Traction control light on

2008 FORD GALAXIE
133,000 MILES • TURBO • AUTOMATIC
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ABDUL. A
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I have been having the Traction control sign coming up very regularly.. one garage said did a System Diagnostics and said it was the turbo...

I did the MOT at another garage and they said: I have to change all 4 of my tires and get them tracked (get wheels set to the optimum position) and he said that the Traction control sign issue should be solved.
How accurate is this?


What I want to know is if the garage that did the MOT is right or wrong?

Many thanks.
Jul 10, 2020 at 8:52 AM
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4DRTOM
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Hello,

No, it wont be the turbo, most likely it's a wheel speed sensor. You're not getting any codes? When it first came on was there anything out of the ordinary happening or low tire pressure?
Tom
Jul 10, 2020 at 9:18 AM
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ABDUL. A
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Hi there Tom,

Well, every time the sign comes on I get all of these 'Engine Malfunction' and 'Transmission Service' and the Traction control sign.

The car would feel heavy and would no be able to accelerate.
If the windows are open then I do sometimes spell something coming from the tires.

When it comes on I find a place to stop and turn off the car, then turn it back on and everything is fine!

Jul 10, 2020 at 9:51 AM
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4DRTOM
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Hi ABDUL. A,

So you're getting a smell at times? Check all the fluid levels in the car. You may be low on transmission fluid.Verify that's all good and let me know.
Tom
Jul 10, 2020 at 10:49 AM
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STRAILER
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It does sound like a wheel speed sensor. this video will help confirm the issue:

https://youtu.be/InIlnsjOVFA

and

https://youtu.be/rTtAnsOlZU4

Please run down these guides and report back.
Jul 10, 2020 at 11:44 AM
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ABDUL. A
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Hi there guys, sorry for the late reply.

Many thanks for your responses.

Tom, I have checked the fluid levels in my car and they are all good.
Ken, I was unable to do any of those checks as I don't have a the gadget for it !

Jul 13, 2020 at 12:29 PM
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ABDUL. A
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Hi there Ken,

Thanks for your help once more... the reader you listed to me will take more than a month to get to me (as I am in the UK) !!

Do you think this one is okay : https://www.amazon.co.uk/AUTOPHIX-Reader-Diagnostic-Scanner-Monitor/dp/B07S3S57QZ/ref=sr_1_37_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=Innova+OBD2+Scanner&qid=1594672491&sr=8-37-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUFGQkxLSE1UWFhUQksmZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTA3MjI4MjgzTDNCQjkyMlRMUE8yJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTAxMTk3MDgzTFVXS1RNRlVVNkJHJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYnRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

Like does it have the tests yours had...

Many thanks once more.
Jul 13, 2020 at 1:41 PM
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4DRTOM
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Hello,

Yes, the scanner you have available will work just fine.
Let us know what comes up and if you have any problems with the testing.

Tom
Jul 13, 2020 at 10:00 PM
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ABDUL. A
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Hi there Tom,

Many thanks for your response.. I will order it and it should be with me by Saturday and hopefully I will be able to send you codes that come up.. until then many thanks once more.
Jul 14, 2020 at 7:57 AM
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4DRTOM
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Hello,
Sure thing we look forward to hearing back from you.
Tom
Jul 14, 2020 at 9:45 AM
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ABDUL. A
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Morning,

I got the device and it seemed to work fine !

I got these 2 codes:

- P2566
- P2263

I think they are both related to a turbo...

Many thanks.
Jul 17, 2020 at 2:50 AM
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STRAILER
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Yep, you are correct. lets remove ether the intake or exhaust portion of the turbo to check endplay, it should be less than 1/8 inch. This guide will show you how the turbo works and the turbine position:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-turbo-chargers-work


Please run down this guide and report back. Can you please shoot a quick video with your phone so we can see what's going on? that would be great. You can upload it here with your response.
Jul 17, 2020 at 10:54 AM
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ABDUL. A
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Hi there Ken,

Thank you very much for you help and cooperation.
Unfortunately I don't have the equipment and skills to measure the turbo's endplay. However, I will around for someone to assist me with this and I will make a video to send to you.

But, I have been to a garage today to change my wheels and we noticed that the wheels have been worn more from the inside than the outside...
Could this be a triggering the Traction control sign?
As the reader unit I bought turned out it cant test ABS.
So the garage suggested to get the wheels tracked and that may resolve the Traction control sign issue.

What do you this Sir?

Many Thanks
Jul 17, 2020 at 1:18 PM
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4DRTOM
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Hi Abdul,

Well maybe, if your wheels, not necessarily outer and inner, wear pattern is different. but over-all wear is different then yes. If say one tire is very worn and another tire is like new then the computer will pick this up. Did you clear all the codes after the wheels were done? Now you have a scanner, after any work or changes always clear the codes and re scan after the light comes back, its good to write them down also. We want to make sure we are seeing fresh codes not stored ones. Also, Can you feel or hear the turbo system kick in when your driving it around?
Tom
Jul 17, 2020 at 2:31 PM
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4DRTOM
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Hi Abdul,

If you were able to test your speed sensor and it tested okay I believe we are looking at the TCM being bad. Transmission Control Module.
Try this to reset it and see what happens:
Turn on the car, shift to n, then shift to p after 15 seconds. Then turn the car off and turn back to on and p to reset the transmission.
Jul 17, 2020 at 3:37 PM
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ABDUL. A
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Hi there Tom,

Appreciate you support..

To be honest I can hear the cars system becoming very loud once I drive for a few miles, which now I expect to be the turbo.

I got the wheels aligned today and they said that if the sign keeps coming up then it may be a sensor.
But having done a service check a weeks ago, there was no issues with any sensors.

Now reading your reply about TCM and researching a bit about it, it may be a good idea to reset it. Therefore, can you please find me a video that explains this very well as I went on another website and they had different instructions to the once you gave me?

Many Thanks
Jul 18, 2020 at 12:37 PM
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4DRTOM
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Hello,

I believe we did that at some point but one way is by erasing the codes with the scanner you're using to read them and the other is to disconnect both battery terminals and short them together for 10-15 seconds. This will discharge the capacitors inside the ECU that holds the memory. Let me know if you get a change.
Tom
Jul 18, 2020 at 3:07 PM