SLIP light blinking
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Saint Louis, MO
SLIP light blinking
Ok guys I'm still pretty new at this and just got a 2003 6mt 350z a couple weeks ago, but to get to the point my slip light keeps blinking at random times and I don't know what is causing it. It happens usually at low rpms but I don't know why the slip light is coming on if im not romping on it or shifting gears. Can someone please try to help me figure this out I've used the search bar and didn't really find an answer and don't want to take it to a shop if its an easy fix or if I can just get an answer from somebody. If someone can just help me out that would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 867
Likes: 0
From: Kent, WA
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 4,293
Likes: 2
From: Spartanburg(SparkleCity), SC
99 to 1 odds it's your tire sizes and they are not in the same ratio front to back that it's expecting (overall diameter).
Just tell us your tire sizes and we can use a tire calculator to see if that's the problem you're running into.
Just tell us your tire sizes and we can use a tire calculator to see if that's the problem you're running into.
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Saint Louis, MO
I just looked and my tire sizes are 225/50/17 and 235/50/17 and the 235's are up front, so whoever had this before when he rotated them put the bigger tires up front instead of in the back. I'm going to rotate them back sometime this weekend and then get an alignment. Thanks
Trending Topics
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 867
Likes: 0
From: Kent, WA
you know what ratio it needs?
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 4,293
Likes: 2
From: Spartanburg(SparkleCity), SC
I know that it's in this thread: https://my350z.com/forum/wheels-and-...read-here.html
I'm on my mobile phone and it's hard to check right now. Give me a bit or read through that thread… it holds the key to your salvation.
I'm on my mobile phone and it's hard to check right now. Give me a bit or read through that thread… it holds the key to your salvation.
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 4,293
Likes: 2
From: Spartanburg(SparkleCity), SC
I think this post is even more specific: https://my350z.com/forum/2003-2009-n...45#post4936171
Q: The "Slip" light come on randomly, especially in turns, even though my tires aren't slipping. What's up with that?
A: Both the Traction Control System (TCS) and Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) can cause the "slip" light to come on. There are a couple of things that can make it come on even though you don't feel/hear your tires slipping.
The most common cause for this behavior is replacement of the OEM tires with a different size. All Zs come with staggered tires, that is to say the fronts are a little shorter than the rears. This causes the tires to rotate at different rates which TCS and VDC depends on for normal operation. If you install tire combinations that don't maintain that stagger, it can cause problems for TCS/VDC resulting in the "slip" light illuminating.
The stock tire sizes and Outside Diameters are:
225/50/17 25.9"
235/50/17 26.3" (0.4" stagger)
225/45/18 25.9"
245/45/18 26.7" (0.8" stagger)
245/40/18 25.7"
265/35/19 26.3" (0.6" stagger)
265/40/18 26.3"
285/35/19 26.9" (0.6" stagger)
When choosing new tires, try to find front/rear pairs that maintain the stagger of at least ½" and less than 1". You should also look for front/rear setups that maintain the same OD as that will keep your speedometer and odometer accurate.
Here are the most common "upsized" tire combinations. These are known to work and keep TCS/VDC happy.
245/40/18 25.7"
275/40/18 26.6" (0.9" stagger)
245/35/19 25.8"
275/35/19 26.6" (0.8" stagger)
255/35/19 26"
285/35/19 26.9" (0.9" stagger)
245/30/20 25.8"
275/30/20 26.5" (0.7" stagger)
Check the manufacturer's website to find the Outside Diameter of tires before you buy them, or use one of the online tire calculators:
http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html
http://www.wheelsmaster.com/rt_specs.jsp
A less common cause for the "slip" light to illuminate comes from replacing the fronts or rears only. If you replace only the fronts or rears, the stagger may not be what you think it is because the other worn pair is actually up to ½" smaller than they were when new.
New tires also come with a release agent on the surface of the rubber that must be worn off. That makes them slick and can result in your tires actually slipping, hence the "slip" light.
NOTE: The slip light does and will come on during "normal" driving that is unrelated to tire size or wear. If you apply too much throttle when launching or going around a turn, the wheels will slip and cause the light to illuminate. Also, driving on slick road surfaces (water, oil, rocks) can also cause your tires to slip.
A: Both the Traction Control System (TCS) and Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) can cause the "slip" light to come on. There are a couple of things that can make it come on even though you don't feel/hear your tires slipping.
The most common cause for this behavior is replacement of the OEM tires with a different size. All Zs come with staggered tires, that is to say the fronts are a little shorter than the rears. This causes the tires to rotate at different rates which TCS and VDC depends on for normal operation. If you install tire combinations that don't maintain that stagger, it can cause problems for TCS/VDC resulting in the "slip" light illuminating.
The stock tire sizes and Outside Diameters are:
225/50/17 25.9"
235/50/17 26.3" (0.4" stagger)
225/45/18 25.9"
245/45/18 26.7" (0.8" stagger)
245/40/18 25.7"
265/35/19 26.3" (0.6" stagger)
265/40/18 26.3"
285/35/19 26.9" (0.6" stagger)
When choosing new tires, try to find front/rear pairs that maintain the stagger of at least ½" and less than 1". You should also look for front/rear setups that maintain the same OD as that will keep your speedometer and odometer accurate.
Here are the most common "upsized" tire combinations. These are known to work and keep TCS/VDC happy.
245/40/18 25.7"
275/40/18 26.6" (0.9" stagger)
245/35/19 25.8"
275/35/19 26.6" (0.8" stagger)
255/35/19 26"
285/35/19 26.9" (0.9" stagger)
245/30/20 25.8"
275/30/20 26.5" (0.7" stagger)
Check the manufacturer's website to find the Outside Diameter of tires before you buy them, or use one of the online tire calculators:
http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html
http://www.wheelsmaster.com/rt_specs.jsp
A less common cause for the "slip" light to illuminate comes from replacing the fronts or rears only. If you replace only the fronts or rears, the stagger may not be what you think it is because the other worn pair is actually up to ½" smaller than they were when new.
New tires also come with a release agent on the surface of the rubber that must be worn off. That makes them slick and can result in your tires actually slipping, hence the "slip" light.
NOTE: The slip light does and will come on during "normal" driving that is unrelated to tire size or wear. If you apply too much throttle when launching or going around a turn, the wheels will slip and cause the light to illuminate. Also, driving on slick road surfaces (water, oil, rocks) can also cause your tires to slip.
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Saint Louis, MO
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 4,293
Likes: 2
From: Spartanburg(SparkleCity), SC
NOTE: You actually could if you dismounted them from the wheels, remounted them on the opposite side, etc… but unless you run your own tire shop it costs too much to fool with.
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Outer space
Not to be redundent
Sorry i don't mean to beat a dead horse here but i have an 03 auto tranny 350z and i have 225/50/17 in the front and 245/40/17 in the back would that cause my slip light to flicker on and off? Also if i turned the traction control off would that solve the problem?
I have the same problem, turning off tcs solves it for me. You can buy a module that also has tcs off if you want as well
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
