C0242 on Cadillac
Engine Control Module Indicated Traction Control Malfunction
C0242 on Cadillac vehicles indicates engine control module indicated traction control malfunction. Au7o has documented this code across 1 Cadillac model — most commonly on Escalade. General Motors chassis code stored by the Electronic Brake Control Module (EBCM). The traction control system reduces wheel spin by asking the Engine Control Module to cut engine torque. C0242 sets when the EBCM is told by the ECM — over the serial data bus — that the ECM cannot honour a torque-reduction request or that its own torque-control path is unreliable. In practice the EBCM sees the ECM report a traction-control-relevant fault (commonly a throttle-actuator or accelerator-pedal-position fault, or an ECM internal/processor fault), so it disables traction control and StabiliTrak, and the ECM independently commands Reduced Engine Power. C0242 is therefore usually a consequence code: the primary fault is almost always a P-code stored in the ECM at the same time. Typical repair costs on Cadillac range from $150 to $1,800, depending on the specific model and root cause.
Common Causes of C0242
- •A primary ECM fault set at the same time (throttle actuator control, accelerator pedal position sensor, or ECM internal performance codes such as P0641/P2135)
- •Loose, corroded or broken main negative battery cable / poor engine-to-body ground causing voltage drops on the bus
- •Failing throttle body or accelerator pedal position sensor
- •Serial data (GMLAN) wiring or connector faults between ECM and EBCM
- •Weak battery or failing alternator producing low system voltage
- •Internal ECM failure
C0242 on Cadillac by Model
Cadillac Escalade(1 issue)
- Service StabiliTrak With Reduced Engine Power on GMT900 Escalade2007-2014
GMT900 Escalades commonly throw 'Service StabiliTrak' and 'Service Traction Control' together with a reduced-engine-power event, and owners chase it for months because three unrelated root causes present identically. The most common is the electronic throttle body - carbon buildup on the blade and a worn throttle position sensor track make the two APP/TPS signals disagree, the PCM defaults to limp mode, and StabiliTrak disables itself because it can no longer command torque reduction. The second is the brake pressure sensor or the EBCM internally, which sets a chassis code and disables ESC without any engine symptom. The third is a weak battery or corroded ground causing a low-voltage brownout that trips every chassis module at once. CarComplaints lists 'Stabiltrak Light On' as the #3 problem on the 2007 Escalade at an average of $1,800 and 75,000 miles, and the 2007 model year carries 41 NHTSA engine complaints alongside a large ESC-related brakes group on 2011.
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View C0242 across all makes →Frequently Asked Questions
What does C0242 mean on Cadillac?▼
C0242 stands for "Engine Control Module Indicated Traction Control Malfunction." General Motors chassis code stored by the Electronic Brake Control Module (EBCM). The traction control system reduces wheel spin by asking the Engine Control Module to cut engine torque. C0242 sets when the EBCM is told by the ECM — over the serial data bus — that the ECM cannot honour a torque-reduction request or that its own torque-control path is unreliable. In practice the EBCM sees the ECM report a traction-control-relevant fault (commonly a throttle-actuator or accelerator-pedal-position fault, or an ECM internal/processor fault), so it disables traction control and StabiliTrak, and the ECM independently commands Reduced Engine Power. C0242 is therefore usually a consequence code: the primary fault is almost always a P-code stored in the ECM at the same time. On Cadillac specifically, this code is documented across 1 model.
What causes C0242 on Cadillac vehicles?▼
Common causes on Cadillac: A primary ECM fault set at the same time (throttle actuator control, accelerator pedal position sensor, or ECM internal performance codes such as P0641/P2135), Loose, corroded or broken main negative battery cable / poor engine-to-body ground causing voltage drops on the bus, Failing throttle body or accelerator pedal position sensor, Serial data (GMLAN) wiring or connector faults between ECM and EBCM, Weak battery or failing alternator producing low system voltage. Specific causes vary by model and year — see the per-model sections below.
How much does it cost to fix C0242 on a Cadillac?▼
Repair costs on Cadillac range from $150 to $1,800, depending on the specific model and root cause.
Which Cadillac models have C0242 documented?▼
Au7o has documented C0242 on 1 Cadillac model: Escalade.