may turn on for different reasons. If it turns on briefly when you are driving in bad weather or on an icy road, this means your traction control system (TCS) is working as intended. If the light stays on, this can mean there is an issue with the system.

The indicators on your Expedition’s dashboard all have a story to tell—so what is a lit traction control light trying to tell you? And if it turns on, should you take your SUV to the shop?

Here’s an overview of reasons that your traction control light may turn on, and which situations should lead to a

car repair

appointment with the mechanic!

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Why your Ford Expedition traction control light turns on

First things first: just because your Ford’s traction control light turns on doesn’t mean there’s an issue. If the road conditions are subpar and the light comes on, it just means that your TCS is activating. This is good—the system is providing your Expedition with extra traction to keep it stable on the road, just like it’s supposed to.

Ford’s traction control system uses AdvanceTrac technology to keep tabs on the speed of your wheels and will activate in the case of any slippage or loss of traction. The sensors can take up to 150 readings a second! If your Expedition hits a patch of ice or loses purchase on the road, the traction control module then activates the brakes in a pulsing motion to regain control.

When the TCS activates, your light will briefly turn on to let you know the system is doing its job. If you have any other questions about the AdvanceTrac system, you can refer to your

car owner’s manual

But what about cases where your traction control light stays illuminated—even when the roads are clear? If the light remains on even after you restart your vehicle, it could indicate a problem with one of the many parts of the TCS. Here’s a list of some possible causes of a

traction control malfunction

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Temporary loss of traction

As mentioned, the traction control light will briefly illuminate when the TCS is in use. You can expect the light to turn on whenever you

drive in the snow

or through heavy rain, or if the roads are icy or poorly maintained.

It’s when your TCS light stays on that there may be another issue—especially if one of the other lights on your dashboard is also illuminated. In these cases, it’s best to

take your car to a mechanic

for inspection.

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Faulty wheel speed sensors

One of the most susceptible components of the TCS are the wheel sensors. Because they’re usually located in the wheel bearings, the sensors see a lot of wear and tear from the constant spinning of your wheels. If they get damaged, the traction control module may trigger the light to let you know the system doesn’t know when to activate.

Without these sensors, the TCS cannot function properly. In this case, it’s best to drive carefully until you can take your Expedition in for repairs. Or, if you want to be sure of the problem before you rack up a repair bill, you can use an OBD-II scan tool to check for

engine code C0040

, which points to these kinds of problems.

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Anti-lock braking system (ABS) malfunction

The traction control system and the

anti-lock brake system

on a Ford Expedition are interlinked—a problem with one system can cause issues for the other. Ford Expedition owners have reported the

ABS system light

sometimes coming on with the TCS light, leading to stuttering stops and problems accelerating.

If both lights are illuminated, you should bring your Expedition to the shop to catch the issue before it causes a major problem on the road.

Broken TCS/ABS control module

Since these two systems are connected by the same control module, if it fails, both of the warning lights may turn on, along with the

Check Engine Warning Light

(CEL). If the road is clear and these lights remain on, take your Expedition to the shop for an inspection of the control module.

Low tire pressure

If your traction control light comes on alone, a good thing to check is if your tires need more air.

Low tire pressure

can trigger your TCS light, as soft tires can affect your tire traction. Related to this, a faulty tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) can also cause the light to turn on.

This one’s easy to check—if you refill your tires and the light turns off, you’re good to go!

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Traction control system turned off

Your TCS will generally always be on, but it is possible to

turn off traction control

. There’s a button near your dashboard controls that may display an icon of a skidding car or the letters “TC”. If this button has been bumped, it can illuminate the traction control light to let you know the system has been deactivated.

If there aren’t any other warning lights illuminated along with the traction control indicator, try pushing the button to see if it was simply turned off by accident.

Can you drive with the traction control light on?

You can drive with the traction control light on, although it’s recommended you take it in before you run into snowy, rainy, or otherwise rough road conditions.

If the light illuminates briefly when driving on dangerous road surfaces, you have nothing to worry about—that’s just your Expedition’s TCS activating! However, if the TCS light remains on, is accompanied by other illuminated lights, or you notice any change to your Expedition’s performance, it’s time to schedule an appointment with your mechanic.

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