Error code · ABS and chassis

C0561 — GM: ESP and traction control disabled — another fault is stored

Don’t put off the repair

For makes: Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac, Buick, Pontiac

A fault code doesn’t yet mean the unit or sensor itself is faulty: often it’s the plug and connector leading to it.

Possible causes

What you can do yourself

  1. This is a consequence, not a cause: read the other codes in the ABS and engine units and fix them — then this code will clear.
  2. ESP and traction control, and sometimes ABS, may not work. The brakes still work, but without electronic help — on slippery roads brake smoothly and don’t accelerate hard.

Stop and don’t drive on if:

  • The red brake light is on, or the brake pedal feels soft or sinks
  • The steering became very heavy, or the car pulls to one side when braking
OOleg’s tip: check the connector

Often the cause is simple — there is no contact in the connector (plug). Look at the connector from the back: remove the rubber seal and you will see whether a wire is corroded or has come off completely. Corrosion shows up as green deposits. Ideally, gently pull each wire towards you one at a time: a sound wire stays in place, while a corroded one simply comes off — it needs to be repaired.

Unplug and inspect connectors with the ignition off.

This is the GM meaning. Under the SAE standard and on other makes this number means something else: if your car isn’t a GM, change the make at the top.

Source: websites.umich.edu, ricksfreeautorepairadvice.com

The explanation comes from the error code reference in the AvtoElektrik PRO app.

Need a mechanic’s help?

Couldn’t fix it yourself? Oleg, an auto electrician, does computer diagnostics and repairs: he comes out anywhere in Almaty or sees you at his workshop.

Want to figure it out yourself?

Oleg’s course “Car computer diagnostics with a scan tool”: how to hook up a scanner, read codes and live data, and use them to find the cause. The first lessons are free.

Scan tool diagnostics course →

Nearby codes

All codes in C050x–C058x →

Who keeps this reference

The reference is kept by Oleg Dmitriev, an auto electrician from Almaty with 26 years of experience: computer diagnostics of cars and trucks, repair of control units (ECUs). Can’t find the cause? Message him.