Pontiac Repair: service engine soon + trac off, traction control system, service engine soon light

Question
hello i have a 2001 PONTIAC GRAND AM SE 2.4l i started the car this morning and the SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON THE TRAC OFF LIGHT IS ON and the car is RUNNING ROUGH NOW. Also the SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT IS FLASHING. there was no previous problems before this mornings start up. 222654 kilometers on engine. thanks alot.

Answer
Hey Robert:

well it can be a couple of things. Is it cold where you are? If so I have seen the oild pressure regulator go bad for the engine and cause the engien to have too much oil pressure and then cause the lifters for the engine to pump up and hold the valves open on the engine. But for that to just crop up all the sudden with that many miles I doubt it but it's possable. The more likely cause is something in the ignition system either a bad ignition coil or ignition module or even a bad coil cover housing. The plastic piece that the ignition coils sit in go bad abd the coils cross fire inside the housing instead of firing the sprak plugs. The problem is more than likely in there some where. The trac off light came on because the antilock brakes and engine control cork together to give you low speed traction control on that car. If the engine is misfiring bad enough or the service engine light comes on it disables the traction control system. Good luck :)