The traction control system in a Toyota Camry is designed to help maintain traction on the road. It uses sensors to detect when one or more wheels are losing traction and then automatically applies the brakes to those wheels to help prevent them from spinning.
It’s meant to improve your ability to control your car, and when the light is on, you shouldn’t ignore it.
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Why is My Traction Control Light on in my Toyota Camry
The traction control light in a Toyota Camry can come on for various reasons. Here are the most common reasons.
- Manually Turned Off
- Worn Tires
- Bad Brakes
- Traction Control System Malfunction
- Other System Sensors (ABS, Check Engine Light, etc.)
- Poor Road Surface Conditions
How to Troubleshoot Traction Control Problems in a Toyota Camry
Remember that traction control is an important safety system for your car, so you should fix it ASAP. If your traction control light is staying on, here are ways to begin troubleshooting the problem.
Work through these in order:
- Check the traction control button
- Usually found on the left side of the dash near the vent. If not, look on the center console near the shifter.
- The icon is a car with swerving lines.
- Check the tires.
- Underinflated
- Worn tread
- Damaged
- Check the brakes:
- Noisey braking: Squealing, grinding, etc
- Brake fluid is low
- Burning smell
- Check codes
- Model Years 1995 and older
- Take to a local dealer
- Model Years 1996-2001
- The TRAC system has its own diagnostic system. Look for a small (approx 1 x 2 inch) plastic box inside the engine compartment.
- Turn the key to “ON” (don’t start the engine)
- Open the box cover and press the small button.
- The TRAC light will blink the codes
- Model Years 2002-Present
- Use the OBD-II tool in the port located below the bottom left of the dash
- Model Years 1995 and older
- Check for other issues.
- Use the OBD-II tool to look for other issues that can cause the traction control light to come on.
If you don’t have an OBD-II tool or still cannot find the problem take your car to a local mechanic for them to diagnose and give repair suggestions.
How to Turn Traction Control On/Off on a Toyota Camry
The traction control light will turn on when the system is off. To turn it back on, press the traction control button. Assuming everything is working correctly, the light will turn off.
Holding the traction control button down will turn off the traction, stability, and pre-collision systems if equipped. Driving like this is not recommended.
FAQ
Why would I want to turn off the traction control in my Camry?
You may want to turn off the traction control in a Toyota Camry in certain situations, such as when driving with tire chains or when you’re stuck in snow/mud. Turning off the traction control lets the wheels spin more freely, which can help increase traction and get the car moving again
Is traction control the same as the stability control on a Toyota Camry?
No, they are related but different systems. Traction control helps maintain traction by detecting when wheels are slipping and automatically applying brakes to those wheels. Stability control is designed to help prevent the car from losing control by applying brakes to individual wheels and reducing engine power when necessary.