“Service StabiliTrak, Engine Power Reduced” Error in GMC Terrain

In the last few decades, most cars have been fitted with all sorts of safety features, such as ABS and airbags, but one of the most important is the traction control feature. Usually coupled with ABS (Antilock Braking System), it helps to keep the vehicle on the road even in more difficult conditions, such as heavy rain or snow, and allows as little slip as possible.

Service StabiliTrak message highlights

• Common reasons:any stabilization system component is faulty
• How to fix:scan for error codes to know the problem
• Possible consequences:the vehicle may eventually stop and you may be stranded
• Priority level:Medium
• Can you drive?Carefully
• DIY repair:Possible
• Repair price range:$150-$1,000

What causes this problem?

Since one of the most important safety features of the car is not working as it should, most of the time the engine's power might be reduced to not allow excessive speeds in these conditions, so don't be too surprised if a feature that is related to braking your car will not allow you to accelerate either.

Here are a few of the reasons that could cause the "Service StabiliTrak" error message on the GMC Terrain:

• Wrong tires

Something that might seem harmless at first sight actually has great importance in the good working of the StabiliTrak system. Just think about the fact that the only contact with the road surface that your vehicle has is through the tires, and the combined surface of them is no bigger than an A4 piece of paper.

Still not convinced of their importance? Mismatched tires or simply wrong sizes could cause issues on pretty much all vehicles fitted with traction control systems, so always stick to the tire specifications mentioned in the owner's manual.

• Blown fuse

Always check the fuse panel before attempting any other troubleshooting, since a bad fuse is usually one of the cheapest ways of fixing an issue. It would be very frustrating to change all sorts of expensive components only to find out in the end that it was a bad fuse that actually caused your problem. There should be a diagram near the fuse panel that tells you exactly which fuses control what systems.

• Bad wheel speed sensors

Wheel speed sensors are crucial in the working of the system since they are the components that tell the control module the fact that one wheel is spinning way faster than the others, possibly indicating the fact that it's slipping.

When they go bad, the control module virtually has no information about what a certain wheel is doing, so they are vital. Keep in mind that in some situations, they are not actually faulty, but dirt or water from the road have made their way into their location, in which case, they might only act up only for a certain period.

• Bad wiring or connections

As usual, when it comes to electronic components, wiring is extremely important, so any damaged wiring or bad connections will almost certainly throw an error code and a warning light in the instrument cluster.

• Faulty brake pedal switch

Not only does this switch triggers the brake lights when you touch the brake pedals, but it also tells the control module that you are hitting the brakes, thus enabling it to perform accordingly and not correct too much of your driving if not necessary.

• Bad alternator

A faulty alternator could cause all sorts of running issues, and the traction control error is no exception in this case. If there isn't enough voltage, certain systems simply can't work as intended by the factory.

• Bad battery

Same as with the alternator, the battery needs to always be in good shape, since it can also trigger some very strange electrical faults. When was the last time you checked yours?

• Bad control module

The StabiliTrak control module is another key component in this system and it is basically its brain. Based on the input it gets from various sensors, it will act accordingly. If it stops working, you are basically left with no traction control at all. Sometimes, it is not actually faulty and just needs to be reset.

How to fix the issue?

Before any other troubleshooting, the most important thing you should do is do a diagnostic. Certain errors and warnings can have more meanings to them and there is no point in just trying to guess what caused them. The diagnostic tool will tell you exactly what caused it and from then you can start checking and replacing parts.

If you decide to fix the issue yourself, take your time and check everything thoroughly, especially when it comes to wiring and connections, since they are usually the ones that take the most of your time to troubleshoot.

Make sure to do your research before you start doing anything because you wouldn't want to start disassembling your car only to find out later that there is a certain bolt you don't have the correct socket for. Service manuals will usually tell you everything you need to know and nowadays they are widely available on the internet.

When it comes to electrical issues, you'll find out that many times a simple reset is what fixes your problem. Try removing the negative terminal from your battery and leave it like this for around 15 minutes and then reconnect everything back and go for a short drive.

In certain cases, you might end up with more errors than you started with, but don't worry, as they will usually clear after driving for a few miles. If they still don't go away, there might not necessarily be a new problem that you have to deal with, but they might need to be cleared using an OBD diagnostic tool.

If you think that this is too much for you to do at home, our advice would be to take your car to a nearby shop, as they will almost certainly have all the tools and knowledge necessary to fix the problem you're dealing with. Keep in mind that bad wiring might take a longer time to diagnose and the shop will charge you by hours worked.

Also, if the problem is the control module, that might get quite expensive to replace. To save some money, you could try a used, but verified part, if the price difference is enough to make you consider it a brand-new one.

How to avoid problems in the future?

When it comes to avoiding problems, there are a couple of things that we recommend you do to make sure that the "Service StabiliTrak" error stays away for as long as possible. Always use tires recommended by the vehicle's manufacturer, since they know best what combinations work with the traction control system.

Simply ignoring their advice basically makes such safety features useless and might also affect the fuel consumption, handling, and comfort of the vehicle. Another thing that many people ignore would be to avoid driving through wet and dirty roads as much as you possibly can.

Don't get us wrong, this doesn't mean that driving your car in the rain will slowly kill the traction control system, but constant exposure to dirt, rocks, and water won't be helpful for those speed sensors we've mentioned earlier. You were thinking of driving through that big puddle of water ahead of you just for fun? It might be better to think about it twice.

Final thoughts

The traction control system in cars, StabiliTrak in the case of the GMC Terrain, is extremely helpful and it makes driving, even in rough conditions, a lot easier than it used to be many years ago when the only safety feature was a very good driver.

However, the presence of these clever driving aids doesn't mean that you can just let go of the steering wheel and scroll on social media while driving, so always pay attention to the road ahead and remember that they are simply there to make driving easier and not redundant.