Service Stability System Warning

[m1949]

Service Stability System warning light
3 or 4 times in the last couple of months the "Service Stability System" warning light has come on then almost immediately goes off. I've done two OBD scans and nothing comes up. Three questions:

1. Any ideas what may be causing this short flash of the warning?
2. Is this something that I should expect will get worse overtime?
3. And if so, can you suggest what I might do to correct the problem before it gets worse?

Thanks!

 

[Joseph Garcia]

Are you doing anything specific when the warning comes on? Is there some central connections to these occurrences? Like turning into an uphill street, or going over pot holes, etc?

 

[adventurenali92]

Are you able to see BCM trouble codes with your scanner? My truck did this last summer and flashed at every start up. The only way I could see what it was being thrown for was with my tech 2 and going into the BCM section because that’s where the code was being thrown for. Turns out it was a wire in the airbag harness under the front seat that apparently leads into the yaw rate sensor. Fixed the wires and it solved the issue. However a handful of times over the last couple months it has flashed the “service stability system” message at startup. This time around though it didn’t pull any BCM codes.

 

[m1949]

Are you doing anything specific when the warning comes on? Is there some central connections to these occurrences? Like turning into an uphill street, or going over pot holes, etc?

Doesn't seem to be. In most instances we are just driving along on the freeway a cruising speed. The warning light comes on and two chimes sound, then the warning light goes off. Can't recall it has ever happened while stopping or accelerating. It happens on average about once every two weeks.

 

[m1949]

Are you able to see BCM trouble codes with your scanner? My truck did this last summer and flashed at every start up. The only way I could see what it was being thrown for was with my tech 2 and going into the BCM section because that’s where the code was being thrown for. Turns out it was a wire in the airbag harness under the front seat that apparently leads into the yaw rate sensor. Fixed the wires and it solved the issue. However a handful of times over the last couple months it has flashed the “service stability system” message at startup. This time around though it didn’t pull any BCM codes.

I have a bluedriver scanner. I don't think it can read BCM codes. No codes show up when I run a scan after the warning appears.

 

[adventurenali92]

I have a bluedriver scanner. I don't think it can read BCM codes. No codes show up when I run a scan after the warning appears.

Hmmmmm might wanna check into a bi-directional on it to see if anything in the back is showing as out of whack. Sorry I can’t offer anything up for other possible causes.

 

[nonickatall]

Most likely your front wheel bearings starts to die. Because the ABS sensor is located in the wheel bearing housing and when play gets into the wheel bearing, ABS and stability system that works with that sensors gets wrong values and thinks that your tires are slipping. Since this is of course a "normal" event for the car, you don't have an error in the memory.

 

[m1949]

Most likely your front wheel bearings starts to die. Because the ABS sensor is located in the wheel bearing housing and when play gets into the wheel bearing, ABS and stability system that works with that sensors gets wrong values and thinks that your tires are slipping. Since this is of course a "normal" event for the car, you don't have an error in the memory.

Thanks for the input. Back in the day it was possible to check for a bad wheel bearing by jacking up the suspect wheel off the ground and trying to "wiggle" it back and forth. If there was play the wheel bearing was bad. Does that still work on these trucks, or must I install a new wheel bearing without actually knowing that is the problem? Thanks.

 

[nonickatall]

Thanks for the input. Back in the day it was possible to check for a bad wheel bearing by jacking up the suspect wheel off the ground and trying to "wiggle" it back and forth. If there was play the wheel bearing was bad. Does that still work on these trucks, or must I install a new wheel bearing without actually knowing that is the problem? Thanks.

Well i had the same problem, i check my wheels on a lift and did not feel something. It is difficult because its massive and 4wd.

After a while it made horrible noise and it was clear.

But try to find out...

 

[Marty_S]

Hmmmmm might wanna check into a bi-directional on it to see if anything in the back is showing as out of whack. Sorry I can’t offer anything up for other possible causes.

Strap on 2 boards and drop off some cornice.

 

[adventurenali92]

Strap on 2 boards and drop off some cornice.

Not sure what your goal was with this comment but ok.

 

[m1949]

I think I found and corrected the problem. It was a bad chassis ground contact for ABS module located beneath driver side door. GM actually published a tech bulletin about this problem. I removed the ground, cleaned everything, tightened it back up using new nuts, washers and bolts mentioned in the bulletin then coated it with flex seal as per the bulletin. Haven't had the message come up since doing that!

 

[adventurenali92]

I think I found and corrected the problem. It was a bad chassis ground contact for ABS module located beneath driver side door. GM actually published a tech bulletin about this problem. I removed the ground, cleaned everything, tightened it back up using new nuts, washers and bolts mentioned in the bulletin then coated it with flex seal as per the bulletin. Haven't had the message come up since doing that!

Sweet! Cheap easy fixes like this are the best!

 

[Fless]

Where was this ground, or how about a link to the TSB?

 

[Marty_S]

Not sure what your goal was with this comment but ok.

Nothing like a good cornice jump. If it breaks drop into tuck and go, go, GO. Was not meant in any bad way. Been skiing for 65 years now and hit 70 last month. Hoping to get some days on my 223cm Super G boards this coming season.