Why Are My ABS And Traction Control Lights On In My Jeep Wrangler?

The Jeep Wrangler is incredibly popular and loved by many, but if you own one, you might wonder why your ABS and traction control lights are on.

So why are the ABS and traction control lights on in your Jeep Wrangler? There are plenty of reasons why these lights might turn on but, the most likely issue that causes this to happen is that either the ABS module or wheel speed sensors are malfunctioning.

 As a Jeep enthusiast myself, I have owned multiple Wranglers in my lifetime. 

There’s just something so freeing about driving down the road with the top down and knowing I can go anywhere I want to. However, so of the more recent models have had issues with the ABS and traction control lights turning on unexpectedly. 

While this isn’t usually much of a big deal, you’ll be better off knowing what might be causing the problem and how you can fix it.

Why Are My ABS and Traction Control Lights On?

The first thing you need to do before you can fix this issue is to figure out what exactly is malfunctioning to make your ABS and traction control lights turn on.

There are a variety of different things that could be causing this problem but these are some of the most common ones.

ABS Module Failure

The most common reason that the ABS and traction control lights come on is because they are working just like they should and the ABS Module is malfunctioning. ABS and traction control are both parts of the same module, so if any part of the module malfunctions, it is pretty likely that these lights will turn on because of it. 

Malfunctioning Wheel Speed Sensors

The other most common reason that this issue occurs is because your wheel speed sensors aren’t working properly

The speed of each wheel is information that your car needs to ensure that you haven’t lost traction and are still in control. 

If any of them are malfunctioning and sending incorrect information to your Wrangler’s computer, this could easily cause your ABS and traction control lights on.

Low Tire Pressure

Along the same lines, low tire pressure in any or all of the wheels could cause the wheel speed sensors to send data to the car’s computer that looks abnormal or not quite right.

Again, because this information is so important for the stability of your Wrangler, this could easily cause the ABS and traction control lights to turn on.

Issues With The Central Computer

Without the central computer or PCM, your car would be pretty much useless. As you might assume the PCM helps control the braking and traction control systems

If there is a problem with the PCM that is specifically affecting the abilities of the braking or traction control systems, this could also cause the ABS and traction control lights to come on.

Blown Fuse

Another common issue that may cause your ABS and traction control lights to come on is a blown fuse. If you have a blown fuse or faulty wire that specifically affects the ABS and traction control systems, this would immediately affect these systems’ ability to operate normally, causing the ABS and traction control lights to come on.

How To Fix The Problem

Now that you know some of the most common issues that cause a Wrangler’s ABS and traction control lights to come on, how can you fix it?

ABS Light

Resetting your Wrangler’s central computer is the easiest way you can get your ABS light to turn off again. 

Though it may sound a bit complicated, resetting your Wrangler’s computer is actually quite simple to pull off.

First, you’ll simply need to open up the hood and locate your Wrangler’s battery. From there simply disconnect the positive cable from the battery and then get back in your car and hold down the brake pedal to drain all of the power from your Wrangler’s electrical system.

Once you’ve done that, reconnect the positive cable to your car’s battery and turn it on. 

This should cause the computer to reset and the light to turn off, however, if this doesn’t work it may be that you have come malfunctioning sensors, or some other issue.

In this case, it is probably best to take your Wrangler to a mechanic and have them run a diagnostic check to figure out exactly what the problem is.

Traction Control Light

Unfortunately, the traction control light is a bit more tricky.

While there are a few things you can do, you’ll most likely need to go to a mechanic and get a diagnostic reading to be sure of what issue is actually causing the problem.

Still, the traction control light can come on if wheel sensors are malfunctioning or if your tires aren’t the same size, or have unequal air pressure.

To address this all you can really do is check the tire pressure on all of your wheels to ensure that they all have the right amount of air. 

Another thing you can do is simply slow down how quickly you drive. Traction control is just one part of the Wrangler’s whole stability program, so driving too fast or making quick, erratic turns could no doubt make the traction control light turn on. 

However, if you’ve done both of these things and the traction control light is still on, you’ll need to go to a mechanic to address the issue.

Key Takeaways

• The most common issue that causes a Wrangler’s ABS and traction control warning lights to come on is either a malfunctioning ABS module or a faulty wheel speed sensor.
• Other problems that may cause the issue include low tire pressure, PCM issues, or a blown fuse.
• Resetting your Wrangler’s PCM may fix the issue.
• If not, you will need to take your Wrangler to a mechanic and run a diagnostic test to find out what is causing the problem.