Modern cars are equipped with advanced stability control systems like StabiliTrak. While there are comparable systems for other brands, this electronic stability control system was designed particularly for GM.
StabiliTrak assists you in maintaining a straight path of travel by monitoring and modifying your car’s steering, braking, and traction. However, when there’s an issue with this system, the service StabiliTrak message will come on.
This system will examine if the steering wheel and tires are in alignment with the direction your car is traveling using sensors to determine their positions. The StabiliTrak system might malfunction as a sign of a number of different problems.
You might notice a difference in how your car switches gears when it’s not working properly, or you might discover that it has lost power. A dashboard light that symbolizes a car and has curved tire marks behind it should also be visible.
This light informs you of important StabiliTrak system information. It should make a brief illumination whenever you start the car to let you know it’s working.
What is StabiliTrak?
StabiliTrak is a unique electronic stability control (ESC) system from General Motors (GM). This ESC system is intended to reduce engine power in low-traction situations to prevent wheels from slipping.
Other manufacturers, though, have comparable technology with a different name. Many of the same concepts apply to all vehicles, even though a StabiliTrak warning won’t be present on a car that isn’t in the Chevrolet or GM lineup.
When you start to drive, the StabiliTrak system, which is a part of your car’s stability technology, administers brakes to each wheel separately and keeps your vehicle moving in a straight path or direction. Think of this technology as being akin to brakes with all-wheel drive. Similar to traction control, Stabilitrak is intended to keep the vehicle stable.
The system ensures that once your car is moving, it will move straight ahead. Using the steering wheel position sensor, it compares the positions of the tires and steering wheel to the path of the vehicle. If the system detects instability, such as the car zigzagging, it responds quickly.
When the “Service StabiliTrak warning” appears on the dashboard, it typically indicates that there is a problem with your Chevy’s StabiliTrak system. Usually, this happens when a sensor notices problems with the wheel’s positioning or response to steering. If everything is working as it should, the system will automatically correct any understeer or oversteer.
In order for the Chevrolet StabiliTrak to work, the steering wheel position sensor has to provide data about the driver’s intention. The sensor adjusts the car’s movement in the right direction by comparing the position of the wheel to the actual steering response. Hence, a problem indicated by the Chevy Cruze’s StabiliTrak service may change how this function works.
When it’s functioning properly, the occupants’ safety and stability in the car are enhanced, especially when driving on slick surfaces. You will get a warning that there is a problem if a sensor malfunctions. Most of the time, this is not a dangerous situation, but you still want to have the problem fixed.
How does the StabiliTrak work?
StabiliTrak is a cutting-edge stability control technology that helps drivers keep control of their cars under difficult driving conditions. The system compares the driver’s inputs to the readings from sensors that monitor the vehicle’s speed, steering angle, and yaw rate. The system adjusts the vehicle’s course to maintain stability if it detects any deviations between the intended path and the actual path it is taking.
The vehicle is then brought back to its intended route by applying brakes to individual wheels and altering engine power. To offer a complete system for enhancing vehicle stability, StabiliTrak also works with other vehicle systems, such as traction control and the anti-lock braking system (ABS). The technology can also recognize when the driver is over- or under-steering, and it will make adjustments to stop the car from spinning out or losing traction.
StabiliTrak is a useful safety feature that can aid drivers in maintaining control of their cars under a range of difficult driving circumstances. StabiliTrak can assist drivers in keeping control and preventing accidents whether it’s raining, snowing, icy, or driving at high speeds.
What does the Service StabiliTrak Message Mean?
If there is an issue with the StabiliTrak system, your vehicle computer triggers the service StabiliTrak message. It is commonly tripped if there is an issue with the position of the vehicle tires or steering wheel angle. If there is no other issue with the system, the StabiliTrak system automatically responds to the understeer or oversteer.
The StabiliTrak ensures your vehicle’s stability, safety, and optimum performance while driving on a slippery road. If any sensor connected to this system doesn’t work properly, the system triggers a warning sign of the issue.
The traction control system of your vehicle doesn’t work efficiently when the service StabiliTrak warning light illuminates. Don’t worry; it is not risky; keep calm; you just need to find out the issue and take measures to repair the fault.
Causes of Service StabiliTrak Message
There are many reasons for the service StabiliTrak Message on the vehicle dashboard. Usually, it is caused by an issue with the steering wheel system, brake units, or traction control system.
Your car may also trigger the service StabiliTrak message due to a faulty steering angle sensor, throttle sensor, or ABS sensor.
As discussed above, the StabiliTrak system works with the help of the steering wheel, ABS brake system units, and friction control system. Following are the major causes of service StabiliTrak message:
- The StabiliTrak button is on
- Bad ABS sensor
- Use of E85 fuel
- Faulty steering wheel position sensor
- Damaged or clogged spark plugs
- Fault in the body control module
- Faulty fuel pumps
- Clogged fuel injector
- Faulty tire pressure monitor sensor
- Faulty ignition coils
- Faulty brake switch
- Active Fuel Management (AFM) system faults
- Faulty throttle position sensor
Symptoms Of Bad Service StabiliTrak System
- Warning message: The illuminated StabiliTrak light on the vehicle dashboard is one of the clear symptoms of a bad StabiliTrak system.
- Trouble Code: Your vehicle computer may trigger a trouble code related to speed sensor failure, steering wheel sensor failure, and ABS fault.
- Reduced acceleration or power: In some conditions, a bad StabiliTrak system may lead your car to lose acceleration or power, making it hard to drive.
- Unusual noise: When this system goes bad, you may hear usual noises coming from the vehicle compartment.
- Limp mode: The vehicle computer may turn on the limp mode when it detects an issue with your system.
- Reduced stability control: Your car may be more prone to understeering, oversteering, or skidding, which can lead to loss of control and potential accidents.
- Hard starting conditions: When your service StabiliTrak system goes bad, your car will be hard to start or won’t start at all.
- Loss of traction control: The vehicle may experience reduced traction control or become more difficult to handle, especially in slippery or wet conditions.
How to Reset Service StabiliTrak Message
When the StabiliTrak message light turns on the control panel of the vehicle, you should be alerted that there is a fault in the system. There could be many reasons for the failure. It may be a computer or software failure.
Follow the below-given steps to reset the service StabiliTrak light:
- First of all, find a good place to stop when the StabiliTrak light illuminates.
- Ensure that all of the vehicle’s parts and engine are turned off.
- For the purpose of resetting the car’s system and deleting all codes, disconnect the battery. You have to plug out the negative cable to disconnect the battery.
- Turn off the vehicle engine for some time; there may be a chance that the system will automatically reboot.
- Plug in the negative battery cable.
- In the end, start the vehicle and take notice that the message is there.
Difference between StabiliTrak System and Traction Control System
The traction control system and StabiliTrak system are not the same. However, these systems work to enhance the stability and friction of your vehicle, but both do it in different ways and by various operations.
Traction control works on a technique by which it increases the firmness of the wheels, specifically on slippery surfaces. It achieves this task by carefully maintaining engine power or putting brakes on each wheel.
On the other hand, the StabiliTrak system is an advanced stability control system. It improves the stability of your vehicle in different driving situations.
As mentioned above, this system uses data of different sensors to improve stability. These sensors detect the speed, steering angle, and yaw rate. After tracking the vehicle speed, steering angle, and yaw rate, the StabiliTrak system adjusts stability by modifying engine power and applying brakes to each wheel.
In some vehicles, these two systems work individually, while in others, they may be merged to work as a single stability control system.
| Traction Control System | StabiliTrak System |
| The traction control system is designed to avoid wheels from slipping in low traction conditions. | The StabiliTrak system is designed to ensure vehicle control in different driving situations. |
| This system can activate automatically when traction loss is identified. | This system has a dedicated switch or button to activate the system. |
| It helps to ensure vehicle stability during acceleration or sudden stops. | It helps to prevent the vehicle from skidding, oversteering, and understeering. |
| It utilizes the data of different sensors to monitor the wheel spinning speed so that it can apply brakes or decrease engine power to prevent wheel slip. | It utilizes the data of different sensors to monitor the car’s acceleration and direction and can apply individual brakes to maintain control. |
| It has been used for a long time and is installed on most modern cars. | It is usually found on the latest vehicle models as a standard safety feature. |
| It works in conjunction with the powertrain control module (PCM) and ABS. | It works in combination with the anti-lock braking system (ABS). |
| It may affect by damaged wiring, bad sensors, or other electrical issues. | It may affect by bad sensors, damaged wiring, or other electrical issues. |
FAQs.
Can I drive my car if it says “Service StabiliTrak”?
It’s usually ok to drive your car, but we do not recommend it. Just be aware that the systems that would normally help you control your car in a sliding situation aren’t working, so you should drive carefully when necessary. Having a technician examine the system is the best course of action.
How much does it cost to fix service StabiliTrak?
Stabilitrak repairs are remarkably inexpensive considering how complicated the system is. Stabilitrak fixes typically cost between $80 and $200. Given how complex these systems may be, that’s not bad for a car repair.
What causes StabiliTrak problems?
A malfunctioning powertrain control module, faulty sensors, and bad wiring are some of the most typical issues with StabiliTrak. If the StabiliTrak service light is on in your car, you should have it checked or repaired.
What causes your StabiliTrak light to come on?
When the warning indicator light on the dashboard illuminates, there may be a number of problems present, including faulty steering angle sensors, faulty rotational speed sensors, and faulty wheel speed sensors, as well as a steering rack issue.
What do you do with a service StabiliTrak message?
Like any other warning notice, the Service StabiliTrak should never be disregarded. It indicates that there is a problem with your car’s stability control system. You shouldn’t drive your vehicle if the warning light is on until you have time to examine it. Be careful to stop so you can try to fix the problem.
Can low transmission fluid cause StabiliTrak problems?
Low transmission Fluid levels commonly cause hard shifting because they cause the metal parts of the transmission to brush against one another very forcefully. In contrast, there is typically no connection between the service StabiliTrak status and low fluid levels.