Damn Stability system

[mikeb]

2001 Aurora
History of problem:
Stability system would occasionally fault out and shut off itself and ABS.
After a few weeks of this it stopped working all together, system would
fault out when vehicle was started. Took the car in and was diagnosed
with a bad rear pass side speed sensor. I was already replacing all shocks
and struts so it was put off for another 2 months. Last week I had the
rear pass speed sensor/hub and wiring harness to rear replaced. Drove
for a few days car would activate stability system on most sharp right hand turns. There was no slippage or ice to cause this. Next day driving to work the system faults out driving over RR tracks, these are nice hardly feel them at all.
Now back to square one again, car starts and disables stability and ABS
immediately. I take it back they put in on the computer yet again and diagnose driver front hub bearing and replace it. All functions again but I am still being plagued by the damned stability system activating when it shouldn't. Anyone have any ideas? I'm just about ready to pull the freaking fuse and be done with it.

[Olds64]

The best thing for you to do is take it to the dealer again and tell them they still haven't fixed the problem.

Unfortunately, most tech shops today just replace parts to diagnose problems. You might have to get the entire traction control system replaced before the problems go away. If I was in your shoes I would put the car up on safety stands, remove the wheels, and clean and dusch all of the connectors on the speed sensors with electrical cleaner.

BTW, does your car have a check engine light, or ABS light that illuminates when the problem occurs?

[Lady72nRob71]

I had a similar intermittant stability issue with my 97 Cad back in 2002. I got some sort of message stating a stability control fault. I also got the "vehicle speed limited to 97 miles per hour" message. (Bummer!) No warning lights at all.

Turned out to be a bad BCM (brake control module).
It was replaced under ext warranty first time around and no more faults for 22K miles so farr. It may have had some cold solder joints in it.
(I bet i just jinxed myself there...)

[mikeb]

Originally Posted by Olds64

BTW, does your car have a check engine light, or ABS light that illuminates when the problem occurs?

Have a check engine, abs, traction and the DIC. When the stability activates it puts a message up on the DIC. When the system would disable it would light up ABS, TRAC OFF and give me an error on the DIC.
I have been taking the car to a local shop I will probably end up taking it to a dealer soon.

[Olds64]

You can go to the local auto parts store and they will generally use their scan tool and tell you what trouble codes you have. This is invaluable in troubleshooting problems on modern cars. If you get this done then let us know what you find out.

[mikeb]

I'm out of luck on the part store front. They can only read engine codes. I took it to the dealer there is a rear stability sensor input issue and one other we cannot pin down. It is going in today.

[mikeb]

Well I'll make a long story short. Yaw sensor in the trunk.
Had a subwoofer put in during the timeframe when the stability system
was dead, the installer bent a bracket up out of his way. Yup you guessed
it he bent the trunk mounted yaw sensor up so far the car thought it was
laying on its side.
The car does still have two codes exhaust level sensor codes. What it is from
is the suspension conversion I had put in does not completely work with
the factory leveling system. The two codes basically just state the car is not
at optimum ride height. Since these are not necessary for the rest of the
system to work properly they do not trigger the light or affect anything else.
A ten second screw up from an installer cost me just over $300 in labor and
diagnostic fees.
On a bright side the mechanic that figured this out is a g-ddamn genius.
He thought of crap not even in the CSM as far as troubleshooting.

[Olds64]

Now you can go to the guy that installed your subwoofer and hand him the $300 bill.

This is why I do most of my own work on my Oldsmobile.

At least you got it running well again.

Are you signed up with Aurora Club of North America?
They are a good resource.

[mikeb]

I signed up on their forum a while ago. Posts there seem not to get any attention unless you talk about clear lenses or 20" wheels. I prefer here, oldspower and realoldspower myself.