Traction Active (STS V8)

[Oscar P]

A bit curious to hear if this "problem" is common.

If I for instance accelerate full thru second with gearlever i normal mode there are no DIC, when I lift the foot of the accelerator quickly (habit from stickshift) to give the gearbox a chance to put in to 3:rd w/o full load, then when I give full power again it state "Traction active". The same if I go highway and lock 5:th and then accelerate that hard that it disable lock-up then again the DIC info pops up, even after 100MPH it still state "Traction Active".

At the same time, after winter driving I would not really say that the system is oversensitive, it do accept some slip before activate.

Is the system more aggressive at higher gears, since it assume that the speed is higher?

Common that it does this?

What might be wrong, correct size Kuhmo tires and good conditions with full engine temp and some miles at speed for tires to get some heat.

If I'm correct informed the Traction uses brakes first rather than throttle to reduce power, at severe slip it do cylinder cut-out. Brakes is handled individually to reduce slip on one tire and do the same work as a limited slip differential. I provoked and pressed accelerator flat out in 3:rd after getting "Traction Active" car did still go perfectly in a straight line, even that it where obvious that the car where not so satisfied with the treatment and forced more and more brake power. What I tried to notice where if I had bad readouts from a wheelsensor or not.

[BodybyFisher]

First thing you should do is check for codes, you may have a bad hub bearing or intermittant connection that us causing the ABS/Traction to kick in, I am having a similar problem with a Monte Carlo, I take a right turn and my ABS kicks in.

Check for codes, do you know how?

[Oscar P]

Thanks for the answer, I haven't checked codes, I guess(ed) I need a Tech2 for an 2005 STS to retrieve codes except some codes for emission that can be retrieved by a simple OBD-II diagnostic tool. Next time I come to a dealer I can ask them to check. Not so severe problem.

[BodybyFisher]

DTC C0220-C0229

Circuit Description

The system relay is energized when the ignition is ON. The system relay supplies voltage to the valve relay. The electronic brake control module (EBCM) activates the valve relay to supply voltage to the valve solenoids. This voltage is referred to as the system voltage. The EBCM microprocessor activates individual valve solenoids by grounding the valve solenoid control circuits.

DTC Descriptors

This diagnostic procedure supports the following DTCs:

• DTC C0220 Left Front Antilock Brake System (ABS) Channel in Release Too Long
• DTC C0221 Right Front Antilock Brake System (ABS) Channel in Release Too Long
• DTC C0228 Left Rear Antilock Brake System (ABS) Channel in Release Too Long
• DTC C0229 Right Rear Antilock Brake System (ABS) Channel in Release Too Long

Conditions for Running the DTC

• The ignition is ON.
• The vehicle is experiencing an ABS event.

Conditions for Setting the DTC

This code is set when the following criteria are met.

• The EBCM is commanding a valve solenoid to release brake pressure.
• The wheel that is commanded to release brake pressure has a speed below 5 km/h (3 mph) for 1.25 seconds.

Action Taken When the DTC Sets

If equipped, the following actions occur.

• The EBCM disables ABS/TCS.
• Adaptive cruise control (ACC) Braking is degraded.
• Vehicle Stability Enhancement System (VSES) is disabled.
• The ABS indicator turns ON.
• The traction off indicator turns ON.

Conditions for Clearing the DTC

• The condition for the DTC is no longer present and the DTC is cleared with a scan tool.
• The EBCM automatically clears the history DTC when a current DTC is not detected in 100 consecutive drive cycles.

Diagnostic Aids

The solenoid valve circuit is internal to the EBCM. The solenoid valve circuit is not diagnosable external to the EBCM. The DTC sets when there is a malfunction in the solenoid circuit internal to the EBCM