The largest online repair guide library for every car

About us
Contact support
FAQ
Sign up
Sign in

2016 Corolla ABS and Traction Control Lights On After Pothole

0

Mike T. · rep 0 · May 25, 1:27 AM · 1 replies · solved · Question

Vehicle: 2016 Toyota Corolla LE

Hi everyone,

I'm reaching out because I'm having a problem with my 2016 Toyota Corolla LE. A few days ago, I hit a pretty nasty pothole with my front right wheel. Immediately after that, both my ABS warning light and the Traction Control (TRAC) off light illuminated on the dashboard.

The car still drives, but I'm worried about the safety aspects, especially with winter coming up. I've tried turning the car off and on, but the lights stay on. Could hitting the pothole have damaged something?

What's the most likely culprit here? Is it a sensor, or something more serious? Any guidance on what I should do next would be really helpful. Thanks!

✓ Accepted solution

ClearTheCode Admin

ClearTheCode Team · rep 0 · May 25, 1:27 AM

0

ClearTheCode admin answer:

It's very common for ABS and Traction Control (TRAC) warning lights to illuminate after hitting a significant pothole, as these systems are highly reliant on wheel speed sensors. Here's a breakdown of what likely happened and what to do for your 2016 Toyota Corolla LE:

  1. Wheel Speed Sensor Damage: The most probable cause is damage to the wheel speed sensor (also known as the ABS sensor) or its wiring on the front right wheel. These sensors are located at each wheel hub and monitor the rotational speed of the wheel. A hard impact from a pothole can physically damage the sensor, its mounting, or sever the wiring leading to it.
  2. Tone Ring Damage: Less commonly, the magnetic tone ring (or reluctor ring) that the wheel speed sensor reads from could be damaged or dislodged. If the sensor can't get a clear signal from the tone ring, it will trigger a fault.
  3. Loose Connection: The impact might have simply jarred a connector loose in the wheel well, interrupting the signal from the sensor.

When the ABS system detects an inconsistency or loss of signal from one wheel speed sensor, it disables both the ABS and TRAC systems (as TRAC relies on ABS components for braking individual wheels), illuminating their respective warning lights.

Common OBD Codes to look for:

  • C0200 - C0205: Front Right Wheel Speed Sensor Malfunction (or similar codes for other wheels, e.g., C0210 for Front Left, C0215 for Rear Right, C0220 for Rear Left)
  • C0225: Wheel Speed Sensor Circuit Malfunction

What to check:

  • Visual Inspection: If you're comfortable, visually inspect the front right wheel area. Look for the ABS sensor wire running from behind the wheel hub up into the fender liner. Check for any obvious cuts, frays, or disconnections in the wire. Also, look at the sensor itself for physical damage.

When to see a shop:

  • Immediate Action: You should have this checked out as soon as possible. While your regular brakes will still work, you've lost the crucial safety features of ABS (anti-lock braking) and TRAC (traction control), which are especially important in emergency braking or slippery conditions.
  • A professional shop can quickly scan your vehicle for specific ABS/TRAC fault codes, which will pinpoint exactly which sensor or circuit is faulty. They can then inspect the damaged area, replace the sensor or wiring, and clear the codes.
Menu

Help & account