abs and traction control lights

Asked by GuruDTMVP1 Jul 19, 2024 at 01:05 PM about the 2015 Kia Sorento

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

I have a 2015 Kia Sorento. A few weeks ago, my nephew borrowed it. When
he started the car on the way home, the abs and traction control lights came
on. They shut off about half way home and didn't come back on again until
yesterday. They came on again when we started the car yesterday, but are
off again today (we didn't drive it yesterday when the lights were on). The
brake fluid and tire pressure are fine and it isn't giving any OBDII codes. Also
the first day the lights came on was the first day of a really bad heat wave
(temps over 100) and yesterday was the first day of normal temps (about 75).
Could it be the extreme temperature change effecting tire pressure. I have
had this car for years and the only other time those lights came on was when
I got a nail in the tire, those lights came on awhile before the low tire
pressure light came on. If not the tire pressure, what else should I check?

3 Answers

311,215

If the lights are on then there is a code, you just have to access that module of the scanner. Have the wheel speed or the TPMS sensors ever been replaced? Your about at the end of the TPMS sensors lifespan. Other problems could be wiring or wheel speed sensor connectors.

125

This may sound stupid, but check your gas-tank cap. We have a 2015 sorento, and my daughter had it away at college. One day all the dash lights started randomly coming on. Of course, she freeked out and drove it to AutoZone for the code-test. It said something was up with "electric/fuel" .....or something I cannot remember, and to take it to the shop. At the shop, they first checked the gas cap. They told her that older cars' caps will get old/dry rot and not click any longer. (they are supposed to click 3 times for a good seal) The tech just messed with it a bit and...voila! all the lights went off. They said if it continues, either put a bit of vaseline around the gasket OR just order a new cap online. Good luck!

158,465

Sounds like a bad wheel speed sensor. Or the wiring going to one of the sensors. ABS codes are in a separate ABS computer and are not stored. To get the code the ABS light must be on and you need a scan tool that can communicate with the ABS computer. The reason both lights are on is because the ABS and traction control system work together. When the computer detects a problem in one system, both systems are disabled, so both lights come on. Each time you start the engine the ABS computer runs a diagnostic test on the ABS system sensors, wiring, and computer. If the test passes, the ABS light goes off. If the light remains on or comes on while driving the problem is a sensor, the wiring, or the ABS computer itself, in that order. However, if the ABS light comes on during start up, like it's supposed to, then goes off after a few seconds, like it's supposed to, but comes back on when the vehicle starts moving the problem is the ABS pump and modulator assembly. This is because the ABS computer does not test the pump and modulator assembly until the vehicle starts moving the first time after a start up. So, your problem sounds like a sensor or the wiring, usually at one of the front wheels, going to a sensor. Jim

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