Whether you drive a Ford F150, Mustang, Explorer, Fusion, or other Ford vehicle, you’ve probably seen the “Service AdvanceTrac” warning on the dash.
While there are many reasons this light may be illuminated, it is possible to reset the warning yourself.
What is AdvanceTrac?
AdvanceTrac is Ford’s branding for their electronic stability control system. A stability control system uses wheel speed sensors, steering inputs, and yaw sensors to determine a vehicle’s path relative to the driver’s intentions. The system then provides corrections to prevent skids and slides, allowing the driver to maintain control over the vehicle.
If a driver is steering to the right but the vehicle is traveling straight, the AdvanceTrac system may reduce engine torque or apply the brakes to the right wheels to correct the vehicle’s path. This points the nose of the vehicle in the same direction as the driver’s steering input.
AdvanceTrac makes it easier to drive in inclement weather, and can quickly detect traction loss. The brakes can be applied to even a single wheel if necessary.
Related: 5 Causes of a “Steering Assist is Reduced, Drive with Care” Message
Traction Control
As a part of the AdvanceTrac system, the traction control feature works to help you maintain grip on the road surface. When your vehicle’s sensors detect wheel slip, the system will adjust power to the wheels or apply braking force to regain traction.
This can be especially helpful during wet, icy, or snowy conditions. By using information from the ABS (antilock braking system) sensors, the AdvanceTrac system can ensure you effectively navigate tricky road situations.
See Also: 7 Reasons Why the Traction Control Light Is On When Accelerating
Stability Control
Stability control is another important component of the AdvanceTrac system. This feature focuses on helping you maintain control during cornering, especially during sudden or sharp turns.
The system monitors factors such as vehicle speed, steering angle, and lateral acceleration, making adjustments as needed to prevent loss of control. If the system senses instability, it can react by reducing engine power or applying selective braking to keep your vehicle on its intended path.
In short, Ford’s AdvanceTrac system enhances your driving experience by providing electronic stability control, traction control, and stability control features. By continuously monitoring various aspects of your vehicle’s performance, the system works to keep you safe and in control, especially when navigating difficult road conditions or sudden turns.
So when you’re behind the wheel of your Ford, know that these technologies are working together to help you stay on the right path.
AdvanceTrac vs AdvanceTrac RSC
When it comes to the difference between AdvanceTrac and AdvanceTrac RSC, it’s all about the added features in the RSC version.
Both systems are designed to improve vehicle control on various driving surfaces, like snow, ice, gravel, and rain-covered roads. However, AdvanceTrac RSC takes it a step further by including Roll Stability Control (RSC).
Roll Stability Control is a crucial feature that helps you avoid vehicle rollovers. By monitoring the vehicle’s lateral movement and adjusting the brake pressure and engine power, it can prevent your vehicle from flipping over during sharp turns or sudden maneuvers.
What Triggers the “Service AdvanceTrac” Warning Light?
There are several failures that could trigger a Service AdvanceTrac warning light. Here are some of the possible causes.
See Also: 5 Causes of a “Check VSA System” Warning
1) Bad Wheel Speed Sensor
A wheel speed sensor (also called an ABS sensor) is embedded into each of the four wheel hubs. These sensors detect the speed at which each tire is spinning. The ECU maintains this data and uses it to determine a vehicle’s trajectory, and when one or more tires have lost traction.
A bad wheel speed sensor may not send this data to the ECU. With incomplete sensor data, the AdvanceTrac system will not be able to adequately measure and correct vehicle trajectory. This would trigger a warning light.
2) Mismatched Wheels or Tires
Many owner’s manuals include a warning that vehicle modifications may adversely affect the stability control system. Fords are no exception.
If your vehicle has any modifications to the wheel or tire size, or you’re running a mismatched set of tires, the stability control system may find certain sensor values to be outside the acceptable range for normal operation.
Although the tires may appear to be the same shape and size, mismatched tires will give different wheel speed sensor readings. In this case, it may be hard for the AdvanceTrac system to control the car in the event of a skid.
The AdvanceTrac system was programmed to work for a specific tire diameter.
Related: Best Tire Brands for Different Seasons
3) Broken Clock Spring
A bad clock spring (also called a spiral cable) is a coil of wires that feeds power to the steering angle sensor, the steering wheel buttons, and the airbag.
A broken clock spring could interrupt the signal between the ECU and the steering angle sensor, rendering the AdvanceTrac system inoperable. In this case, you will notice other symptoms such as broken steering wheel controls and an airbag warning light.
4) Limp Mode
If your vehicle has entered limp mode, chances are the AdvanceTrac system will not work. Limp mode triggers several warning lights, and among these is often the Service AdvanceTrac warning.
5) Bad Ground or Wiring Issue
A bad ground can cause all sorts of problems with sensors, depending on the ground location and which sensors are on that part of the circuit.
If you think you have a bad ground, first check that all your ground straps are connected with a clean and tight connection. If multiple sensors are acting up, this may help you narrow down the location of the bad ground.
You may need to use a wiring diagram from a repair manual to help you track down the source of the problem.
Can You Drive With the Service AdvanceTrac Light On?
It is possible to drive with the Service AdvanceTrac light on. If you decide to do this, keep in mind that your stability control system may not function correctly, if at all.
If you are driving on a perfect sunny day, this is not much of a concern (unless you’re in a Mustang, near a crowd, and leaving a Cars and Coffee meet).
However, if you are driving in inclement weather, you may want to think twice before going too far with the AdvanceTrac warning light on. This is especially true in snowy or icy conditions.
If you have some seat time at a car control event with professional instruction, you may be able to get along just fine without stability control. Some examples of such events are high performance driver education and autocross.
How to Turn Off the Service AdvanceTrac Light
Like a check engine light, the best way to fix the AdvanceTrac light is to identify the problem that caused the light in the first place and correct that problem.
If you think the Service AdvanceTrac warning was an error, a high quality automotive scan tool should be able to reset the warning light.
Barring that, you should be able to reset the AdvanceTrac light by disconnecting the ground terminal of the battery. After the battery is disconnected, hold the brake pedal for a few seconds to make sure any power left in the system is discharged.
Next, reconnect the battery. Do note that this procedure may reset some unrelated settings in the vehicle, such as the radio or clock.
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2020 explorer replaced battery a few hours later service trac light came on . i took it to ford dealer they said that since changing the battery the system needed to be flashed. drove about 50miles after they serviced it and alarm is back in?
Take it back to the dealership, there may be something else going on here. You said both “alarm” and “service AdvanceTrac light”. Are you having two issues or does the alarm refer to the AdvanceTrac warning?
thanks for all the information , very helpful.
My 2011 Ford Mustang v6, Service AdvanceTrac light came on about two weeks ago. Took to a local mechanic; for diagnosis, since the light was going on and off by itself. Discovered the root cause was a Steering Angle Sensor. Ford OEM part 3F818 $261, Labor $197 and Labor to reprogram the ECM/PCM $215.
Mine went off because my wheel bearings were bad on my front right side of my 2014 F-150. I changed the wheel bearing hub assembly in an hour and cost me $200 for the part. Haven’t seen the light come on since.
How did you find out about the wheel bearing? Did you use a scan tool? Thanks.
Ford fusion 2017 advancetrac and ABS came out but turned off again steering wheel felt kind of hard but then went back to normal, any idea on why?
I’m not sure. Power steering could be cutting out. I’d hook up a scanner and see what codes were stored with that event.
When I put my car Into park and only park the service advanced trac lights and the notification l come on, but after about 2 seconds they shut off?
I don’t know, you’ll have to get the car scanned to figure out what that AdvanceTrac code is for.
I have a 2010 Lincoln Navigator with a MyKey on it from a previous owner still programmed on it. It says to service the advancetrac, today my Navigator lost power while trying to go from a stop sign. Is this because of the MyKey or bigger issues?
I don’t know. Sounds like someone should take a look at it because more information is needed.
Do you know whether the Service Advance Trac Notification will cause my 2011 Fusion to not pass inspection? (NY)
I don’t know. That would be a good question for your local test facility, as the rules are likely to vary in different places.
The “Service AdvanceTrac” light is on for our 2013 Ford CMax. It only started after we drove on some icy roads yesterday which can’t just be a coincidence. The car is still driveable but the steering feels funny. Any ideas?
A professional scan tool can tell you why that light was triggered. Could be a bad ABS sensor or there could be some snow interfering with its normal operation.
When you say “funny”, I think about my 14 explorer which gave a Battery Charging System fault 3 times, and then I started feeling a “catch” in the steering. Turns out, if your battery is going bad, (mine was) Ford’s genius engineers have programmed your computer to shut down your electric-assisted power steering/rack and pinion, though not completely, at least not right away. We were travelling on the July 4th holiday, and the steering wheel got harder and harder to turn. I mean, like impossible, and we could have been killed. Trying to get to a safe place to pull over, on curvy mountain roads. All because we did not address the battery warning fault. Now, Ford will tell you that your entire rack and pinion steering assembly has to be replaced, and reprogrammed, after you get a new battery. You may be out well over $2,000.00. I bought the new part and replaced it myself. Kept the old rack assembly. Installed the old rack on a rebuilder, programmed the old rack, and it is still running today. Ford lies. A bad battery does not ruin your electric assist power steering rack and pinion unit.
“rear trac service” appears on my ford xlt 4×2 2016 model,what does it mean sir?and what should be the probable way to do?
The tire pressure monitor fault light was already on. I have an appointment for Tuesday. All of a sudden these lights all showed up at once: check park aid, park break malfunction service now and service the advance trac. Any clues?
My car is the same way did you find out what it is
Was rear ended by 2 cars last week and ever since then I keep getting “service advance track” warning … is it possible that it was caused when I slammed on my brakes and hit by both cars?
An accident could cause just about anything to go wrong, so it’s probably possible yes.
My vehicle won’t start period with this service Trac advance. At ford now any suggestions?
I’d let the Ford dealer determine what the problem is.
Mine is doing the same thing would you able to get it fixed and what was the issue
I was told my AdvanceTrac light was on today because: Part Costing $1696.36, resulting in $718 in labor needed to be replaced. Ford could not duplicate concern, but insisted that steering assembly needed to be replaced. Not sure the handwriting but appears part#KG9Z 3504G. They want $2700 to replace this assembly to fix advancetrac malfunction. But they also admit the system doesn’t store errors and they couldn’t duplicate concern. I was told that every time the system defaults, any possible recovery code is lost once the car is turned off. They claimed system doesn’t store error codes the same way as other components that trigger a check engine light.
I would try really hard to replicate the issue and provide the technician with precise steps to reproduce the problem before you opt to have any service done. It is very hard to know for sure what the problem is without this step, and I would hate to see you waste that much money only to have the problem reoccur if they replace the wrong part.
Thank you so much for sharing about cars. keep it up and update more information.