Seeing the ABS Light and Traction Control Light illuminated is a common phenomenon for car owners. A lot of 2008 Ford Escape users face this situation from time to time. They panic and wonder what’s going wrong with your car.
But you have to be proactive and think about the possible causes and fixes for the 2008 Ford Escape ABS Light And Traction Light On issue. In short, damaged wheel sensors, wrong computer signals, low fluid levels, muck, and dust in the system are the main factors that turn on both these warning lights.
However, you don’t need to panic because you can fix these issues if you follow the guidelines written in this article. So, please read it to the end to learn about it.
2008 Ford Escape ABS Light And Traction Light On Causes And Fixes
ABS Light and Traction (TRAC) are individual systems controlled by the same unit. As a matter of fact, both lights turn on together on each other’s malfunction or breakdown.
However, you don’t have to think so much since the solutions are fairly easy. Check out below to know the causes and fixes of ABS light and Traction light on!
Low Fluid Level In Brake
When you have a low fluid level in the brake system, the lights will turn on to indicate that this problem needs attention. This problem occurs when air abruptly enters the brake line.
One way you can recognize this issue is by putting pressure on the pedal, which should give you a springy feel because of the air. So, when you notice this issue, you should not drive the car and wait till the problem gets solved.
Fix: The effortless fix to this problem is to fill up the fluid level again. It’s as simple as that. If you have the tools, you can fix this problem yourself. And if you don’t have it, you can simply take it to the nearest service point.
However, if you want to do it yourself, then follow the below guidelines-
- Unfold the reservoir cap
- Check if the cap is tidy or not. Remove dirt or rust if you see any
- Fill it up carefully to its instructed measure or below the max mark
- Don’t overfill since it can ruin other system parts
- Lastly, tighten the reservoir cap hard
Turned On Traction Light
One of the several reasons for the lights on is that you have turned off the traction control (TRAC) yourself. It could be either knowingly or unknowingly.
When you turn off the traction control, the system will turn on the warning light to save you from danger. For instance, you are driving your car on a slippery road and have the traction control turned off.
Your car’s computer system is smart enough to realize that, and it will turn on the light as it doesn’t want you to face any potential danger. However, if you have already turned on the traction control and it still shows the warning light, its fixes would be a subject of discussion.
Fix: I recommend driving your car with the traction control on. Yes, You could be someone who does not often drive a vehicle on icy roads. But you never know when to take a shortcut or go through a slippery road.
It can happen that you forgot to turn on the traction control and took your car to such a surface. That time you are running a risk. So, you should turn on the control light always.
Damaged Wheel Speed Sensor
Your car’s wheel speed sensor may get damaged by dirt and waste from the road. When this happens, the computer system in the car won’t be able to give the correct direction to the wheel.
It will result in the Electronic Control Assembly showing an incorrect reading and turning on the Antilock Breaking System light. This problem should be seen through the nick of time to avoid the dangers.
Fix: Damaged wheel sensors can be replaced or cleaned. I would suggest you clean the sensor if it’s dirty. Nevertheless, you need to take it to the mechanic if there is any problem with the system.
To clean the sensor, you can follow the guidelines below –
- At first, loosen the wheel hoist
- Take out the wheel sensor by removing the bolts
- Now that you have the sensor separately in your hand, you can clean the sensor properly, removing the debris and dirt
- You can put the bolts back, reinstall the sensor, and complete its process when it’s done
Ways To Avoid The ABS Light And Traction Light On Problem
It’s always better to avoid the problems from before and take steps to prevent them. If issues are in the initial stage, you can fix these problems with little care and service.
But if you stay longer with the problem, fixing it will cost more than you have thought. Four ways to avoid the issue of ABS light and Traction light staying on are:
- Avoid driving your car on dirty surfaces, rust, and mud. Taking this step will prevent the part of your car, including the wheel sensor, from being safe from debris and filth
- Clean or wipe your car’s wheel sensor at least once a day to prevent any future threat
- Look over every day to see if there is enough fluid available in the system and refill it from time to time
- Maintenance is necessary. So you should take your car for service to ensure its best performance
Taking the above steps ensures that your car is safe from potential threats associated with ABS and Traction Control (TRAC) lights. So you can be free from stress or worry.
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