The 2014 Ram 1500 ABS and traction control light can briefly pop on when the system is working to keep you safe. However, if the light stays on, you could be looking at a faulty sensor or fuse, low brake fluid, low tire pressure, or a problem with the ABS itself.
If you see the light go on while driving, you’ll probably wonder if you should reroute to an auto repair
shop or keep going. Let’s look at common reasons your 2014 Ram 1500 ABS and traction control light is on and what to do. 
4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ drivers Why your 2014 Ram 1500 traction control light turns on
The traction control (TCS) light
can be triggered for any number of reasons, including when the traction control is doing its job to keep you safe. So what does this little light even do? The traction control system monitors each wheel's speed using sensors to identify a loss of traction under hazardous driving situations. If an issue is detected, the sensors warn the traction control module, which pumps the brakes to prevent skidding. The TRAC light, which resembles a car with wavy lines by the wheels, lights up when that occurs.
Your 2014 Ram 1500 traction control is connected to a larger system that includes the Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Brake Assist System (BAS), and Hill Start Assist (HSA), though not every truck has these options equipped. Each one performs a different function for steering and keeping you safe. You can find out more if you check your owner’s manual.
Since everything is interconnected, it can be a guessing game if the ABS and traction control light is on. However, you might see several warning lights if it’s more than just the traction control kicking in while driving. Let’s look at potential reasons behind a traction control malfunction
. Temporary loss of traction
First and foremost, the light is supposed to come on when the traction control system kicks in. If you’re driving in poor weather, like rain or snow
, the wheels will lose traction, so you’ll probably see the TSC light flashing on and off. The problem happens when the light doesn’t turn off or other warning lights join in. This is when you’ll want to get your Ram 1500 truck inspected by your mechanic
. Faulty wheel speed sensors
One of the first things to check is the sensors since it could be a faulty wheel speed sensor
. Since the sensors are connected to the wheels, you can imagine how much the sensors get knocked around, wearing them out. One indication that something is up will be a traction control light that keeps on shining. The wheel speed sensors can be checked thanks to an OBD-II scan tool to look for trouble codes
–the tool can tell if the sensor is to blame. Anti-lock braking system (ABS) malfunction
Another potential problem is the anti-lock brake system
module. The sensor or fuse for the ABS can begin to corrode, for example, or the brake fluid could be too low. You can check your brake fluid levels
to rule out that possibility. If you see both the traction control warning light and the ABS system light
come on, be sure you get your 2014 Ram 1500 in for a check. You want your ABS in working condition! Low tire pressure
Having low tire pressure can affect your TCS system. The wheel sensors can misinterpret the low pressure as losing traction, which can trigger the TCS light. It can also be caused by your tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) malfunctioning.
If the traction control light is the only one on, check your tire pressure first to see if that’s to blame.
Broken TCS/ABS control module
The control module that helps keep track of the traction control and anti-lock braking systems can run into problems. For example, there can be an issue with a fuse or a bad connection. Anything wrong with the control module can trip the traction light.
If driving conditions are fine but the light keeps shining, have a mechanic check the control module as a potential reason.
Traction control system turned off
The traction control system stays on as the default setting, however, you do have the option to turn it off
using the “ESC Off” button. However, you might forget to turn it back on, or you might accidentally turn off the function. You should see a light on the dashboard that uses the traction light but adds the word “off.” If you see this version, then you want to push the “ESC Off” button to reinstate the traction system.
Can you drive with the traction control light on?
You can still drive your 2014 Ram 1500 if the traction control light is on, but be careful, especially if road conditions are poor.
If you just see the traction light for a short while, especially under less ideal driving conditions, it just means the TCS is doing its job. You want to check on things if the light stays on or if you see other warning lights at the same time. Having traction control is a safety feature, so you definitely don’t want to ignore a potential problem!
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