Your Jeep Patriot traction control light will briefly illuminate when you are facing difficult road conditions, indicating the system is active. However, if the light remains on your dashboard for an extended time, you may have a malfunction on your hands.
The Jeep Patriot is more of a traditional SUV than some of its off-road relatives in the Wrangler
and Grand Cherokee
. But, even if you’re not conquering the path less traveled, your Jeep Patriot traction control light could still turn on during heavy spouts of rain or snow. A brief flicker of the dashboard notification simply means the system is functioning as expected. But if the traction control light remains on your dashboard, especially if the ABS light is also illuminated, you will want to start troubleshooting. From simple fixes to expensive repairs, here are some of the most common solutions for turning the TCS light off.
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Why your Jeep Patriot traction control light turns on
The traction control (TCS) light
can be identified as an orange vehicle icon with two squiggly lines on your dashboard. While dashboard lights might make your heart skip a beat, the TCS light is usually just a notification and not a warning—here’s how it works. Your Jeep Patriot has speed sensors on each wheel. These sensors are triggered when a wheel has lost its grip, usually during slick driving conditions (like rain and snow). The sensors then send the information to the control module, which pulses the brakes on the affected wheel(s) to cut down engine power and avoid a serious skid.
Once everything is under control, the system will disengage and the dashboard light will turn off. This system is a fundamental safety feature, but an advanced traction package called Freedom Drive is available for the Jeep Patriot.
Now, that all sounds good. But what if your TCS light doesn’t turn off? Let’s get into it.
Temporary loss of traction
As we’ve discussed so far, your TCS light will temporarily turn on while your Jeep Patriot attempts to regain traction in slippery driving conditions. Once proper grip has been regained across all four tires, the TCS light will turn off.
However, if the TCS light stays on or it turns on under normal driving conditions, you may want to take your Jeep Patriot in for an inspection
—let’s look at some possible diagnoses. MORE: Winter tires vs. all-season tires: Which is better?
Faulty wheel speed sensors
The simple fix: Your wheel speed sensors may be blocked by some sort of debris (dirt, mud, snow), which can activate the TCS light. A quick cleaning should resolve the issue.
The expensive repair: Since the wheel speed sensors are mounted on your Jeep Patriot’s wheels, they are subject to rough conditions and can wear out over time. The TCS light may indicate that a wheel speed sensor is failing and needs to be replaced. You can confirm this by using an OBD-II scan tool to check for trouble codes
or by bringing your vehicle to the mechanic. Anti-lock braking system (ABS) malfunction
Both the anti-lock braking system (ABS)
and traction control system are controlled by the same control module (the vehicle’s brain that electronically communicates demands). So if your ABS light
turns on, maybe due to low brake fluid or a faulty brake pedal position sensor, there’s a good chance the TCS light will accompany it on the dashboard. Low tire pressure
Most Jeep Patriot models require a tire pressure
of 35 PSI for optimized performance and enhanced traction. With that in mind, low tire pressure can be another reason your wheel sensors trigger the TCS light. Low tire pressure is likely the culprit if your TCS light is also accompanied by your TPMS light (tire pressure monitoring system). Using your air compressor or stopping at a gas station air pump to bring your tire pressure up to the proper PSI may be a quick solution to turning off those pesky dashboard lights.
Broken TCS/ABS control module
If the TCS and ABS are the muscle, then the control module is the brain. Therefore, if the control module is not functioning correctly, these systems will not receive the commands to perform appropriately when facing difficult driving conditions—which is a safety hazard.
A malfunctioning control module may also trigger the Check Engine Light
along with the TCS light, so it’s best to bring your Patriot to a mechanic or your local Jeep dealership as soon as possible. Traction control system turned off
Your Jeep Patriot’s natural state is with the traction control system turned on. If you don’t see the TCS light, your system is activated.
But you do have the option to turn it off
if you would like! Simply press the TCS button (vehicle with two squiggly lines) on your lower dashboard controls—the location may vary based on the Jeep Patriot model you drive. And just so you're not caught off guard, the TCS light will appear on your dashboard for as long as the system is deactivated. Can you drive with the traction control light on?
Even with your traction control light on, your Jeep Patriot will operate as expected under normal driving conditions. However, we don’t recommend off-roading or driving when it’s raining or snowing when the TCS light is on.
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