Traction Control Light Coming On By Itself - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

snymat68 · 07-29-2013, 02:02 PM

Two or three times now (in the past month or so), my traction control light on the dash has come on by itself during moderate acceleration from a stop light. Each time I just hit the button to turn TC back on and all is well in the universe again. I'm not sure why it would be doing this.

Any ideas?
PS - I know I was not bumping the button in any manner.

MLL67RSSS · 07-30-2013, 08:32 AM

It is telling you that it detected limited traction/wheel spin and took action to prevent it. It never "turned off" and never needed to be turned back on.

Sec 5 page 22 of 2013 Camaro Owners manual:
"The StabiliTrak system or the
Traction Control System (TCS)
indicator/warning light comes on
briefly while starting the engine.
If it does not, have the vehicle
serviced by your dealer. If the
system is working normally, the
indicator light will then go off.
The indicator/warning light flashes
while the StabiliTrak or TCS system
is working to control the vehicle on
a low traction surface."

If you have it turned off the TCS symbol with "OFF" underneath it will illuminate and STAY illuminated.

Traction Control System
(TCS) OFF/StabiliTrak OFF Light

This light should come on briefly as
the engine is started. If it does not
come on, have the vehicle serviced
by your dealer.
This light comes on when the
StabiliTrak system is turned off.
If the TCS is off, wheel spin is not
limited

snymat68 · 07-30-2013, 09:39 AM

Hmm. I've never noticed an "OFF" light. It's just the tire with "TC" in it with the slash through it. Or the car with wavy skid marks for the stabilitrak indicator light. I'll have to take a look when I shut them off after work today, but I don't think it will say OFF anywhere.

DuskSS · 07-30-2013, 09:42 AM

13 is different it has no "off indicator" but other than that the above is correct.
you are losing traction and it is telling you.

snymat68 · 07-30-2013, 09:47 AM

Well that's good I suppose. Lol. Now that I think about it, it started happening about the time I installed my ported TB. I guess it does help the low end torque...

MLL67RSSS · 07-30-2013, 10:14 AM

Yes if you look at page 5-21 if you have ONLY the traction control off you get the tire symbol with the line through it, but it only lights up when only TC is turned off or when there is a problem with TC making it in-op. If I'm not mistaken the only thing that momentarily lights up when the car detects wheel spin/limited traction is the Stabilitrak light. If you have BOTH the Stabilitrak and Traction Control off you have the car/Squiggly lines/OFF underneath with the "TC OFF" also. It is its own indicator below the "you've had some wheel slip Stabilitrak light" and to the right of "TC OFF." Got this from the 2013 Camaro manual download from Chevrolet's site.

"Traction Off Light
This light should come on briefly as
the engine is started. If it does not
come on, have the vehicle serviced
by your dealer.
This light comes on when the
Traction Control System (TCS) has
been turned off by pressing and
releasing the TCS/StabiliTrak
button.
This light also comes on and the
system turns off if there is a problem
with the TCS.
If the light comes on and stays on
for an extended period of time while
the system is turned on, the vehicle
needs service."

Nothing about it lighting up if wheel spin is detected.

07-29-2013, 02:02 PM	#1
snymat68 Drives: 2013 Blue Ray 1LS M6 Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,227 View My Garage	Traction Control Light Coming On By Itself Two or three times now (in the past month or so), my traction control light on the dash has come on by itself during moderate acceleration from a stop light. Each time I just hit the button to turn TC back on and all is well in the universe again. I'm not sure why it would be doing this. Any ideas? PS - I know I was not bumping the button in any manner. __________________ Performance Mods Elite Catch Can \| CAI Intake with Scoop & Washer Bottle Relocation \| MRT v2 Axle-Back Exhaust \| MagnaFlow Resonated X-Pipe \| Resonator Delete \| Vmax Ported Throttle Body \| GM Strut Tower Brace \| JDP Tow Hook \| Vitesse Throttle Controller Aesthetic Mods Chrome Peek-A-Boo Door Handles \| Interior Accessories Kit \| OEM RS HIDs w/ 6000k Bulbs & 5000k LED Fogs \| Tail Light, Marker Light, & Turn Signal Tint \| Tru-Sequence Sequential Turn Signals & Brake Lights \| Silver Fade Gill Stripes \| Carbon Fiber Bowties \| Various Chrome/Painted/Carbon Fiber Items

07-30-2013, 08:32 AM	#2
MLL67RSSS Account Suspended Drives: car Join Date: May 2008 Location: location Posts: 1,574	It is telling you that it detected limited traction/wheel spin and took action to prevent it. It never "turned off" and never needed to be turned back on. Sec 5 page 22 of 2013 Camaro Owners manual: "The StabiliTrak system or the Traction Control System (TCS) indicator/warning light comes on briefly while starting the engine. If it does not, have the vehicle serviced by your dealer. If the system is working normally, the indicator light will then go off. The indicator/warning light flashes while the StabiliTrak or TCS system is working to control the vehicle on a low traction surface." If you have it turned off the TCS symbol with "OFF" underneath it will illuminate and STAY illuminated. Traction Control System (TCS) OFF/StabiliTrak OFF Light This light should come on briefly as the engine is started. If it does not come on, have the vehicle serviced by your dealer. This light comes on when the StabiliTrak system is turned off. If the TCS is off, wheel spin is not limited Last edited by MLL67RSSS; 07-30-2013 at 10:05 AM.

07-30-2013, 09:39 AM	#3
snymat68 Drives: 2013 Blue Ray 1LS M6 Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,227 View My Garage	Hmm. I've never noticed an "OFF" light. It's just the tire with "TC" in it with the slash through it. Or the car with wavy skid marks for the stabilitrak indicator light. I'll have to take a look when I shut them off after work today, but I don't think it will say OFF anywhere. __________________ Performance Mods Elite Catch Can \| CAI Intake with Scoop & Washer Bottle Relocation \| MRT v2 Axle-Back Exhaust \| MagnaFlow Resonated X-Pipe \| Resonator Delete \| Vmax Ported Throttle Body \| GM Strut Tower Brace \| JDP Tow Hook \| Vitesse Throttle Controller Aesthetic Mods Chrome Peek-A-Boo Door Handles \| Interior Accessories Kit \| OEM RS HIDs w/ 6000k Bulbs & 5000k LED Fogs \| Tail Light, Marker Light, & Turn Signal Tint \| Tru-Sequence Sequential Turn Signals & Brake Lights \| Silver Fade Gill Stripes \| Carbon Fiber Bowties \| Various Chrome/Painted/Carbon Fiber Items

07-30-2013, 09:42 AM	#4
DuskSS Bayou City Muscle Cars Drives: 2013 2SS Dusk Edition Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Houston Texas Posts: 1,443	13 is different it has no "off indicator" but other than that the above is correct. you are losing traction and it is telling you. __________________ 2013 2SS Dusk Edition Lethal Racing Stage V PER 418ci Forged LS3 530/520 SAE

07-30-2013, 09:47 AM	#5
snymat68 Drives: 2013 Blue Ray 1LS M6 Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,227 View My Garage	Well that's good I suppose. Lol. Now that I think about it, it started happening about the time I installed my ported TB. I guess it does help the low end torque... __________________ Performance Mods Elite Catch Can \| CAI Intake with Scoop & Washer Bottle Relocation \| MRT v2 Axle-Back Exhaust \| MagnaFlow Resonated X-Pipe \| Resonator Delete \| Vmax Ported Throttle Body \| GM Strut Tower Brace \| JDP Tow Hook \| Vitesse Throttle Controller Aesthetic Mods Chrome Peek-A-Boo Door Handles \| Interior Accessories Kit \| OEM RS HIDs w/ 6000k Bulbs & 5000k LED Fogs \| Tail Light, Marker Light, & Turn Signal Tint \| Tru-Sequence Sequential Turn Signals & Brake Lights \| Silver Fade Gill Stripes \| Carbon Fiber Bowties \| Various Chrome/Painted/Carbon Fiber Items

07-30-2013, 10:14 AM	#6
MLL67RSSS Account Suspended Drives: car Join Date: May 2008 Location: location Posts: 1,574	Yes if you look at page 5-21 if you have ONLY the traction control off you get the tire symbol with the line through it, but it only lights up when only TC is turned off or when there is a problem with TC making it in-op. If I'm not mistaken the only thing that momentarily lights up when the car detects wheel spin/limited traction is the Stabilitrak light. If you have BOTH the Stabilitrak and Traction Control off you have the car/Squiggly lines/OFF underneath with the "TC OFF" also. It is its own indicator below the "you've had some wheel slip Stabilitrak light" and to the right of "TC OFF." Got this from the 2013 Camaro manual download from Chevrolet's site. "Traction Off Light This light should come on briefly as the engine is started. If it does not come on, have the vehicle serviced by your dealer. This light comes on when the Traction Control System (TCS) has been turned off by pressing and releasing the TCS/StabiliTrak button. This light also comes on and the system turns off if there is a problem with the TCS. If the light comes on and stays on for an extended period of time while the system is turned on, the vehicle needs service." Nothing about it lighting up if wheel spin is detected. Attached Images Last edited by MLL67RSSS; 07-30-2013 at 11:30 AM.