What does it mean when the ETS light and the check engine light are on?

traction control[ETS]. get a scanner to see the code what wrong.

ETS systems get their information from the wheel speed sensors. If the engine light and ETS lights are on, there are trouble code stored in the computer. Get those read. That's always the starting point.

This a technical bulletin for your car
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Good Luck



File In Section: 5 - Brakes
Bulletin No.: 63-50-09
Date: March, 1996
INFORMATION
Subject:
"ETS OFF" Indicator Lamp On with No DTC's Set Models:
1996 Buick Skylark
1996 Chevrolet Cavalier
1996 Oldsmobile Achieva
1996 Pontiac Grand Am, Sunfire On vehicles equipped with Enhanced Traction System (ETS), the "ETS OFF" indicator lamp may come on and ETS and Cruise Control might become disabled. There may be no ABS or PCM Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC's) stored and there may be no "Check Engine" lamp on. This condition has caused a high rate of unnecessary IPC replacements.
The PCM sets a Type "C" or "D" FAILURE RECORD which sends a message to the Electronic Brake Control Module (EBCM) to turn the "ETS OFF" indicator on and to disable ETS. The PCM can then disable Cruise Control, but may not turn on a corresponding "Check Engine" lamp. These Type "C" or "D" Failure Records are not stored in the normal Current or History menus.

The technician is instructed to check normal operation of the "ETS OFF" switch and the ETS system. The technician is then instructed to check for Failure Records and directed to Section 6E3-A of the Service Manual, see chart. When the PCM Failure Record is corrected, normal operation of the ETS system and Cruise Control should return.

Hello there
let me try to explain it the best way i can

If you are talking about the light coming on when you are driving in slippery conditions, this is normal. If you are talking about it staying on all the time, the ets is either turned off or you have another problem. Let?s take a moment and explain why the electronic traction control which is called Enhanced Traction System (ETS) warning light will turn on when the engine computer sees a problem. The ETS system monitors wheel speed via the Anti-lock Brake System (ABS). If the ETS system sees a wheel spinning due to snow, ice, rain etc., the ETS computer sends a request to the vehicle?s engine computer to reduce torque. The engine computer responds with a combination of strategies. In the engine computer?s bag of tricks to stop wheel spin it can perform any one or combination of the following; cut fuel off by trimming or turning off fuel injectors, ****** the spark timing or up shift the transmission. In the days of old we just let up on the gas pedal. Now the computer does it for you. If you have an engine running problem it is more of a problem than you realize. The engine computer is the high command center. The engine computer will work and respond to information from the other computers in the vehicle. But in the event there is a system or running problem that the engine computer is responsible for, ?it will? lock out all of the other vehicle computers. If there is an engine running problem that causes the engine computer to store a code and turn on the ?Check Engine? light guess what computer doesn't talk to the others? The engine computer. The ETS computer gets all put out when this occurs and turns its warning light on in protest. So, there you have it. If the check engine light is on the ETS warning light will come on as well and the ETS system will not operate until the engine computer problem is corrected.

have a 1996 skylark, check engine light comes on and ets blink on and off car want start. What does this mean?

ETS is Enhanced Traction System is used to stop wheel slip thru reducing engine output. And if the light is on it doesn't mean you will spend x amount of dollars to fix it! It just means that ETS has been disabled because you have a engine problem and the computer cannot reduce power to the wheels because the engine might stall so the computer disables the system! Now some cars come with a switch by the shifter that turns on and off the system because if you get stuck in the snow traction control will keep you from getting stuck

If you are talking about the light coming on when you are driving in slippery conditions, this is normal. If you are talking about it staying on all the time, the ets is either turned off or you have another problem. Let�s take a moment and explain why the electronic traction control which is called Enhanced Traction System (ETS) warning light will turn on when the engine computer sees a problem. The ETS system monitors wheel speed via the Anti-lock Brake System (ABS). If the ETS system sees a wheel spinning due to snow, ice, rain etc., the ETS computer sends a request to the vehicle�s engine computer to reduce torque. The engine computer responds with a combination of strategies. In the engine computer�s bag of tricks to stop wheel spin it can perform any one or combination of the following; cut fuel off by trimming or turning off fuel injectors, ****** the spark timing or up shift the transmission. In the days of old we just let up on the gas pedal. Now the computer does it for you. If you have an engine running problem it is more of a problem than you realize. The engine computer is the high command center. The engine computer will work and respond to information from the other computers in the vehicle. But in the event there is a system or running problem that the engine computer is responsible for, �it will� lock out all of the other vehicle computers. If there is an engine running problem that causes the engine computer to store a code and turn on the �Check Engine� light guess what computer doesn't talk to the others? The engine computer. The ETS computer gets all put out when this occurs and turns its warning light on in protest. So, there you have it. If the check engine light is on the ETS warning light will come on as well and the ETS system will not operate until the engine computer problem is corrected.

Chevrolet customer service said the ets light means enhanced traction control (ets) check the fuses. if you do not find a fuse blown you need to take it to the nearest chevy dealer so they can run a diognostic on it to find the code and replace any electrical parts that need replaced so this light will shut off.

also you can contact them any time at
1-800-222-1020

please do not forget to rate and comment on your experience today

I would check the wheel sensors used by the ABS and Traction Controls systems.