2003 GMC Yukon traction control/limp mode

I have had this 2003 Yukon for 2 years now. This has been an issue from the day I bought it. I can be driving along and the traction control light will come on and I go into limp mode. It can be at 55 mph or 15 mph. Sometimes it will go weeks without this happening and other times it may happen 2-3 times a day. Each time this happens I need to pull off road and turn off ignition and wait 30-45 seconds with key out of switch then restart. Almost always that takes the Traction control light off and I’m up and running again. Today it came on 4 times in 40 miles. A 20 mile one way with no light then on the way back 4 times. One time it didn’t reset after the 30-45 seconds so I had to do it a 2nd time. Last month I made 2 trips in a week both over 200 miles and it never happened. Ran great.

What should I be looking for. Wheel sensor data or lose of data? Does this year have rear wheel sensors?
tires are a matched set of 4.

Is there a way to disable the T/C.

I don’t think my code reader will read body codes.

Thanks in advance for your help.
Rod

We have a number of GMT800 owners who can chime in on your issue.

@Fless, @OR VietVet

Best thing to do is find someone with a code reader that can tell you the code that's causing the message and limp mode. You may find a wheel speed sensor code, a misfire code, or a throttle position code, so it's best to arm yourself with some initial diagnostic data so you aren't chasing your tail.

rod7515 said:

I have had this 2003 Yukon for 2 years now. This has been an issue from the day I bought it. I can be driving along and the traction control light will come on and I go into limp mode. It can be at 55 mph or 15 mph. Sometimes it will go weeks without this happening and other times it may happen 2-3 times a day. Each time this happens I need to pull off road and turn off ignition and wait 30-45 seconds with key out of switch then restart. Almost always that takes the Traction control light off and I’m up and running again. Today it came on 4 times in 40 miles. A 20 mile one way with no light then on the way back 4 times. One time it didn’t reset after the 30-45 seconds so I had to do it a 2nd time. Last month I made 2 trips in a week both over 200 miles and it never happened. Ran great.

What should I be looking for. Wheel sensor data or lose of data? Does this year have rear wheel sensors?
tires are a matched set of 4.

Is there a way to disable the T/C.

I don’t think my code reader will read body codes.

Thanks in advance for your help.
Rod

Click to expand...

Yea, @Fless said it best. You are in the dark right now. You can get inexpensive code readers that can at least get you to the starting line with code(s). Otherwise, you will be shooting the "parts cannon" at this. The wheel speed sensors is a good guess. I would normally ask if any work had been done before this problem but you said the issue has been there since you bought it. Have you had any shop look at it at all? If not, why not? If so, what did they say?

rod7515 said:

... 03 Yukon ... Is there a way to disable the Traction Control?

Click to expand...

Look at / Click on the pic in this post. Hopefully you have a Traction Control button there.

Are you aware of any bumps / dips in the road that you expect to cause this symptom, or are you always surprised by where & when this happens?

Strongly suspect the wiring / connectors to the wheel speed sensors.

I feel like throttle/pedal issues are more likely to put vehicle into into REP (limp) mode.
Disabling TC probably won't prevent whatever is causing the REP mode.

mikez71 said:

I feel like throttle/pedal issues are more likely to put vehicle into into REP (limp) mode.
Disabling TC probably won't prevent whatever is causing the REP mode.

Click to expand...

If his '03 has an electronic signal throttle, it's much more likely to be this.
If his throttle has a mechanical cable, then his problem is much more likely within the Traction Control system / wiring ...
@rod7515, you still out there or what?

Anytime a code trips, it disables the TC. Which turns the light on. Find the code fix it.

Have I taken it to a shop, no I haven’t because I want to work on it myself. I spent 20 years as a mechanic before retiring from that line of work 15 years ago.

Marky Dissod said:

If his '03 has an electronic signal throttle, it's much more likely to be this.
If his throttle has a mechanical cable, then his problem is much more likely within the Traction Control system / wiring ...
@rod7515, you still out there or what?

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yes I’m still here. It is electronic signal throttle. I’ve replaced, the throttle position sensor (TPS), and the throttle actuator control module down at accelerated peddle. Thought that took care of it as it didn’t come on for weeks after that. Then it started back up again. As for is there any pattern the answer is no. It’s done it at 55 cruising along and at 10 making a turn. Hitting a bump or rough road does not set it off. I can hook it up to my scanner and see if my wheel sensors are working and I guess leave it hooked up until it does it again. Could be quick or could take some time. Lol

LsHart said:

Anytime a code trips, it disables the TC. Which turns the light on. Find the code fix it.

Click to expand...

That’s not correct. I’ve set codes for o2 sensors and no t/c light also has multiple misfire once in a while with no t/c code or not go into limp mode.

Marky Dissod said:

Look at / Click on the pic in this post. Hopefully you have a Traction Control button there.

Dash Hole?

What is everyone doing with this hole that doesn't have the automatic 4 wheel drive buttons?

www.gmt800.com

Are you aware of any bumps / dips in the road that you expect to cause this symptom, or are you always surprised by where & when this happens?

Strongly suspect the wiring / connectors to the wheel speed sensors.

Click to expand...

Are you talking about the switch in the end of the turn signal switch?

rod7515 said:

That’s not correct. I’ve set codes for o2 sensors and no t/c light also has multiple misfire once in a while with no t/c code or not go into limp mode.

Click to expand...

Okay let me say it a different way. If there are codes. As in wheels, diff sensors, and or transmission. TC light will come on. Fix code light goes off.

rod7515 said:

Are you talking about the switch in the end of the turn signal switch?

Click to expand...

My 04 hoe has the TC button on the right side of the dash

rod7515 said:

Are you talking about the switch in the end of the turn signal switch?

Click to expand...

No, not the 'Cruise Control' inny button. The turn signal stalk does seem to point at it; the button immediately to the right of the vent under the 'TC' logo.

An update on this issue?

rod7515 said:

I have had this 2003 Yukon for 2 years now. This has been an issue from the day I bought it. I can be driving along and the traction control light will come on and I go into limp mode. It can be at 55 mph or 15 mph. Sometimes it will go weeks without this happening and other times it may happen 2-3 times a day. Each time this happens I need to pull off road and turn off ignition and wait 30-45 seconds with key out of switch then restart. Almost always that takes the Traction control light off and I’m up and running again. Today it came on 4 times in 40 miles. A 20 mile one way with no light then on the way back 4 times. One time it didn’t reset after the 30-45 seconds so I had to do it a 2nd time. Last month I made 2 trips in a week both over 200 miles and it never happened. Ran great.

What should I be looking for. Wheel sensor data or lose of data? Does this year have rear wheel sensors?
tires are a matched set of 4.

Is there a way to disable the T/C.

I don’t think my code reader will read body codes.

Thanks in advance for your help.
Rod

Click to expand...

could be a fuse check using Googles ai gemini search engine online, on how to disable. never worked properly anyway. which is why people buy Toyotas or Lexus

stevedonato said:

could be a fuse check using Googles ai gemini search engine online, on how to disable. never worked properly anyway. which is why people buy Toyotas or Lexus

Click to expand...

Might work for you, but I think the OP is looking for a reasonable solution. Proper diagnostics are usually worth it.

rod7515 said:

I have had this 2003 Yukon for 2 years now. This has been an issue from the day I bought it. I can be driving along and the traction control light will come on and I go into limp mode. It can be at 55 mph or 15 mph. Sometimes it will go weeks without this happening and other times it may happen 2-3 times a day. Each time this happens I need to pull off road and turn off ignition and wait 30-45 seconds with key out of switch then restart. Almost always that takes the Traction control light off and I’m up and running again. Today it came on 4 times in 40 miles. A 20 mile one way with no light then on the way back 4 times. One time it didn’t reset after the 30-45 seconds so I had to do it a 2nd time. Last month I made 2 trips in a week both over 200 miles and it never happened. Ran great.

What should I be looking for. Wheel sensor data or lose of data? Does this year have rear wheel sensors?
tires are a matched set of 4.

Is there a way to disable the T/C.

I don’t think my code reader will read body codes.

Thanks in advance for your help.
Rod

Click to expand...

I fixed this problem in my 2006 Tahoe by replacing the encoder in the transfer case.

Save yourself a lot of guessing -- at least get some clues -- and arm yourself with a decent bi-directional scanner to read the code(s). Money well spent....

Sorry I haven’t gotten back to this topic.
This vehicle is not worth spending a lot of money on it. It has many problems that had been left go and not corrected before I bought it. I need to get to the end of May with it and then I have decided to sell it.
I currently use it to pull my trailer with 2 mowers so I can do the 31 lawns each week. I have owned it for 3 years now. It’s been this way the entire time. The only reason I bought it was because the Ram truck i had a cam lobe wiped and I needed something quick. Was only going to be for a month or 2 but it worked out so well. This has been the perfect vehicle except for this issue. I only put 4000 miles a year on it so it is exempt from emissions here in Pa. So I don’t need to worry about the check engine light being on.
If this wouldn’t set the truck into limp mode I wouldn’t worry about it. But it’s a pain in the ass to have to pull over and allow it to reset. Last week in 3 driving days it didn’t do it one time. This week the first 2 days no issues. That’s 250 miles no issues then on Wednesday I went all day (about 65 miles) before it set into limp mode. In the next 15 miles it went into limp mode 6 times before I got home. It can be driving at 50 mph or slowing for a stop light or sign when it happens. Sometimes it even stalls when it goes into limp. I would just like to bypass this if there’s a way. I’m not going to throw hundreds of dollars at it as I am retiring and have sold my business.
I recently bought an older blazer for my beater to replace it with
but would really have liked to keep the Yukon if it could be done for cheap. But it throws to many codes to be worth repairing. Most codes are for cats or o2 sensor. But it will throw multiple misfire although I never feel a miss.(never a specific cylinder) usually on a longer uphill pull.
The engine and trans run very strong and the 4wd works well.
I just want to thank everyone for your suggestions but I was hoping for a way to disable the tc just so it’s drivable as now I won’t use it more then 1500 miles a year.

Rod