Traction Control Light stays on

[StuartJoyce]

Hey guys, I own a 1996 Bmw 328is, and the damn traction control light stays on now. Once i start my car up, its not on, but after I start going it just comes on. I can press the switch but it still stays on. Can anyone help me??

 

[Kenny2g]

I'll say if your driving haven't changed or if you didn't notice any problem with the car's performance or drive, Just open the cluster and take the damn bulb outa there.

 

[danielismad]

I have the same problem and the traction control does not work when the bulb is on even if you take it out. I know what you are saying Kenny, but at times people just want their stuff to work even if we never use it. So Stuart check and see if traction control works or not when the bulb comes on and mess with the switch also to see if it still turn the traction on/off even while the bulb is always on....

 

[StuartJoyce]

I have tried pushing the button when it is on and it wont go off. Yes the traction control is on when the light is off, but when the light stays on, it is off.....

 

[jrt67ss350]

Sounds like you've got a problem with the traction control system - the light on all the time is telling you there is a fault and the computer has disabled the traction control system automatically. Taking the bulb out will not fix the problem. Could be some kind of sensor that's bad, ECM, ABS system fault, etc.

 

[BigEarl325is]

Yeah I have the same problem. The dealer knows what it is and said they can fix it. Apparently it's more common than a lot of people realize. I'm going to get it fixed soon because winter is coming up and it would come in handy.

 

[Kenny2g]

Hey does a 92 325I has this traction contol? Cause i don't see it on mine. Also, where's the switch for it? Holla back ya'll i gotta check mine out too.

 

[Wadula]

i doubt a 92 has it, but to check search for the button at the top end of the center console. there is an aray or at least the possibiltiy of buttons right in front of the stick. if there is one that reads asc you have it. second is, when you start the car and all lights go on check if you have a yellow triangle with a circle between speedometer and the gauge that shows the revs (heck i forgot the dang word.) no sign = so traction control

 

[bmwperson]

Is there any way of adding traction control to your car? ( just curious ) 94 325i

 

[Kenny2g]

My car has the triangle with yellow circle around it. However there's no button. Yes my light lites up when the ignition is turned on. so i think i have it. Mine is just automatic i guess.

 

[Wadula]

somewhere there is a button then! maybe at another position, but there must be a button. stuff like traction control can always be switched of as for some situations you are better of without.

as far as the adding of ASC+T afterwards is concerned, it is possible. all you need is the correct parts and someone to do it. I am sure that it will be a major valet breaker, though. They would have to wire the whole car, get the sensors installed (maybe that needs extra parts again, new control sysytem as brakes and ignition are invoved....it will be a pain...

 

[BigEarl325is]

94 is the first year they put traction control in our cars. This is as far as I knew. A sure fire way of knowing if you have traction control is opening your hood and looking at the rubber hose that leads from your MAF to your intake manifold. If the rubber hose has an extra metal unit on it with a whole bunch of wires attached to it (other than the MAF) then you have traction control. What this little metal unit on the rubber hose is, is the traction control throttle body. When your traction control kicks in it adds braking power to individual wheels while it decreases the engine power by adjusting the angle of this extra throttle body. While your traction control isn't doing anything, this throttle body is a perfect 180 degrees perpendicular (spelling?) to the intake hose and therefore allows the full amount of air to enter the throttle body that you adjust with your foot. It really is an ingenious (spelling?) design.

PS. That you're seeing Kenny is the light for ABS in your car. In 94 (once again as far as I know) they changed it to the traction control light and used the ABS light when the ABS would kick in. Please don't quote me on this but that's how I understood it.

 

[Wadula]

nice point bigearl. i didn't know that this light was used for ABS. infact, i never saw in any car a light that goes on when the abs starts working. does it with you kenny?

 

[george]

sometimes turning your car off, will reset the system and it might work fine when you turn the car back on, give it a try it worked on mine a while back when it was doing that same thing.

 

[BigEarl325is]

Yeah, occasionally if I'm on the highway and I know I won't have to turn i'll turn off the car for a couple seconds and turn it back on, it does work but not permentantly

 

[troutmd]

Hey guys, I own a 1996 Bmw 328is, and the damn traction control light stays on now. Once i start my car up, its not on, but after I start going it just comes on. I can press the switch but it still stays on. Can anyone help me??

Try this: Turn your key on (do not start); at this point (as you stated) the light is off. Push the ASC button. Does the light come on? Leave it on and start the car. Now try pushing the ASC button again. Does the light go off? Turn the car off, start the car again and it should be fixed.

I have a 328i I am selling and hadnt paid attention to the ASC light much before. It was always on, but wasnt a concern to me. The buyer questioned it so I called a friend who has messed with several BMWs. He stepped me through what I outlined to you and it worked! This procedure resets the ASC computer and may need done if the battery is unhooked for a very long time.


Good Luck.