02 Bonneville and service stability system
#1
02 Bonneville and service stability system
I have a 2002 Pontiac Bonneville SSEi. Occasionally I will be driving and my stability system active warning will come on. With it I will often get the low traction light go on. Soon afterwards the warning will change to service stability system. When this is all happening I will often feel something going on at the wheels that feels somewhat like tapping on the brakes or some sort of friction. The stability sytem active doesn't alway proceed the service stability stystem warning. If I am on the expressway and cruise is on it will turn off. I took it to the shop and they state it looks like it is the EBCM. Nothing is coding and he spent quite a bit of time working on it. He came to the conclusion that it was the ebcm because he was unable to communicate with it using his computer. Once he disconnected the ebcm he got a warning that the system lost communication with the EBCM. Does this sound like an issue anyone is familier with? I'll turn the car off and sometimes it will come back on in 10-15 minutes. Other times I might go a week or two without any issues.
#3
Senior Member
True Car Nut
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,816
Likes: 245
From: Windsor, Ontario / Detroit, Michigan
Wheel speed sensors in the hubs are the most common failure causing the service stability soon message, but there can be several other causes, including yaw sensor, steering wheel position sensor, faulty EBCM and others. I wouldn't spend money replacing wheel bearings to fix this unless there are other symptoms of failing wheel bearings, such as side to side and up to down play in the wheel (when jacked up) and/or noises coming from the bearings when turning.
The best thing to do is get the car scanned with a system capable of reading body codes. Typically that is a Tech II scanner at the dealer, but there are several other sytems that can read these codes. If the shop you went to has a proper scanner, chances are your EBCM is the problem. These are expensive, but you can often pick up a good used one at Morad. If you do, you need the part numbers off yours, because each year has several versions depending on option content. Changing the EBCM is a very easy fix, and is done by jacking the car up, removing the front left tire, and removing the plastic fender liner. This gives direct access to the EBCM. 4 torx screws, open the electrical connector latch, and that'* all she wrote. The EBCM is dry, so you don't have to worry about brake fluid.
The best thing to do is get the car scanned with a system capable of reading body codes. Typically that is a Tech II scanner at the dealer, but there are several other sytems that can read these codes. If the shop you went to has a proper scanner, chances are your EBCM is the problem. These are expensive, but you can often pick up a good used one at Morad. If you do, you need the part numbers off yours, because each year has several versions depending on option content. Changing the EBCM is a very easy fix, and is done by jacking the car up, removing the front left tire, and removing the plastic fender liner. This gives direct access to the EBCM. 4 torx screws, open the electrical connector latch, and that'* all she wrote. The EBCM is dry, so you don't have to worry about brake fluid.
#4
my 2001 ssei dic comes on SERVICE STABILTY SYSTEM i m afraid 2 go local pontiac dealer they want 120.oo to read codes only . happens in city driving mostly , on long highway trips 100 miles never comes on, any input ????thanx carl
#5
As mentioned, in order to avoid throwing money at the problem, you have to throw money at the problem. You will need to have it scanned, however $120 for a plug in seem excessive. May wish to try other dealerships, even if you have to go next town over.
#6
Senior Member
True Car Nut
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,816
Likes: 245
From: Windsor, Ontario / Detroit, Michigan
Try a transmission shop. The scanners they have to read transmission codes will often read the codes you need to diagnose your problem. You should be able to get a scan for $40, but no more than $60. It seems like throwing money away, but buying a scan could save you a lot of money in replacing parts that don't correct the problem. The good news is a scan should tell you exactly what you need to replace.
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