I have a 2005 monte carlo ss supercharged engine. Recently my "service traction system" light has come on and when that happens the "trac off" light also comes on. anyone else had this problem? what has it cost to fix?

 

Wheel Hub Assembly has a bad connection. Might need to be replaced

From a dealer could be anywhere from $200-$1000

 

i know i need to get my 2 front tires replaced. could that be causing the problem?

 

Tires won't cause that. Mike's right, it's a bad wheel hub. I had the same symptoms with my 03 and it turned out to be a sensor that failed in one of the rear hubs. Hub assembly isn't cheap either, mine was around $650 if I remember correctly.

 

More likely than not, if you're in a winter state such as I am in Michigan, the connector from the hub's wheel speed senser gets corroded. It needs to be unplugged and cleaned with some contact cleaner, or as I do, some WD-40, plugged together and taken apart several times, blown out with an air hose, fresh WD-40, and put together. That should last at least 6 months or more. I've had to do this almost since I got the car 6 years ago.

And as far as hubs, I'm replacing mine myself this afternoon. 166,000 miles on them. I got Timken's from RockAuto.com for under $90 each with a 5% discount with a code from the venders section right here on the MCF. I'm figuring 2 hrs each, but a good mechanic should be able to do both in 2 hrs easily.

It's rare the speed sensors go bad. My bearings are shot.

 

Get to timken's off Internet as pair for like 150.00 dollars will be easy to do if you have some mechanical experience .. Only a couple of bolts but I would also check your break fluid too

 

Low brake fluid would throw a brake light, not a traction control light. This is a speed sensor problem, and normally one of the front wheels, rarely the rears. The wiring on hubs are too tight. I've bent my brackets slightly to release some of the wiring tension.