What Does Service Stabilitrak Mean, and How Do You Reset It?

If you are a GM car owner, then you might have once seen the ‘Service StabiliTrak’ message flashing on your car’s dashboard. Getting this message can be quite frustrating and alarming to most car owners, especially when you are at a loss for what it entails and its implications on your automobile. In this guide, we’ll explain what does service stabilitrak mean, why it comes up, and how to clear it.

What Is Stabilitrak, and What Does Service Stabilitrak Mean?

StabiliTrak is an electronic stability control system of General Motors Company. It is to enhance stability and reduce chances of spinning over especially during difficult road conditions like ice or while cornering. The StabiliTrak has the capability of regulating the brake pressure as well as managing the engine power in order to steer the car onto the correct path.

They include a message on the dashboard known as “Service StabiliTrak”, which shows that there is a problem with the StabiliTrak system. When this message appears, the system may not perform its tasks in the right manner, and this may lead to your vehicle not having added stability assistance in tough driving situations.

The warning could be triggered by several factors, such as:

1. Sensor Issues: Since StabiliTrak depends on some sensors to detect your vehicle’s motion, a failure in these sensors might result in the improper operation of StabiliTrak.
2. ECU Problems: StabiliTrak is controlled by the Electronic Control Unit, which could be described as the system’s main processor. Sometimes, if there is a problem with the ECU, it will not interpret the data properly, which results in a warning.
3. Brake System Issues: StabiliTrak uses the brake system of the vehicle in order to provide traction to its operator. A mechanical issue in the car, for example, a problem with the brake system and low brake fluid, can cause the warning to pop up.
4. Wheel Speed Sensor Issues: These sensors assist the system in determining the speed of each wheel. If one of these sensors is at fault, then the StabiliTrak system may not operate as intended.
5. Steering Angle Sensor Issues: This sensor is used to determine the position of your steering wheel. It may activate the StabiliTrak warning if it communicates improper data to the ECU with this one.

How Does StabiliTrak Work?

StabiliTrak controls the acceleration, selects gears, and reads your vehicle’s movement, steering angle, and even its speed. It is crucial to note that these sensors are always working to capture data and relay the information to the ECU or the car’s computer. It engages when the system senses the slippage of the tyres or during a skid and assists the driver in regaining control.

For instance, if you are driving on an icy road and experience a tendency to skid, StabiliTrak will be able to apply the brakes to specific wheels and also cut off power to the engine. This action contributes to adjusting your car back to the right road direction and eliminates the chances of spinning out or crashing.

How to Reset the Service StabiliTrak Warning?

If you have come across a warning ‘Service StabiliTrak’, there are a few measures that can be taken to rectify it. However, do note that these steps only provide a short-term fix if there is a deeper problem present. But it’s always wise to take your car to a mechanic for a check-up with a view of knowing what brought about the warning.

Here’s how you can reset the Service StabiliTrak warning:

1. Switch Off Your Car and Rev It Up

Other times, the StabiliTrak system could simply need a reboot. To do this:

1. Make sure you shut down your car or any other vehicle you are using.
2. Wait for approximately 15 seconds.
3. Switch the engine back on and review whether the mentioned notification still appears on the screen.

This method is done in a similar way as when a computer with bad behavior is reactivated. There is always a possibility that the message is an isolated incident that is caused by some sort of glitch, and the power cycling of the printer will eliminate the message from the printer’s memory.

2. Check Your Traction Control Button

Most cars with StabiliTrak come with an off button for the traction control system located on the instrument cluster. This button usually makes it possible that the traction control system can be switched ON or OFF. You might get a warning on the StabiliTrak mechanical if you are lucky enough to press this button by mistake.

• You should find the traction control button on the dashboard usually in the form of a car icon with curves below it.
• To turn the system off, press and hold the button for 5 seconds.
• Press the button again for it to come back on.

After this, ensure that the warning message is no longer displayed on your screen.

3. Disconnect the Battery

The other method by which you can try to reset the StabiliTrak system is by removing your car battery. This method pulls the plug on the vehicle’s computer systems in a way that allows no room for argument.

• Find the battery of your vehicle on the front part of the car’s interior.
• Remove the negative terminal of the battery by loosening it with a wrench.
• Wait for about 15 minutes then reconnect the battery terminal back.

When it is reconnected the reset, all the electric systems of the vehicle StabiliTrak included will come back to life. Continue driving and then stop your car to check whether the warning message is no longer displayed.

4. Inspect the Sensors

If the warning remains the same even after trying the above procedures, it may mean that there is something wrong with the sensor. While inspecting and replacing sensors can be complex and may require professional assistance, here’s what you can do:

• Wheel Speed Sensors: Check on the wheel speed sensors which are positioned close to each wheel. There is frequently a subtle signal that there is a problem with the radar system, which is an observable bad situation in the wiring harness contacts.
• Steering Angle Sensor: Check the steering angle sensor which is normally placed around the steering column.

If you have some knowledge of car repair, it is possible to try and clean or re-establish connection with these sensors. However, it is advisable to take them to the mechanic for inspection and advice regarding their condition.

5. Use an OBD-II Scanner

By using an OBD-II scanner, you can then determine what specific problem is causing the car to throw a “Service StabiliTrak” signal. This tool is used to scan the error codes saved within the vehicular system’s computer and come up with a diagnosis.

• Plug in the OBD-II scanner into the diagnostic socket found beneath the steering wheel of your car.
• Power on the scanner and listen to the recorded instructions for reading the error codes.
• After obtaining the error codes, you should search for them to know the cause of the StabiliTrak warning.

After that, you can decide to reset the system and leave or take the vehicle to an expert for further diagnosis.

Conclusion

The ‘Service StabiliTrak’ light is one of the significant warning signals which may imply that the stability control system may not work optimally. As per the warning, your car is not a death trap but it simply means that you are lacking a critical safety system in your vehicle.

It is now clear that it is possible to reset the system with the help of the methods described above. However, if the problem continues to manifest, it requires professional help to solve and guarantee that the car will operate legally and safely. It’s the best way to have a clear and comprehensive understanding of what what does service stabilitrak mean and how to handle your own car in any situation.