Impala Forums banner

Traction Control Light/Jerking/Blinking Engine Light

12K views 4 replies 4 participants last post by  1954 Chevy  
#1 ·
Hello All,

I just bought an 08 impala, 217k miles on it currently. Everything seems great but unfortunately I drove thru about a foot of water and now i have the blinking engine/traction control light only when taking off from a stop. It jerks a bit like the trans is slipping but i didnt have this problem before driving thru the water so i hope its not the trans. Once im up to cruising speed it floats down the road no issues. I really hope someone tells me i fried the wiring for the traction control. Thanks for any info and answers.
 
#3 ·
It happened to me before. Not in my Impala, but in my old car (Civic) one winter I drove it into a ditch or pothole or something in the middle of the road that was about wheel height. It wasn't dry snow either, it was that wet slush. Naturally I got stuck, so after much pushing, pulling, screaming, cussing and flinging slush everywhere, I finally got out. My ABS light came on and the car felt like it had a slipping transmission, probably the ABS unit cutting power to the wheels. Turned out I had soaked my ABS sensor, and after a day or two when it had dried off, everything went back to normal.

Now, I'm obviously not saying this is definitely what is happening to you, but I definitely agree with @sheila and I think you just got your sensor and / or their associated wiring wet. How long ago was this? If it's been a few days (of sun) and you think the sensor should have dried out by now and the issue is still on going, then maybe try to pull an ABS code? Do note, you'll need an ABS code reader to pull an ABS code. Most common, cheaper OBDII code readers can't pull ABS codes.

Please do update us! Hope this helps some!