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C1104 is a diagnostic trouble code (DTC) for "Traction Control Active Lamp - Circuit Short to Battery". This can happen for multiple reasons and a mechanic needs to diagnose the specific cause for this code to be triggered in your situation. Our certified mobile mechanics can come to your home or office to perform the Check Engine Light diagnostic for $154.99 . Once we are able to diagnose the problem, you will be provided with an upfront quote for the recommended fix and receive $50.0 off as a credit towards the repair. All our repairs are backed by our 12-month / 12,000-mile warranty.
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A C1104 trouble code means that the vehicle's Engine Control Unit (ECU) has registered a short circuit issue in the traction control lamp.
The traction control active lamp is a feature on the vehicle's dashboard that lights up whenever the traction control system is being used. The light typically either lights up as a "TC" acronym or a pictured of a car losing control. The traction control system will light up when the system detects the tires are beginning to lose control. They'll help to even out the issue. If a C1104 code has occurred, the lamp won't light up when the TC system is activated.
A shorted traction control lamp is most often caused by faulty components or improper circuit wiring. The wiring may be corroded, damaged or even faulty. In some rare cases, the ECU itself may be faulty, mistakenly reporting the trouble code as a result. Due to the rareness of this cause, it should only be considered once all other plausible causes have been exhausted.
In the case of a C1104 trouble code, the traction control lamp on the vehicle's dashboard will not light up, regardless whether or not the TC feature is currently active. The C1104 code will be accompanied by an illuminated check engine light on the vehicle's dashboard, as well as a stored C1104 trouble code. These symptoms are activated to help an operator recognize and identify a problem. They may be disregarded once the specific problem has been identified.
The C1104 code is first diagnosed by reading the code using an OBD-II scanner on the vehicle's ECU. The dashboard panel should be accessed and examined for signs of faultiness and potential damage caused by the short circuit. Any electrical wiring and connectors should looked over for signs of disconnection, corrosion improper wiring/installation, damage and faultiness. The use of a diagnostic tool such as an Autohex can help shed light on the source of the circuit failure. Due to the short circuit, fuses related to the dashboard and traction control lamp may have been blown.
Depending on the type of vehicle, chassis-related trouble codes (codes beginning with the letter C) may describe different issues. Contact the vehicle's manufacturer or reach out to a YourMechanic technician if you're uncertain how to interpret a certain code. Your OBD-II scanner may be programmed to specify the description alongside a code it registers.
A C1104 will not affect the drivability of a vehicle, nor will it hinder the traction control system, unless it is accompanied by other codes. Without the traction control active lamp working properly, you won't know whether or not the feature is on. More importantly however, not knowing when it's on means you may not know if it's working when it's supposed to. Other traction-related issues will typically be reported to the ECU as trouble codes, dashboard issues restricting data to the driver can be potentially serious problems.
If any fuses were blown by the traction lamp's short circuit, they'll need to be taken out and replaced in order for the feature to function again. Any concerns with electrical wiring or circuit-related components should be addressed promptly. Simple rewires and repairs may be done if the circuit issue is mild enough, but the circuitry may need to be replaced. If the ECU is identified as faulty, it will need to be reprogrammed or replaced. Once you've made any necessary repairs to fix the lamp circuit, restart the vehicle. Turning the ignition and letting it stand for a couple of minutes will allow the code to recur if it hasn't been addressed yet. If this is the case, return to the diagnostic stage and see if there is anything you may have missed.
If the C1104 was reported alongside other issues relating to the traction control system, repair the codes in the order in which they were logged.
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