Check Engine Light ON, VCS Blinking, Traction ON

Discuss any problems, warranty, repair, or replacement issues you are having with your Vibe & Matrix
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ionelz
Posts: 9
Joined: Fri Aug 14, 2009 6:21 am

Check Engine Light ON, VCS Blinking, Traction ON

Post by ionelz »

I have a 2010 Pontiac Vibe, automatic, 1.8 liter engine, 120000 mile.
Original owner, never had an issue in 10 years !
2 week ago, while driving, I got : Check Engine ON, VSC OFF blinking, Traction ON
What to do ? (I am in Detroit area)
I did this :
- Battery disconnected, it went off, came back in like 2 days
- Playing with Gas Cap, it went off, came back in like 2 days (this "trick" do not work)
- Fill tank with gas, went off, but came back in few days
- Start the car, put in Reverse, went off (this was strange !), but came back again in one day !

Car is running like nothing happened...

Read the code at Autozone, result P0441 !
Caretaker

Re: Check Engine Light ON, VCS Blinking, Traction ON

Post by Caretaker »

As always, start with the simple and work towards the difficult.
First, did you do anything right before this started happening? i.e.: did you get your car's emission system "flushed out" to get rid of carbon deposits? The reason I ask is that I took mine in for that service, blew out a ton of carbon with the white smoke electing the new pope out the tail pipe, and all my lights started dancing like yours. The lights all went away after a day or so.
Second, it may be your gas cap. 10 years is pretty long time of turning the plastic gas cap to the clicking point where they or the puny gas cap gasket eventually wear out. Mine no longer is clicking and I'm sure I'll be getting an engine light soon enough. I just had to replace my HET's gas cap and that solved the engine light problem.
ionelz
Posts: 9
Joined: Fri Aug 14, 2009 6:21 am

Re: Check Engine Light ON, VCS Blinking, Traction ON

Post by ionelz »

I did not did anything before.
Just driving and lights pop up...

Yes, I just play with the Cap again and lights went off so I will buy a new Cap
Should I buy one from Autozone or go to GM dealer for original one ?
Also, for "original" parts, should I buy for 2010 Vibe or 2010 Matrix ? since Vibe parts will go away soon...
Do you know a site for original parts for 2010 Pontiac Vibe ?
Caretaker

Re: Check Engine Light ON, VCS Blinking, Traction ON

Post by Caretaker »

certainly start with rockauto.com and see what they have. GMpartsdirect.com is another website. Here's a link to our genvibe discussions from the past:

viewtopic.php?f=44&p=518718&sid=aa7bcfc ... 57#p518718
tpollauf
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Re: Check Engine Light ON, VCS Blinking, Traction ON

Post by tpollauf »

Just going to throw this out there as another possibility. Has the car been parked for an extended amount of time where insects/rodents could invade it? Or are you out in the middle of nowhere and mice chewed through on any of the evap canister hoses? A couple possibilities for you. Especially where you're fine one day, and not the next. This happened to me TWICE on my 2004 Vibe GT.
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jolt
Posts: 945
Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2014 2:07 am
Location: Twin Cities, Minnesota

Re: Check Engine Light ON, VCS Blinking, Traction ON

Post by jolt »

Pull all the codes. You will need the P codes (power train) and C codes (chassis). Post the codes here at this forum so we can have a better idea of which direction to go with troubleshooting this issue. Without any info, it is just guessing and throwing parts at it. Which can cost a lot of money and time.

Another thing (guess) is that it could be caused buy a problem with a bad connections and/or wiring harness to rear wheel speed sensors. The '09 and '10 Toyota Corolla and Matrix have a TSB out for this and are basically the same car as the Vibe. Make sure you use a code reader that does both power train and chassis codes, most cheaper readers only do the generic power codes.
ionelz
Posts: 9
Joined: Fri Aug 14, 2009 6:21 am

Re: Check Engine Light ON, VCS Blinking, Traction ON

Post by ionelz »

I got at Autozone, only P0441
I removed the Gas Cap, put it back an lights went off again (second day with lights off)
I started, as someone sugested, and bought a new Cap (is on the way).

What would be the best OBD scanner, but around 100 $ ?
Or maybe windows variant of OBD software for my tablet
I was looking a lot and study the OBD's but they are too many

I was realy was looking for a quality OBD software/scanner
zbyers
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Re: Check Engine Light ON, VCS Blinking, Traction ON

Post by zbyers »

Bluedriver is the best $100 code reader you'll find.
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ionelz
Posts: 9
Joined: Fri Aug 14, 2009 6:21 am

Re: Check Engine Light ON, VCS Blinking, Traction ON

Post by ionelz »

After 4 day with lights off, they came back again, changed the Gas Cap, did not solve the problem !
Not sure where to look...
I may have to take it to a dealer...
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