please help

[GrannyCarolyn]

please help, last winter, I had all seasons on the back of my 1999 Buick Regal, had a new set of snow tires installed on the front a day or so later the darn trac off light came on (at least i think that was what it was)
Now I put new snow tires on the front and have snows all the way round and the stupid light will not go out.

Recently I have spent a fortune on this car and just do not want to spend buckets more.

I suppose I could disconnect the negative battery terminal (I read this somewhere) but I am afraid to try that, in case someone needs to read the codes that now have my dash board lit up like a Christmas tree.

Recently the muffler was loud and brakes where let go too long before repairs.and a gas tank leak, so I have trac light on, service engine soon light on, and service vehicle with abs light on.

I simply cannot afford to take this car in again, I have spent 1300 to have it two year safety, 800 bucks for new gas tank,and new spark plugs, 250 for new snows and an oil change if any more money is to be spent it will probably be transmission fluid change. -God knows it needs this too

The car starts fine, drives fine, stops fine, and has 204 thousand km

Any help would greatly be appreciated. I would go buy a code re setter or what ever the thing is called but I do not have a clue how to to use the gizmo, or where to plug it in.

I you can help me at least understand I would deeply appreciate it. I do not want to be as neglectful of this poor car as I have been in the past but simply cannot spend more money right now.

Any thoughts would perhaps help. Thanks
Carolyn

 

[MrMarty51]

There is a button/switch to turn the traction control on,would it be possible that that button got pushed ???
I had My service engine soon light come on,I took it to O`Rielys parts store and they have a scan tool they hooked it up and pulled the code for Me,they then erased the code too.Did`nt charge for this service either,they want to sell You the parts that the code says You need to fix the problem.
Maby the parts stores in Canada will do this for You,I`m thinking NAPA here where I live will do that too.
There`ll be some others come in,that are a lot smarter than Me when it comes to techinical issues that I`m sure will reply to Your call of distress.
I know how it is to not have the funds to keep an older vehicle running so I feel Your pain.

 

[GrannyCarolyn]

Thank you, I did try pushing the trac button and following the info in the manual but it didn't make it go out. the trac light came on last winter then later the service engine, then later service vehicle with abs light.

I thought perhaps the service engine came on because it need plugs or something and I am pretty sure the leaky gas tank, and poor muffler (which have all been fixed ) caused all the other lights to come on, however at the moment , the car is running fine, brakes fine and is not noisy, -well maybe a little clunky on the right rear wheel, I do have to admit no service except for changing brake pads and oil changes have been done. Or who knows perhaps things have been done when I have had oil changes that I wasn't aware of.

Today I looked under the hood for the first time ever (I could follow the picture in the owners manual to see where the fluids go) this is one tough car. I also sprayed the gas cover door with WD40 -it now opens without sounding like an old horse. This car has survived me, I have had it since 57km and it actually looks pretty good underneath. It is still pretty quiet to drive compared to my husbands honda civic also a 1999 and what little bit of rust I can see is not anywhere near as bad as his.

Anyway thank you for your response. I am quite determined to learn more and perhaps take much better car of this machine.
Carolyn

 

[dad]

Don't know if you are still checking in here or not but here is what happened to mine. You mention a little clunking on on the rear. A bad Wheel brg will possibly cause your abs and taction light come on. There is also a wire which is plugged into your wheel bry on all 4 wheels. If one comes unhooked your lights will turn on. Check the wire to make sure it is plugged in really good then your light will go off if it fixed it.

Hope this helps.