Dunegoat2.0

I've got a 2000 3.2 Side Chick, er. TL and when I started the car up to head home from work I had two dash lights come on.

What is the TCS light? and what does it mean when it comes on?

Also my ABS light came on. I've never seen either of them light up before and I'm wondering if it could be something easy I could do myself like brakes or could it be something more serious?

I'm new here so if this is a total newb question I apologize.

Thanks for looking.

piggylover1985

TCS Traction Control System.
ABS Antilock Brake System
Not sure why but could be just 1 thing that share with both lights. some one here will know more.

xtremex626

iTrader: (1)

When those two lit up .. I had my spark plugs and intake manifold gasket replaced. Could be bad spark plugs ? Maybe someone else can chime in.

01tl4tl

it can be 100 things- lets not speculate on bad things

If you live outside Ca. you can go to any parts store- they will come out to the car or lend you a tester that plugs in down by the lighter/not an ashtray area
If will tell you what codes the computer spat out with the lights
Those are not a `diagnosis`- just clues to the real problem

car year is 00 and what are the miles?, any history you know of trans replacement or other things done to the car recently

know if the oil jet kit on trans was done?- recall item

call acura 1-800-382-2238x5 to register as owner and ask if any OPEN recalls

report back here with the codes and we can steer you right~

01tl4tl

it does NOT mean the brake pads are low--sorry~

piggylover1985

Did the lights go away after you replace the plugs ? I did not know that TCS and ABS has anything to do with the plugs.

xtremex626

iTrader: (1)

Actually, my CEL, TCS, and the caution light came on.

And no, it came back on after. Found out it wasn't the spark plugs but I did need a spark plug replacement cause my spark plugs were reallyyyy old. It was actually the intake manifold, it had to be flipped the other way around cause someone installed it incorrectly.

My car was losing power/about to shut off whenever I switched gears.

Dunegoat2.0

I'm in Orange County Ca. Miles are at 125K +/- I did have the transmission recall repair done a while back. The only thing that's been done to the car recently was when the GF took it to jiffy lube or wherever to get the oil changed because she was driving it last week and said that light came on so she stopped in on her lunch break and had it done.

I'll see if I know anybody with a code reader but most of my friends are truck guys and probably don't have one.

I might have to take it into a shop I guess. That sucks.

01tl4tl

the big name transmission shops will do a code read and test drive- for free-
see if there are trans related codes and not pay 100 bucks~

fsttyms1

Spark plugs would NOT cause the ABS/TCS light to come on.

As far as Dunegoat2.0 problem it can be a bunch of things. The only way to tell him accurately is to have the codes read. Unfortunately most of the ABS/TCS codes need to be read with a different code reader than the normal engine code reader. If i had to speculate it may be a wheel speed sensor.

piggylover1985

Guess what i found in my notebook ? Have you car scan for code, Last time we have one at the shop with same problem, it also had a speed sensor code. After we changed the speed sensor both of the TCS and ABS light were gone. Look to make sure that there is not damaged,mud or rust build up on the little splines on the axle where the speed sensor gets it reading.

01tl4tl

yep-thats a good possibilty

OP-- did the car go thru some deep water in recent storms?
that'll kill a speed sensor

friesm2000

iTrader: (4)

many 04 TL's (and maybe 05's) had that issue with the rear wheels sensors


the f***ing piece of shit car won't let you clear the code either without a factory scan tool either to reiniatilize the laterial sensor or something (can't remember the exact sensor's name)
but not anymore though got an aftermarket scan tool that can due it now; f***ing honda lol

Dunegoat2.0

ok, this is weird. This morning, they were off. Same thing after work on the way home. I didn't do anything and honestly don't know what the hell's going on. If they come on again I'll take it to a shop and have the code reader do it's thing but till then I'm just going to go about my merry way.

Thanks though guys.

piggylover1985

It's a good thing that it fixed itself, cars nowaday are so smart, got a built in self-repair-ability lol. I always like no cost repair. Good luck.

dudeinaTL

iTrader: (1)

If your ABS warning light is on, have it scanned for codes. Might have to go to a dealer or a shop who has an expensive scanner. Most basic consumer-grade scan-tools cannot read ABS codes. Those tools mainly work with OBD codes ('Check Engine Light' codes).

01tl4tl

by all means: disregard any warning light that isnt on the next day~
Everyone knows about the self healing feature!!

dudeinaTL

iTrader: (1)

Not sure I would agree with that, but yes, there are exceptions in which I would.

In my opinion, an intermittent condition is just the start of a more serious situation.

FWIW, when flooring my car, I used to get random misfires (P1399) that erased as soon as I let off the gas & coasted for a bit. Now, I'm starting to get cylinder numbers (P030x) along with the P1399.

My whole take is even if it seems intermittent, you shouldn't ignore it, but it doesn't mean you need to overhaul your engine just yet. Just keep it in the back of your mind, do a little research, and start thinking of some possibilities.

friesm2000

iTrader: (4)

x2, and it should have the code stored in history anyways

only thing though is that sometimes, some codes are just bogus, and the computer sees something, so it sets the code (like misfire is a continuous monitor, so it can turn the light on immediately, where most others take multiple trips to set), but YES you should keep it in the back of your mind, knowing that it has turned on before though (and tell your mechanic/tech/shop that you have seen it flash before [also the weather out, and if the car was hot or not, more detials like that the better out]; it will save you money in the long run, cause it can really help pinpoint the actual cause faster, instead of us trying to search for when the issue is happening, and you paying us to search for it; much easier for us to duplicate the situation)

fsttyms1

I guess he needed Red Text for you.

01tl4tl

thats correct- I thought everyone would know it was meant as major sarcasm- needing a shade of red so bright.....

by all means: disregard any warning light that isnt on the next day~
Everyone knows about the self healing feature!!

sorry to the folks who took that seriously and ignored warning lights~

friesm2000

iTrader: (4)

btw the best warning light to ignore is the low oil pressure light

friesm2000

iTrader: (4)

or even better when you see that light come on, you speed up to get to the next gas station, so you can pull over LMFAO, had a customer do that before, siezed up the motor, and it happened cause he put a cheap filter on that had popped off

piggylover1985

oops

belal650

I know when my TCS and ABS lights came it was because the boot covering my axle was leaking grease. That grease was covering the sensor. My buddy who works at a dealership just sprayed a bunch of crap on there to clean it off. It still comes back every once in a while because that grease is tough to get off and it just attracts other dirt when I'm driving down the road.

piggylover1985

That will do it.

friesm2000

iTrader: (4)

ummmm....... maybe you should try replacing that axle at some point in time, cause it is probably clicking like a mofo when you are turning, from having no grease in it