ABS and traction control light on dash. cruise control doesn’t work.

ABS and traction control light came on about a week ago. Normal driving conditions. Cruise control doesn't work. No codes on diagnostics machine. Brakes are a little different than normal. Still drives, no pulling to a side. I've researched and saw ABS wheel speed sensor. Not sure if it's rear or front, left or right.

My car has 61000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
You will have to have the ABS system scanned and not just the engine computer scanned. You will have to monitor the wheel sensors if you get no codes, but if the light is on there is a code stored in the ABS module. One of the wheel sensors is failing and will cause all the problems you’ve mentioned.

A scanner that can access the ABS of the car is needed for this diagnosis. I’d suggest getting the vehicle looked at by a qualified technician who can properly diagnose your ABS light and repair the issue as necessary.

How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?

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The most likely causes of the ABS light is an issue with the control module, ABS sensor, or low brake fluid. If you need some assistance, feel free to contact a qualified technician who will be able to diagnose your ABS light and perform any repairs that are required.
ABS sensor faults

If any of the ABS sensors are faulty (there is normally one on each wheel), the cruise control system will not activate.

Because the ABS and traction control often share the same module, a problem with one mechanism might be indicated by a light for both. If the brake system is malfunctioning, the traction control light might come on as a result. The light for your ABS might also come on if the brake fluid is low.
Check engine light flashing and traction control light coming on at the same time could be alerting you of a misfire or a malfunctioning traction control system. Malfunctioning vehicle speed sensor or wheel speed sensors could also be causing the lights to come on.
A vehicle`s cruise control may stop working if the vacuum actuator has stopped working or if there is damage to the vacuum hoses. The system may also fail if the cable linking the actuator to the throttle is broken.
Damaged Speed Sensor

That`s right, it senses speed (specifically, how fast your vehicle is traveling). A damaged speed sensor may cause the cruise control not to work properly due to inaccurate readings. Since a damaged speed sensor can also cause problems with the speedometer, it should be fixed right away.

Since your car`s cruise control is part of an electrical system, it needs a fuse to function properly. A short circuit in this system can cause a fuse to blow, which means that the cruise control will suddenly stop working. Fortunately, replacing a blown fuse is a cheap and easy repair for any auto mechanic.
Is it Safe to Drive with the TCS Light On? It is only safe to drive with the TCS light on if it appears when you are losing traction: it means the system is engaging. Driving without traction control can make your vehicle susceptible to spinning out and sliding around on the road.
When the system is damaged or needs a part to replace, it can cost anywhere from $320 to $1,000. The exact cost really depends on your car and the components of its given ABS system.
The ABS brake light doesn`t mean you have zero braking capability. Instead it means that your brakes are now on their own, and you are too. If conditions are bad, your brakes will perform like brakes did before ABS. Without regulation, your brakes may stick right when you need them the most.
Firstly, you should check your brake fluid reservoir to ensure that the levels aren`t too low, as the ABS warning light can be activated if the levels of brake fluid have dropped. If this is clearly an issue, you can top the brake fluid up yourself, which should cause the ABS light to go off.
As a general rule, the ABS light can come on with no error codes if the ABS sensor wiring is loose if the tires are worn out or your car needs a wheel alignment, if one of the wheel bearings is bad or if one of the ABS sensors has an intermittent fault.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

Abs light, emergency brake light, steering wheel assist light, engine light, EPC light, traction control light
ANSWER : Hello, thank you for writing in. The vehicle does utilize a lot of the same sensors for these systems. Are there any other codes that are coming up when this code appears? If so you will want to take these into consideration when processing the repair and making a diagnosis. The module may be bad, and replacing it should fix the problem. The lights should turn off once the main computer recognizes the new module and the sensors sync up. If you believe the sensors need to be cleaned you may do so. Do as minimal as possible to make sure you are not damaging the sensor or disrupting the wiring inside. A bad connection would make the lights stay on. With so many lights that are effected by the module being illuminated, the module is likely bad or does not have a connection. Check the connection first and then resort to replacing the unit. For more help with these electrical tests, contact our service department.

Dash, Tail/brake, dome, trunk, glovebox, and door lights won’t work, dash doing weird things.
ANSWER : Hi there. Sure would appear a lot is going on electrically all at once. This could be, a problem in the PDC (power distribution center). The PDC is typically located under the hood and contains numerous fuses and relays. I don’t believe any one fuse will resolve all of the electrical issues. There is a possibility, it is not a power supply issue. It may be, the result of a poor electrical ground common to the inoperative components. Proper circuit testing should be performed. This would confirm the cause of multiple electrical failures. I recommend having your vehicle’s electrical problems be diagnosed and repaired by a certified technician, such as one from YourMechanic.

ABS and traction control light on dash. cruise control doesn’t work.
ANSWER : You will have to have the ABS system scanned and not just the engine computer scanned. You will have to monitor the wheel sensors if you get no codes, but if the light is on there is a code stored in the ABS module. One of the wheel sensors is failing and will cause all the problems you’ve mentioned.

A scanner that can access the ABS of the car is needed for this diagnosis. I’d suggest getting the vehicle looked at by a qualified technician who can properly diagnose your ABS light and repair the issue as necessary.

My dash board don’t work my front light work when I change my light into high beam and my back window won’t go down
ANSWER : As unfortunate as it is, your vehicle would be considered flood damaged. Diagnosing electrical problems in a flood damaged vehicle is nearly impossible. This would take many hours or even days to determine which wiring harnesses and circuits have been affected. Then nearly all of the wiring under the dash would likely require replacement as well as many sensors and switches. On a BMW vehicle, the amount of wires and switches are likely more than that of a lower end vehicle. Due to the inefficiency in cost, you would likely be able to purchase another BMW like yours for less than what it would cost to fix your car. Many insurance companies would consider this type of damage to total out the vehicle unfortuantely.

No dash lights, back right tail light is out, no parking lights. Brake lights work though as does head lights.
ANSWER : Hi there. In many cases, when you have electrical problems like you’re describing, it’s caused by multiple electrical component failure. It’s likely that a few electrical relays are not working; especially if you have systems that utilize the same components (such as your brake light and tail lights). I would recommend having a professional mobile mechanic come to your location to complete an electrical problems inspection first, so they can pinpoint what is damaged and recommend the right repairs.

All dashboard lights and tail lights do not work after driving through a lot of snow. Headlights work. And brake lights work.
ANSWER : Hello. We’ll be happy to help you. There are a few things that I recommend checking to discover why your lighting system is malfunctioning. The headlight dimmer switch should be checked. Along with the wiring harness above the right front tire behind the fender well cover. Also
the main fuse under the hood should be inspected because other people with your particular vehicle have had similar lighting issues if that fuse goes bad. It will be a great idea to check the rest of the fuses in that area too while checking the main fuse. Once the fuses are checked inside of the main fuse box then I would check the fuses inside of their interior fuse box. The interior fuse box should be located on the driver side of the dashboard near where your legs would be. If you need more assistance with repairing your vehicle please keep in mind that our organization provides Mobile Mechanics who can help you diagnose and repair your vehicle, all at competitive rates.

Okay so when I turn my lights on at night my brake lights do not work, when I don’t have my lights on they work fine.
ANSWER : Hi there. Based on your inquiry, it’s highly probable that you have a damaged light switch or some electrical fault inside the turn signal relay. However, it’s also possible that the brake switch above the brake pedal could also be the source of your problem. Due to the fact that multiple electrical components might be causing this issue, it’s a smart idea to first have a professional mobile mechanic complete a brake lights are not working inspection, so they can determine what’s causing all of these issues and recommend the right repairs.

My check engine light and traction control lights are on and the cruise control light is flashing on and off.
ANSWER : Hi There,
What you are describing is common for a vehicle with traction control when it has been activated in a situation as you have described. The cruise control is also controlled in some cases by the traction control system and may be flashing as a need to have it reset due to the traction control being activated under those circumstances. The traction control system monitors the steering stability of the vehicle and engages when loss of traction has been detected. This is done by the use of electronic sensors at each of the four wheels that communicate with the Power Train Control Module (PCM) regarding steering performance and stability in adverse weather conditions. The traction control system works by reducing engine speed and determining which wheel to apply brake pressure to in order to prevent the vehicle from sliding. The anti-lock braking system and the traction control system work together to maintain the stability of the vehicle. The computer uses this information received from electronic sensors regarding the rotational speed of each wheel, the horizontal motion of the vehicle, and the vertical motion of the vehicle to determine how to direct the traction control system or the anti-lock braking system to best control the vehicle when needed. In some cases, the traction control system may simply need to be reprogrammed. I would recommend having a professional from YourMechanic come to your location to properly diagnose your traction control system.