Stability control light staying on?

[kmw1191]

So I am having a very intermittent problem with my car, about one out of every twenty times I start driving my parking brake light and stability control light come on and the parking brake light goes away after about a min or so but the stability control light stays on. Next time I turn the car on it isn't there (usually). Anyone know what that could be? I have an appointment on Tuesday but was wondering if anyone had this problem before. I have heard steering wheel sensor?

What it looks like

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[Blue hedgehog]

I'm not sure if the steering wheel sensor (I think its called a coil or clock spring) will cause the brake light to come on. I think it was $ub$onic that broke his coil. Maybe he will chime in.

Edit: there is a steering angle sensor. I didn't realize.

 

[Chevrolet Customer Care]

So I am having a very intermittent problem with my car, about one out of every twenty times I start driving my parking brake light and stability control light come on and the parking brake light goes away after about a min or so but the stability control light stays on. Next time I turn the car on it isn't there (usually). Anyone know what that could be? I have an appointment on Tuesday but was wondering if anyone had this problem before. I have heard steering wheel sensor?

What it looks like

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Hello kmw1191,

Have you considered taking this into the dealership to possibly look into this issue further for you? I would be happy to assist you with this. Please send me a PM with your VIN, current mileage, contact info and a preferred dealership so I can document this on your behalf. I'm looking forward to hearing from you.

Patsy G
Chevrolet Customer Care

 

[Swordsmith]

There is a button on the center near the parking brake which turns the TC/SC off and that light on. While you probably have some other problem, it's worth asking the stupid question: is there something rolling around there that's hitting that button every now and then? Maybe the way you release the parking brake while holding a Starbuck Vente-big gulp?

 

[Papasonic]

I had a problem with the stability MIL coming on while driving, for no apparent reason. Shutting the engine off and restarting would extinguish the light.
The problem was resolved by installing a new brake pedal position sensor.

Note; I didn't have the brake indicator light on at the same time as the stability light.

 

[Natesriv]

I'll go way out on a limb... my wife's Honda(s) (this happened to more than on of her Honda's)... did that when the brake fluild level was low...even slightly low.

If you top off all your fluids...what happens now?

 

[$ub$onic]

The stabil-a-trac light comes on solid as a electrical "check engine light" so to speak. It means there is a electrical fault somewhere.

(The brake light came on for me somewhere along the line but I forget the conditions. I'll try and remember)


A faulty ( me having it one rev off and snapping the ribbon )clock spring was fun for me. My stabil-a-trac was engaging in a straight line

It may also cause the light to come on but I removed the air bag at the same time I broke it.
It's easy to replace though

 

[svzuki]

Generally the red brake lamp only comes on for low brake fluid level, parking brake being set, and a fewer rare instances.

If the brake fluid were low, you would likely get an ABS lamp as well as.

I would take it to the dealer ASAP to let them diagnosis and fix the issue.

 

[kmw1191]

Just a quick update for everyone, I just got the car back from the dealer. They didn't find anything wrong, but mentioned that my ultragauge very well could be the culprit. At first I didnt believe them, but then I read over the list of known problems with "DLC devices" such as: radio not turning off after turning off vehicle (that happened occasionally), reduced power messages and codes (I actually started a thread about that a bit back), stabilitrak messages and codes and bus or LAN traffic may stay active leading to a discharged vehicle battery (which was also a problem for me).
I think the reason why I have had these issues and nobody else with an ultragauge is having them might be because my ultragauge was purchased back in 2010 and is a much older version than the one most people here have.
As far as the brake light coming on I think it might have been because of "low" brake fluid (I added about a tablespoon to get it back to the max line). I will keep everyone posted if anything comes back, and for the time being I guess I don't get to use my ultragauge :sadbanana:

 

[Natesriv]

I was right!

 

[Blue hedgehog]

I highly doubt that adding a tablespoon full of brake fluid did anything besides raise the level 1mm. I hardly ever add brake fluid to any of my vehicles. If the reservoir is low, I check the brakes, and I need brakes. After I do the brakes, the reservoir is full again. If I don't need brakes, I know I have a leak. Topping off the reservoir for any reason besides a leak will cause a mess when doing the brakes.

 

[svzuki]

The low fluid switch does not trigger until the fluid level is below the "low" line. If it came on before that, the switch might be going bad.

 

[kmw1191]

So I brought it to the dealer and they told me it was my ultragauge and gave me a list of known issues with added devices (which I was having most of them) so I unplugged it, guess what, it happened again today with nothing plugged in, I'm at a loss now

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[kmw1191]

Update, I brought it in this morning to the dealer because after unplugging my ultragauge I was still having the same problem only more frequently. The dealer just called me and said that my Electronic Brake Control Module (EBCM) was shorting out and that was causing the problem so they said they will order one on Monday and get it fixed. Hopefully that is the solution.

Recap:
-My stabilitrak light and parking brake light kept coming on intermittently and staying on until I restarted the car
-Brought it to the dealer
-Dealer tells me it is most likely from the UG and gives me a copy of TSB #13-08-116-001A because they couldn't reproduce the problem lights.
-Lights coming on still, but more frequently without the UG plugged in
-Bring it back to the dealer
-This time they were able to reproduce the problem and find a short in the EBCM
-Part will be ordered on Monday and installed on Thursday most likely

Just wanted to update this to let people know what is going on. I'll update again after the part is installed to let people know if that was really the problem.

 

[Chevrolet Customer Care]

Hey kmw1191,

Thanks for the update! We hope that this will be the resolution to your concerns with your Sonic. Please send another update with the outcome, or send us a PM if you have any further questions or concerns.

Patsy G
Chevrolet Customer Care

 

[kmw1191]

Update time again, I brought it in this morning to get the EBCM replaced to fix my problem. I got a call from the dealer about 3 hours after dropping it off that the EBCM is replaced but the problem is still happening. They need to do more diagnostic work to figure out what is going on. In the meantime they gave me a 2014 sonic LT hatch as a rental for no charge. I want to give a shout out to the people at Gateway Chevrolet in Fargo, ND. I don't know if any of the customer care people here can pass along any messages to corporate or anything but Dan has been amazing to work with.
I will continue to update with the great mystery of the sonic warning light.

PS, So far I have driven the rental car about 15 miles, and I'm not going to lie I don't like it. It is a 2014 black LT hatch with the 1.8 and the auto transmission. I will say the sound system is 100x better than in my '12 sonic however. I miss my turbo.

 

[Chevrolet Customer Care]

Update time again, I brought it in this morning to get the EBCM replaced to fix my problem. I got a call from the dealer about 3 hours after dropping it off that the EBCM is replaced but the problem is still happening. They need to do more diagnostic work to figure out what is going on. In the meantime they gave me a 2014 sonic LT hatch as a rental for no charge. I want to give a shout out to the people at Gateway Chevrolet in Fargo, ND. I don't know if any of the customer care people here can pass along any messages to corporate or anything but Dan has been amazing to work with.
I will continue to update with the great mystery of the sonic warning light.

PS, So far I have driven the rental car about 15 miles, and I'm not going to lie I don't like it. It is a 2014 black LT hatch with the 1.8 and the auto transmission. I will say the sound system is 100x better than in my '12 sonic however. I miss my turbo.

Hello kmw1191,

I'm happy to hear that the dealership is continuing to work with you and find the culprit to your vehicle concerns. We appreciate the updates, and continue to let us know of anything new. We would be happy to assist in any way .

Patsy G
Chevrolet Customer Care

 

[ChicksHateMe]

I had the same problem when I bought my car. I mentioned it in my Day 4 thread;

http://www.sonicownersforum.com/for...rum/12086-new-owner-day-4-some-questions.html

I took it in and it was low fluid, but they also said they found some code coming up. The report didn't have much detail but it did say something about the error code and that they reset it to "re-train" my brakes?

I will look for the paper and see what it said exactly. But ever since, that exact same issue has never come back.

 

[ruru]

Update time again, I brought it in this morning to get the EBCM replaced to fix my problem. I got a call from the dealer about 3 hours after dropping it off that the EBCM is replaced but the problem is still happening. They need to do more diagnostic work to figure out what is going on. In the meantime they gave me a 2014 sonic LT hatch as a rental for no charge. I want to give a shout out to the people at Gateway Chevrolet in Fargo, ND. I don't know if any of the customer care people here can pass along any messages to corporate or anything but Dan has been amazing to work with.
I will continue to update with the great mystery of the sonic warning light.

PS, So far I have driven the rental car about 15 miles, and I'm not going to lie I don't like it. It is a 2014 black LT hatch with the 1.8 and the auto transmission. I will say the sound system is 100x better than in my '12 sonic however. I miss my turbo.

So did you ever find the solution?