Seeing a ‘Service Advancetrac’ alert on your Fusion dashboard can be confusing if you don’t know what it means.
This article will help you figure out why this might be happening. I’ll use my experience as a car mechanic to explain possible causes and how to fix them. Let’s get started.
What is Ford Fusion Advancetrac?
Put simply, The Ford Advacetrac technology is a stability control and traction control system that helps you get better traction and control of your vehicle in certain situations.
It uses gyroscopic sensors to detect when a wheel is losing traction or when there is a problem with the steering, then applies brakes or reduces engine power to restore that traction.
What Does “Service Advancetrac” Mean on a Ford Fusion?
Now that you know what this technology is and what it does, let’s get to what “Service Advancetrac” means on a Ford Fusion.
When you have this alert on your dash, it means that your Ford computer has detected an issue within the traction control and stability system and is asking you to bring your car to a Ford dealership to be checked.
What Causes Ford Fusion’s “Service Advancetrac” Alert?
Technically there are a number of different things that can cause your Ford Fusion to give you this message.
However, from working on a handful of Ford fusions with the same issue, I have found that it is most commonly caused by one of four things.
1. Bad Wheel Speed Sensor:
A Service Advancetrac alert is often the result of a bad wheel speed sensor on a Fusion.
Wheel speed sensors measure how fast each wheel is spinning and send that information back to your Ford Fusion’s computer so it knows how much power to send to each wheel.
If this sensor stops working properly, then the system can’t tell if one of your tires has lost traction due to inaccurate wheel speed reads, as a result, the “Service advancetrac” will come on your dashboard
2. Corroded Battery Terminals:
The second most common cause of the Service Advancetrac fault is corrosion on your Fusion’s battery terminals.
The battery in your Ford Fusion plays a crucial role in the vehicle’s electrical system. It powers a lot of electronics in your car, including the advancetrac system.
If there’s corrosion on your battery terminals, then the battery won’t be able to charge properly which results in low voltage.
This causes the advancetrac system to malfunction.
3. Faulty Steering Angle Sensor:
Another possible cause of the Service Advancetrac fault is a faulty steering angle sensor.
The Steering angle sensor is responsible for sensing how far your car is turned, which tells the advancetrac system when to engage and disengage.
If there’s a problem with this sensor, your Ford Fusion computer will think that there is a malfunction in the advancetrac system which causes it to display this alert.
4. Failing Steering Rack:
The fourth and final possible cause of the Service Advancetrac message on this list is a failing steering rack.
It’s a known fact that the steering rack on the Ford Fusion is a common problem.
In fact, Ford issued a recall for the steering racks on some Ford Fusions manufactured between 2010-2013 due to a defect that could cause them to fail.
The steering rack is a part of the steering system that helps to connect the steering wheel to the wheels.
When you turn your steering wheel, it transmits this message through a series of gears and pulleys to move your wheels in the same direction.
If your Fusion steering rack is going bad, then it will cause the “service advancetrac” fault as wheel as you will feel the steering become harder for some time.
How to Fix and Reset the “Service Advancetrac” Light on a Fusion
Now that I have explained what the “service advancetrac” light means and the potential causes, it is time to discuss how you can fix it.
1. Check Battery Terminals
The first thing that you want to do is disconnect your battery terminals and look for any signs of corrosion or wear.
If you find any corrosion or wear, then you will want to clean off the terminals with a wire brush and hot water then dry them off and reconnect.
If the alert goes away, then you are good to go. If not then move on to the next step.
2. Replace Wheel Speed Sensors
If your battery terminals are clean and there is no corrosion or wear, then it is time to replace the wheel speed sensors.
I recommend using an OBD reader to see if there is a code for the wheel speed sensor and which one is bad.
If you don’t have access to an OBD Scanner, then you can opt to replace all 4 wheel speed sensors and see if the fault goes away.
3. Take the Car to the Nearest Ford Dealer or a Qualified Garage
If you’ve tried the above steps and they haven’t worked, then it is time to take your car to the nearest Ford dealer or qualified garage.
The problem might be caused by other things like a faulty steering rack, bad rotation speed sensor, blown-out fuse, or other related components.
Getting diagnostics for your Ford Fusion will help the technician pinpoint the issue and fix it.
Additional Sources
https://www.universityforddurham.com/posts/blog-ford-advance-trac
https://www.cars.com/research/ford-fusion/recalls/
https://www.standardbrand.com/en/products/sensors/sensors/steering-angle-sensors
https://www.deaconjonesfordlm.com/posts/Blog-2019-Ford-AdvanceTrac