All those bright warning light icons that can light up periodically on your car’s dashboard may cause you some concern. They’re not typically illuminated, but they will flick on in the event that something—usually something you can’t easily see—is happening beneath the car’s sheet metal. If you see the traction control warning light illuminated, it is usually not cause for concern. It turns on when the traction control system (TCS) is activated, typically when the car senses road conditions where extra traction is needed.
Here, we’ll discuss the traction control light and how it works. This is what you need to know.
Understanding the Traction Control Light
- What is the Traction Control Light?
- Should I be Concerned About the Traction Control Light?
- How Can I Turn Off the Traction Control Light?
- The Difference Between Traction Control and Stability Control
- Tips for Driving Safely with Traction Control
What is the Traction Control Light?
The car’s traction control system—sometimes called TCS or TRAC—is designed to help prevent the vehicle from sliding or becoming stuck in slippery road conditions. It works with the anti-lock braking system (ABS) by using sophisticated wheel speed sensors that detect whether one of the drive wheels (those that receive torque from the engine) is spinning faster than the others. A wheel and tire moving faster than the others has lost some or all traction with the road below. This may happen on wet pavement, ice, or light snow.
Regardless of whether the vehicle is front- or rear-, all- or four-wheel drive, it will typically have wheel speed sensors for all four wheels. If a wheel speed sensor detects that faster wheel spin at one corner of the car than the other three, it will send a signal to the car’s ABS module, which will then apply the slipping wheel’s brake to stop its spin. Some systems may also reduce engine power to the slipping wheel. Either way, this allows the wheel(s) with a good grip on the road to move the car forward.
These sensors react quickly to changing road conditions below, and they will only modify power or brake for momentary stints. You may not even realize that the traction control system is operating unless you see the traction control light on. You may also hear clicking or thunking while the light is on. This sound is the brake system activating and is not something you should worry about as long as it goes away in normal driving conditions when the light turns off.
The traction control light’s location in the instrument cluster’s dashboard warning lights depends on the car, but you can usually find it near the ABS light, the brake warning light, and the check engine light. If you’re unsure where it is located in your car, you can turn the ignition switch to “on”—when the car’s accessories like its radio and climate control system will activate, but its engine stays off—and you should see it illuminate.
It is typically an icon that may look like a vehicle with two curved skid marks below. When in doubt, check your owner’s manual, which will have a section about understanding the dashboard warning lights and can help identify what they look like.
Should I be Concerned About the Traction Control Light?
That depends on the situation. If the traction control light stays on at all times, that is a sign that something isn’t working correctly. If it only illuminates briefly, it’s just a signal that the system is operating, often activated if you accelerate on a slippery road. Modern traction control systems work at all speeds if they detect wheel slip, though earlier systems used into the early 2000s were restricted to lower speeds.
The most common cause behind an illuminated TCS light is simple: it illuminates if you turn traction control off. Many cars have a button on the dashboard or center console you can press to turn the system on or off. Some vehicles don’t have a button, but you can temporarily deactivate the system via an instrument cluster or center console screen. On a newer Nissan, for instance, the traction control system can be turned on or off by using buttons on the steering wheel that control a menu on the instrument cluster. The traction control system will reactivate the next time you turn the car on, however.
You should only turn off traction control in very specific situations, though. More on that later.
How Can I Turn Off the Traction Control Light?
If the traction light stays illuminated while you drive, your car likely has a problem. A car repair shop or dealership can provide troubleshooting by using a scan tool to check for trouble codes. The electronics systems on your vehicle communicate with each other, which makes it easy for a technician to diagnose problems.
Preventing Traction Control Light Issues The traction control system itself does not require regular maintenance. However, since it utilizes the braking system, it is important that you follow the car manufacturer’s recommended car maintenance schedule for brake inspection and fluid replacement. The schedule specific to your vehicle can be found in your owner’s manual in the same place as the oil change schedule.
The Difference Between Traction Control and Stability Control
Electronic stability control (ESC) is like a more sophisticated version of traction control. While traction control is useful to help a vehicle keep traction when it is accelerating from a stop or at lower speeds, it is limited in its ability to help a vehicle that is beginning to skid. That’s where stability control steps in. Stability control adds additional sensors that can determine the brake and accelerator positions, the steering wheel position, and whether the vehicle is in a spin.
All of these sensors communicate real-time information to control modules that then decide whether an individual wheel needs to be braked and whether more or less power needs to be supplied to an individual wheel. Stability control is highly effective in its ability to reign in a vehicle that is skidding, while traction control is highly effective in helping a vehicle accelerate on a slippery road.
Any car with stability control will also have traction control and ABS. A federal mandate made stability control mandatory on all new cars in the U.S. beginning in 2012.
Tips for Driving Safely with Traction Control
Generally, you should not turn off traction control—or stability control, for that matter. These important safety systems have been proven to be highly effective at reducing the number of car crashes.
However, if your vehicle encounters deep snow or sand, traction control may reduce torque to the wheels so much that your car becomes stuck. Many newer AWD and 4WD vehicles have sand or snow drive modes that increase the threshold before traction control engages. By letting the wheels slip more, these systems allow your car to better maintain forward momentum to power through deep snow or sand.
If your car doesn’t have these modes, you may want to turn off traction control before you attempt to plow through snow or drive on a beach.
