stabilitrak

[HLS]

I have an 09 2500HD. also flash scan with tunes. Problem is while driving (once while changing lanes at about 75, second while driving about 65 going straight on a two way road) stabilatrac kicks in and the truck darts back and forth like a blown tire and the traction control light comes on. the first time on the freeway I though maybe the differential was going out so I pulled the cover and checked it over, second time i was going straight on a dry road, so I pulled the fuse and it hasn't happened since. now I wan't to pull a trailer but the trailer brakes won't work with the fuse pulled out. I would hope the stabiatrac would be completely disabled in tow/haul but doubt it. does anybody have a way to disable it without disableing the trailer brakes?

I am pretty sure stabilatrac is controled thru the ABS moduel and EFI live can't reprogram that. Seems there are a lot of complaints online about stabilatrac not being able to be disabled even when holdong the button until the DIC says it is off. can I hope EFI live might tackle this or should I start looking for a new truck. Was Stabilatrac a option or is it standard equipment now

[joecar]

You do realize that this is out of the scope of what EFILive software can do...

[Chevy366]

Probably a chafed wire somewhere rubbing and making contact. Check near the front, usual place it happens. Standard equipment.

[HLS]

You do realize that this is out of the scope of what EFILive software can do...

This? and from a moderator?????????

I had contacted EFI live several times before my purchase and whoever anserwed my emails was very curtius, helpful and honest. I had found other problems with the scan feature just as they stated I might be able to do. And thanks for pointing out that what I assumed in the first sentence of the second paragraph was correct. at least I did get that help

[Taz]

This? and from a moderator?????????

I had contacted EFI live several times before my purchase and whoever anserwed my emails was very curtius, helpful and honest. I had found other problems with the scan feature just as they stated I might be able to do. And thanks for pointing out that what I assumed in the first sentence of the second paragraph was correct. at least I did get that help

Joecar took the time out of his day - likely using his phone from his place of employment - to answer your question, and made certain that you didn't waste any more of your highly valuable time with trying to program a module that no tuning software supports.

Had you invested the time to search and read a little (that's called self-education) you could have figured this out on your own.

Poor form on your part criticizing a moderator who works tirelessly to help everyone - and on your second post ever.

You may want to leave your sense of self-entitlement and inflated importance elsewhere, before posting on this Forum.

[joecar]

I was being courteous when I wrote that (I am an engineer, so my style may be dry at times), I was writing it from my father-in-law's hospital room while they fixed his IV, from my phone, while visiting during my lunchbreak...

from your prior post it seems that you're asking EFILive to provide programming for modules other than ECM and TCM... EFILive has indicated prevoiusly that they cannot do this, it is out of the scope of engine/transmission tuning.

If you felt my reply was inappropriate then I apologize.

[HLS]

Joecar took the time out of his day - likely using his phone from his place of employment - to answer your question, and made certain that you didn't waste any more of your highly valuable time with trying to program a module that no tuning software supports.

Had you invested the time to search and read a little (that's called self-education) you could have figured this out on your own.

Poor form on your part criticizing a moderator who works tirelessly to help everyone - and on your second post ever.

You may want to leave your sense of self-entitlement and inflated importance elsewhere, before posting on this Forum.

Taz, I am truly sorry if I somehow insulted you. this may be my first few post but I have been reading on this fourm and have found answers here aaand read where many other have gotten answers. And I do have many hours searching (this site and others) with no luck, maybe I am just not hitting the correct keywords but, all I come up with is people complaining about the stabilitrac comming on in an off road situation when the stibilitrac is turned off.

befor I spent my money I had several contacts with EFIlive. I was informed that the scanner had the ability to read other moduels but, I would have to get info on the codes elsewhere this site was one of the places he recomened, I took it that he meant "no promises" which was fine.

This is an EFIlive fourm on the EFIlive website isn't it? Sorry but I took Joecar's reply as a very polite insult. I was not demanding help and even said I was pretty sure it wasn't correctable with EFIlive. A more professional reply may have been "sorry but I don't think EFIlive can help with your problem"

The way I see it, at one time people were looking and asking for ways to tune their EFI vehicals properly and EFIlive made it happen so if nobody asks about correcting GMs stabilitrac problems, nobody will come up with a program for it weather it be EFIlive or someone else.

Taz, you may know Joecar personly and he is probably a great guy and just maybe he read my post at a bad time or maybe mine was one of the last of many replies he did at that time but, no matter, I stll took it as I am asking a dumb question and its not worth the time to answer and I did state in my first post that efilive could not reprogram ABS modole and that is where I believed stabilitrac is controlled from so just asking me if I relise what I am asking is out of the scope of efilive makes me feel he never read the complete post. and yes I do have higher expectations from a moderator

[HLS]

Joecar, I am a slow typer so our posts overlapped. I am sorry that I take your post as a insult/blow-off and I hope thing go well for your father-in-law anytime a family member is hospitalised it is a strain on the whole family. my prayers will be with you and your family

[horsehaulin]

Correct me if I'm wrong but Stabilitrac only comes on if the vehicle is in "Auto 4WD"? If so, make sure you are in 2WD and you should be golden.

[joecar]

The scantool may be able to read DTC codes from the ABS module, but I don't think this is sufficient for your needs.

In your post you said you hoped EFILive might tackle the Stabiltrac problem, so you do realize the scope, and if you were in their shoes how would you go about it (a serious question... the answer will reveal some self evident truths).

And I would consider the following reply to be uncaring (can't be bothered): "sorry but I don't think EFIlive can help with your problem".

[horsehaulin]

Also, check you front hub assemblies. To do this, you'll need to pull off the tires and use a pry bar to loosen the brake pads from the rotors and have a 1/4 inch clearance if possible. Install your tires and try wiggling your tires up and down slowly with your hands on the front side of the tires, one hand at the 12 and the other at the 6. If you feel movement, those are worn, buy Timken replacements and that may be the cure to your problems. A skip in the pulse to the ABS module may not be enough to trigger a fault code, but can trigger the Stabilitrac.

[joecar]

Joecar, I am a slow typer so our posts overlapped. I am sorry that I take your post as a insult/blow-off and I hope thing go well for your father-in-law anytime a family member is hospitalised it is a strain on the whole family. my prayers will be with you and your familyThanks for the kind words.

I'm an engineer in my day job, so my writing can appear terse and pointed sometimes... but I can assure you I'm not very emotional (my wife comains about it)...

EFILive have their hands full with each new model year's ECM and TCM calibrations for a variety of vehicles... and considering not all ABS modules do Stabiltrac, you can see that even attempting to reverse engineer the many ABS controllers can be exponentially daunting.

The scantool can read trouble codes from some of the ABS modules, but I think that this is not sufficient for your troubleshooting needs, the IPC ond othe modules are also involved.

Also, ABS and/or Stabiltrac is a high liability topic, and while you and I would refrain from suing in case of misadventure, there are many who would not.

[HLS]

Correct me if I'm wrong but Stabilitrac only comes on if the vehicle is in "Auto 4WD"? If so, make sure you are in 2WD and you should be golden.

From what I have dug up stabilitrac functions in all modes. Most of what I have found online is complaints while in 4WD in an off-road situation (climbing a rough terain hill) with the stibilitrac turned off, when the vehical gets tossed around the stbilitrac coms back on even though it was turn off to accomplish the climb. I am not sure what all happens but, in vidieos it seems like the vehical goes into a limp mode of sorts and the climb is not possible (and in the vidieo it doesn't look like much of a hill)

from what I have read, stabilitrac was designed to prevent rollovers. it applies the brakes on individual wheel in a severe swaying/swerving situation plus in my situation it also seemed to de-fuel. while this is most likely agervating in an off road sitiation, it is a completely nerve racking experience when it happens while driving in s straight line at 70 mph in traffic.

Joecar, I know I have gotten codes from other modules and a DTC code would more than likely help my needs as I might be able to find and fix the problem to return my system back to the way the factory intended it to work. my post may have sounded like I wanted control over this system but I must first be concerened about my needs (properly functioning stabilitrac) over what I may want (full control over stbilitrac) and to look on a positive, I have learned that if I do get myself (or the friends and family who call while) in a bad off-road situation, although agervating I can get out pull a fuse and get through what is needed.
as far as what I meant in hoping EFIlive might tackle this problem. I can not even guess what it would take to fill their shoe. as much as I love stuff like EFIlive I am still mostly a enduser and altough I am tring to understand how or what it takes to grasp control and reprogram even a simple program, I am still overwhelmed by what I can do with the software I do have, EFIlive and others. but, I do know if no one ask or shows a need for any product, no company will invest in a solution.

After reading what I posted as a "more professional response" a few more times and trying to see how it could be considered uncaring. with the proper punctuation and some emotions I can see it either way, and without emotions the internet is a bad place for my bad punctuations

P.S. I would like you to understand, I do realise the strain that family medical problems can put on the whole family no matter the severity. and multitasking in these situations can and does help. You and your family have my best wishes

Thank you

[Taz]

... as far as what I meant in hoping EFIlive might tackle this problem ... I do know if no one ask or shows a need for any product, no company will invest in a solution ...

That comment is an example of not taking the time to familiarize yourself with the Tuning Software marketplace. Your question has already been asked and answered a hundred different ways, on multiple forums. All of the mainstream tuning software companies solely support modules that control the engine or the transmission (or both in older platforms), and have no plans to expand this support to any other module.

The membership of this Forum are not paid employees of EFILive - we all volunteer our time and expertise to help others learn how to use the EFILive software, for altruistic reasons. Many of us work long hours, and have very little free time. When someone has made an honest effort to problem solve and self-educate, yet still require help, they will always receive help - typically from many different Forum members - as has occurred for you in this thread.

When someone has done very little, or nothing at all, to help themselves - then posts of this nature will often go completely unanswered. Had Joecar not acknowledge your thread, it is highly likely that no one else would have either. Seeing a post in a thread by Joecar is often enough to motivate other Forum members to jump in and help.

I have never met Joecar, we live in different countries separated by thousands of miles - but I greatly admire his sense of morality, decorum, and kindness.

[HLS]

Also, check you front hub assemblies. To do this, you'll need to pull off the tires and use a pry bar to loosen the brake pads from the rotors and have a 1/4 inch clearance if possible. Install your tires and try wiggling your tires up and down slowly with your hands on the front side of the tires, one hand at the 12 and the other at the 6. If you feel movement, those are worn, buy Timken replacements and that may be the cure to your problems. A skip in the pulse to the ABS module may not be enough to trigger a fault code, but can trigger the Stabilitrac.

New Timkens were just installed at the same time differential (after the first insodent) was inspected. had just purchased them prior to the first insodent. one of them had a slight amount of freeplay so it got both plus I had new tires installed between the two occurrences. but, it is worth a double check. it wouldn't be the first new part failure I've had

Thanks

[joecar]

Thanks, I appreciate that, that means alot to me.

[Chevy366]

Group HUG! :cheers:

[HLS]

Thanks for the kind words.

I'm an engineer in my day job, so my writing can appear terse and pointed sometimes... but I can assure you I'm not very emotional (my wife comains about it)...

EFILive have their hands full with each new model year's ECM and TCM calibrations for a variety of vehicles... and considering not all ABS modules do Stabiltrac, you can see that even attempting to reverse engineer the many ABS controllers can be exponentially daunting.

The scantool can read trouble codes from some of the ABS modules, but I think that this is not sufficient for your troubleshooting needs, the IPC ond othe modules are also involved.

Also, ABS and/or Stabiltrac is a high liability topic, and while you and I would refrain from suing in case of misadventure, there are many who would not.

sorry, I didn't see there was a second page. I guess I am bit of an optimist. I feel as long as there are Guys (and Gals) Taking vehicals off roading somebody will answer the demands. I am not saying it will happen but, we know people are taking these things off-road.

It seems as if I have made an enemy of one of the forum members here. So, I would also like to asure you I didn't just have the problem yesterday and jion to start trouble because I was having a problem. My first occurrence was a couple months ago. it took me a couple weeks and the second occurrence to figure out it was the stabilitrac. pulling the fuse was buying me some time which I was using to search for a solution. my desperation came when I hooked up to the trailer and found the factory trailer brakes do not function without the fuse I had removed to dissable the stabilitrac. let me assure you I do have many hours of searching, I have owned EFIlive for a few years now, I spent many hours on this forum and many others before and after my purchase. this is the first problem (controle module related) I have not been able to find a solution by doing the rutine searches. I am a member on a very few forums, maybe do to my poor typing skills, I am not sure but, I am content with sitting in the background searching for my solutions and sometimes just reading what others have done or just have to say, I am just not sure because if you were to ask anyone who knows me, they would tell you if we all were to meet face to face that I would be talking from start to stop of the meeting. I have only joined forum boards for two reasons. if I can help someone who seems to be having a problem simular to one I have solved for myself or as in this case when I have searched until my eyes are bugging out of my head for to many knights in a row. it is easy to say the question has been answered many times and I have had problems myself looking for threads I know exist so I could post a link for someone who is asking a simular question. I may have just registered yesterday but I have been here for many years. my guess would be at least 3 maybe 4 or 5years.......well scratch that I just went back to my saved emails and found the one in which Andrew Jensen replied to my question about reading other modules which was dated 11/8/09 and I had already found solutions on this site and was the main reason I was tring to justify buying the flash scan tool for myself. bottom line, I myself couldn't say how many hours I have into this problem

Thanks

[horsehaulin]

I am willing to bet you have a problem in your speed sensors that are causing this issue. The most common issue in our trucks that cause that are the hub assemblies, but if you replaced that already, then your problem may be in the rear sensors. A common cause for failures back there are typically they rotors rusting and the ring not reading against the sensor properly.

Are all the tires the same size, bought at the same time and same brand? Although tires may be the same size, a different brand and even the same brand but another model can be off size by as much as an inch! That could be another cause. I'm almost certain you have a hard part issue. If it's ok with staff here, I could recommend another site that focuses on Gm trucks only.

[HLS]

I am willing to bet you have a problem in your speed sensors that are causing this issue. The most common issue in our trucks that cause that are the hub assemblies, but if you replaced that already, then your problem may be in the rear sensors. A common cause for failures back there are typically they rotors rusting and the ring not reading against the sensor properly.

Are all the tires the same size, bought at the same time and same brand? Although tires may be the same size, a different brand and even the same brand but another model can be off size by as much as an inch! That could be another cause. I'm almost certain you have a hard part issue. If it's ok with staff here, I could recommend another site that focuses on Gm trucks only.

I have not checked rear sensors. as soon as I get my other truck off of the hoist I will bring this one back in and check and clean the rears and double check the fronts. I'm not sure but I believe my other truck (05) only has rear sensor in transfer case. can't seem to remember whats on the rears of the 09 even though I did the rear seals and brakes a couple years ago. All tires were bought and installed at the same time and I did doulbe check all tires because when I ordered them I specified load range E and got "C"s. so I double checked everything when I returned to get the correct tires. may even run a tape around them. I know the rear were worn more than the frounts, that may account for the first incodent but, new tires were installed before second.

I have been digging around on a couple gm truck sites but all I seem to come up with is people who are having trouble off roading and most seem to not even know you have to hold the traction control button in for about 6 sec. or until the DIC says it is off. there are a number of vidieos that prove the traction control will activate even when turned off and as far as I know there is no help for that problem either. I would call theirs a design flaw. mine I believe is like you stated a part failure and on early EFI vehicals I have found that most times when you have a problem and no fault code the ECM is useally the problem nowadays I'm not so sure, but I am already thinking about replacing the ABS module, its just that I'm not one to just start throwing parts at it and hope I get lucky. I kinda like to understand how it works

[Taz]

... It seems as if I have made an enemy of one of the forum members here ...

If you by chance are referring to me, this is not the case. Forgive the bluntness of my next statement - but your comment reflects a highly simplistic view of social interactions.

Don't forget that you attacked the integrity of the moderator on your second post on the Forum. I think all any of the senior Forum members expect is that people conduct themselves in a polite and respectful fashion, and have made a reasonable attempt to solve problems for themselves before posting questions.

Enjoy your V2 and the EFILive software - it is a great tool. Get your feet wet and start using it - tuning can be addictive. Once you start using the V2, post questions as you are learning, and they will get answered.

[Taz]

Thanks, I appreciate that, that means alot to me.

You are very welcome !!!

[Taz]

Group HUG! :cheers:

Roger that ...

[DURAtotheMAX]

Steering wheel position sensor could also be going bad. I would say thats much more likely than a wheel speed sensor.

[horsehaulin]

Dura, good to see you again buddy, hope things are well!

Never thought of the steering wheel position sensor, but that makes sense too. Turning the wheel into a bad spot?

[HLS]

watched a couple vidieos on stabilitrac and think I remember a mention of steering wheel sensor, but I guess it never really registered. probably not much you can do to test them but Ill dig around on that topic. my other truck will be in my shop a little longer than planed so I guess I'll be running without the fuse for a couple weeks which is no big deal except when pulling the trailer. I wonder how many problems I will have if I install an aftermarket brake controler.

[DURAtotheMAX]

leaving the ABS disconnected is a bad idea. Front/rear brake bias (proportioning) is controlled entirely by the ABS module. Without the ABS module working properly, you have no brake proportioning...could get extremely dangerous in a hurry if you slam on the brakes hard.

[horsehaulin]

Ben, your message box is full.

[DURAtotheMAX]

Ben, your message box is full.

I cleared it out.

[HLS]

leaving the ABS disconnected is a bad idea. Front/rear brake bias (proportioning) is controlled entirely by the ABS module. Without the ABS module working properly, you have no brake proportioning...could get extremely dangerous in a hurry if you slam on the brakes hard.

no doubt it could get a bit harry. but having the stabilitrac apply brakes to one wheel at a time unexpectally while you are just drive down the road at 70 is no picknic either. thanks for the warning tho i'll have to push a little harder to get my other truck finished. I've not given up yet just buying a little time until I can get my other truck done. the Search on steerig wheel position sensor has brought out a lot more things to check. still looking for info on testing that sensor. can't seem to find the numbers for my truck but, I figure since it is an ohm test I will at least hook my meter up and see if it is a smooth flow up and down. i figure if I get anything eratic it would be a good chance it is the culpret

[HLS]

Been a while but thought i would update. Been running with ABS fuses pulled and will probubly put them back in as soon as the weather doesn't look like possible sno or ice. While searching for a way to test the steering wheel position sensor led me to do searches under "electronic stability assist" which for some reason brought up more than just searching under stabilatrac, But still no answers. Also my son took it to the dealer which found nothing. I'm wondering if it just thinks it was an incedent and thinks it functioned properly? anyone know if it does data logging and should have logged the incedent?

My plan was to plug it back in and if I have another incedent, I'll replace the ABS controller. now that I typed this I,m wondering if I'll have to have the dealer program this to the truck?

The main reason I was in such a painc over this was because of our snowmobiling plans which we use this truck for and the trailer brakes will not work with the abs fuses pulled.

I did have to replace the trailer brake controller (the part over the rear axil) a couple years ago because it would intermittently stop working and the new part gave more problems than the old one until we took it to the dealer and they did some sort of reprograming (the reason why i think i might need to do the same for the abs controller), I also wonder if trailer brake controler may be some part of the problem?

[Gordy M]

This may not apply to the trucks, but on my Corvette, I had the "Active Handling" light come on and it threw the C1286 code. I had the alignment set for autocrossing, was going to take a long trip and rest the alignment to stock. Finally had the vette realigned to the autocross settings. During this time the steering wheel got out of phase and threw the code and also messed up the ABS/AH on the car. I would changes lanes and it would shut off Cruise, activate the ABS and throw a code. Unloosened the front suspension and using a VOM reset the steering wheel position sensor and have not had any trouble in several years. Have you checked for any C codes after those incidences.

[HLS]

I am not getting any codes. but I could see how that could cause havik and I have replaced tie rods and took it in for alinement.

[HLS]

Well, its been almost a year so, I am sorry it took so long for an update. As I stated I was not getting any codes but the stabillatrac seemed to kick in with no cause which created a cause, I guess.

After Gordy M's post I bought a steering wheel position sensor. I'm not sure when I finally installed it but, it has been on for a while now and since install there has been no incedents.

I feel the problem is solved, but, if it does reapear, I will update

Thanks for all the help
Harold

[joecar]

Harold,

Thanks for posting back.



( I corrected the spelling in the thread title to let searches find it )

[DURAtotheMAX]

( I corrected the spelling in the thread title to let searches find it )

Technically, GM does spell it/refer to it as StabilitraK (with a K). ;)

[joecar]

Technically, GM does spell it/refer to it as StabilitraK (with a K). ;)
You're right, I'll fix that (and the missing i).