For the past 1-2 years my 07 Equinox has had the "check stabiltrax / traction control" light inconsistently light up. Usually it turns on after I hit 55 mph but then will turn off a few days later. I recently came back from a 1200 mile trip and the abs light and check engine light came on about 3 hours away from home. It stayed on the entire time and the shifting and idling was off. I got it checked out at a local shop and they replaced the right wheel tire sensor. The code P0401 (exhaust gas / emissions) came up during the diagnostics but the shop couldn't find any issue besides a ton of rust on the underside of the vehicle - so much rust that the shock absorber was rubbing against the right wheel. Replaced the absorber. Left the shop feeling decent that the problem was fixed and the dash had zero issue lights.

Today I went to Costco to get new tires (hoping that I'll get another 20-30k out of this vehicle - currently has 110k) and the technician mentioned that the rims were so corroded that they couldn't install the new tires with integrity. The tech was on target about the rims. I ended up purchasing new rims and will have them installed next week. Costco put the old tires back on and on my way back home the stabiltrax light came on again. Ugh. Has me wondering if the stabiltrax issue is related to the tires. I called up the car shop and will be stopping by later in the week for them to take another look. Any suggestions or advice to what this could be the issue?

 

swing by an autozone/advance/oreilly and get a courtesy full diagnostic scan.

 

P0401 is exhaust gas flow insufficient and will set off the stabilitrack , and check engine light. The car monitors the map sensor when it opens the egr valve and if it doesn't see the predetermined increase in pressure it says the egr valve flow is not what is expected , its usually the valve but youll have to have it diagnosed if you want to be sure as it could be a few other things.