I have a question, because the owner's manual is a bit ambiguous about how the T/C idio light is supposed to work (the yellow idiot light in the dash... NOT the low traction info on the DIC)

Here's what has happened:
Yesterday, with tons of snow and the crappy Firestones, I got stuck and was having trouble going much of anywhere. Anyway, the T/C light would come on, and then later shut off (no re-start needed it would turn off after 30 seconds or so). Dealer says its normal, but the manual makes it seem that if you see that light in any situation other than setting the transmission in low that it means the T/C has a problem. Anyone here know the right answer? Thanks.

 

I live in a fairweather area..so my opinion is not based on experience.So here's my guesstimate and take it for what it's worth.

Sounds like it's working: With the snow, you had lousy traction...ie wheelspin, which it tried to correct for by limiting spin to the wheels by throttling down...ie the idiot light came on, until it sensed no more wheels spin.

I have read other threads that traction control in the HHR is not as effective as some would think in icy conditions.

Maybe others can chime in with a better technical explanation

 

thats normal for t/c light to come on and shut of on its own, light just tells you system is activated, and you have loss of traction, now if it stays on all the time under normal conditions then you have a problem and need to get it
checked out

 

Actually, the light doesn't normally come on when T/C is activated. Normally the DIC just states "low traction" when the system is activated. The idiot light means that it has been de-activated. I believe it was just excessively bad conditions. Today the system came on quite a few times but did not set off the idiot light.

 

As someone who regularly turns off the traction control, I can tell you THAT is when the idiot light comes on, to let you know that you turned it off. It also lights up when you loose traction temporarily, then shuts itself off, I am of the opinion that you should normally shut it off, and only turn it on on wet or snowy days, or loose surface conditions. I beleive TC is the ultimate idiot device. In the old days, traction control was lifting your foot off the gas. Still works today. TC works by applying the brakes. I don't need an extra gizmo's consuming my gas and causing extra wear on this type of item. Besides, if you actually get stuck in snow, you need to turn off the traction controll to get out of it.