What does the ETS light mean when lit up on a 1996 Chevy Cavalier Z24 automatic transmission 2.4 liter?

Answer 1

Enhanced Traction SystemIf you see the light flash and go off then that just means the traction control worked for a second. However if it is staying on you have another problem. Let's take a moment and explain why the electronic traction control which is called Enhanced Traction System (ETS) warning light will turn on when the engine computer sees a problem. The ETS system monitors wheel speed via the Anti-lock Brake System (ABS). If the ETS system sees a wheel spinning due to snow, ice, rain etc., the ETS computer sends a request to the vehicle's engine computer to reduce torque. The engine computer responds with a combination of strategies. In the engine computer's bag of tricks to stop wheel spin it can perform any one or combination of the following; cut fuel off by trimming or turning off fuel injectors, retard the spark timing or up shift the transmission. In the days of old we just let up on the gas pedal. Now the computer does it for you. If you have an engine running problem it is more of a problem than you realize. The engine computer is the high command center. The engine computer will work and respond to information from the other computers in the vehicle. But in the event there is a system or running problem that the engine computer is responsible for, it will lock out all of the other vehicle computers. If there is an engine running problem that causes the engine computer to store a code and turn on the Check Engine light guess what computer doesn't talk to the others? The engine computer. The ETS computer gets all put out when this occurs and turns its warning light on in protest. So, there you have it. If the check engine light is on the ETS warning light will come on as well and the ETS system will not operate until the engine computer problem is corrected.