1999 V70na Occasional TRACS light and rough idle

[paredown]

After getting a Matty Moo rebuilt ABS early in the process of resuscitating this car, I have had months of trouble-free driving while I have deal with other problems.

Recently though I have had the TRACS light come on--always shortly after starting the car (before warm) and a rough idle (almost stalling) and the smell of improper combustion. Start seems normal, but shortly after I am underway, the TRACS light comes on and it starts to run very rough.

It has happened to me twice and once for my wife. It seems like turning the ignition off, and then restarting will cause the car to go through the normal flashing lights at startup and the problem seems to clear and I continue on my way.

Yesterday though it took more than one shut off/restart cycle before the problem resolved itself.

Could this be a problem with the ignition switch--it has not been replaced to my knowledge, and I seem to recall that there are problems with them?

Background: I have done the PCV as well, car is running well (over 26mpg according to the trip computer on a recent long trip), temps are normal since I put in an OEM thermostat, plugs were replaced on first round of triage, as was the fuel filter.

I do know that the locking cam/clamp where the ABS module plugs in is broken--and I had it zip tied originally, but the last time I tried to zip tie it, the loop I was using also broke off. But every time I check it, it seems tight and hasn't moved.

[Ozark Lee]

If it were just the TRACS, without the rough idle, I would focus on the ABS connector but given that both problems are occurring simultaneously the switch is a definite candidate. The next time it acts up try to jiggle the key and see if things change. If things do change that is a confirmation that the switch is on its way out.

...Lee