antilock brake module. Therefore, pressing the brake pedal to stop your vehicle is more difficult.
Stuck Traction Control Switch
The switch of service traction control switch can remain on even if you disable it. It is impossible to turn the traction control system switch off.
FAQs
Is Traction Control Light On Safe To Drive With?
Yes, it is. You’re safe if you drive with your traction control light on, but you must identify why it’s on. If this light comes on, the system may be working.
This happens when driving on slippery terrains. Yet, the system can get troubled if you see the traction control light is on in dry conditions.
Don’t worry if this light switches on. Look for the right place to park your vehicle. Then, reboot and double-check whether the light can go off.
How Much Does The Traction Control Cost To Service?
This system includes some important components, so you should consider their cost when servicing.
Regarding the traction control system (TCS) switch, its replacement can range from $111 to $125. This cost comes with spare parts for about $54 and labor charges of around $56 to $71.
Besides, the estimated cost for replacing the wheel speed sensor if it fails and causes severe problems for the traction control system is about $208 to $250.
This includes spare parts with a price of about $146 to $177 and labor costs of about $62 to $78.
How to Reset Traction Control Light Impala?
First, you need to press and hold the gas pedal thrice quickly. Then, turn the engine on and allow it to run for one minute.
If there is no underlying problem with the traction control system, the ABS and TCS lights will reset and turn off.
Conclusion
Numerous problems can happen to the service traction control Chevy Impala that detects the wheel slip and controls the traction loss.
One of the most widespread problems is the sensitive system and faulty wheel-speed sensors.
Another issue can be the failure of the computer, and the components in the system trap debris, grime, or dirt. When the system goes bad, the light will come on.
Despite being safe to drive with this light, I still checked to determine and fix the root problems in time. This will help prevent further damage to other components inside the system of my vehicle.