Traction Control light stays on constant

[03SatGuy]

I have an 03 L-300 and the Traction Control light stays on constant. Might there be a problem in the traction control?

[fdryer]

Can you turn TC off (by depressing the TC button)? Is the ABS indicator ON with the engine running?

[03SatGuy]

Yes I can turn it off using the button and no the ABS light is not on.

[fdryer]

Well, unless yours is different from mine, its normal for the TC light to be on. For whatever reason GM and their 'ergonomics' people sat around to decide on how best to confuse the public, TC is programmed to be ON/available at all times. Manually pushing the TC button to turn it off is at the option of the driver to disable traction control. In the real world driving environment there are a few instances where traction control will be felt where the gas pedal seems to be disconnected due to TC taking over the electronic throttle; attempting to 'peel' rubber when the light turns green on wet/slippery/icy/slushy/oiled road ways, attempting to spin the front wheels when stuck in snow while trying to move out of a parking spot, and attempting to spin wheels on dirt/gravel roads. Each situation is an attempt to force wheel spin and each front wheel is turning faster than the rear wheels where the ABS/TC system is comparing front wheel speed to rears. Any wheel spinning faster than the slowest wheel is determined to be slipping and traction control removes control of the electronic throttle from the driver by; reducing electronic advance, sequentially cutting fuel injectors, and activate ABS to stop wheel spin in extreme situations. All to reduce wheel spin so all four wheels turn at the same speed while allowing just enough throttle to accelerate without wheel spin.

There are few instances of drivers realizing TC activates and saves them from grief while many more deplore TC and manually turn it off to have more control.

[03SatGuy]

Thank you. I thought I read somewhere that it is suppose to only light up when TC is actually engaging. I don't have a need for spinning tires and hotrodding so no big problem.

[Jonnyferrari]

Originally Posted by 03SatGuy

Thank you. I thought I read somewhere that it is suppose to only light up when TC is actually engaging. I don't have a need for spinning tires and hotrodding so no big problem.

Mine only lights when I am spinning out on ice, sliding down a hill or doing a burnout, so it is not the case with me.

[spencerb]

The light on the switch on the center dash console should be on all the time to indicate that the traction control system is "ready." You can turn it off manually.

If the traction control activates when a tire spins, you will see a different light flash in the instrument cluster. It only comes on when the system is actively trying to control wheel spin.