Traction Control

[Addy]

does the traction control actually do anything, as soon as there is any water on the road I have all sorts of trouble. the traction control light comes on when there is wheel spin but doesn't seem to do anything? any ideas

[Deaks]

If you cant tell if its doing anything then theres a fair chance its not working. When mine cuts in, you know about it, as the car basically stops moving. that's on a 2003 XR6T sedan. Personally I just turn it off everytime anyway.

[bugster70]

Is your TC light coming on and then staying on? If so that means it is then switched off and won't be doing anything.

Apparently the TC can only limit so much torque going to the wheels. If you only get moderate amounts going through (should do under most normal driving conditions) the TC light will flash on and then off to let you know it's been activated and will limit wheelspin. If you've got your foot to the floor trying to provoke it, you'll be putting too much torque through and will override the TC so that it stays off. The only way to switch it back on then is to stop the car, turn the ignition off and restart it.

[Guest xrtwpn]

TC is sh*t and it does nothing at all

[cobrav8]

TC is sh*t and it does nothing at all

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

that's kind of forceful dont you think - good to see you arnt confused about your opinion.

In a standard car, try turning a sharp corner (maybe in an empty carpark) and nailing it from around 40kph - the traction control will cut in quite quickly and you will feel the car snap back into line.

Now turn the traction control off - and try again.

For a standard car - it does do some good, even in the wet.

If you have more power than standard, or try too hard - then yes it will defeat the traction control easily. For what it is designed for, to prevent the occassional woops for the average driver - I think it works well.

The traction control is not designed for foot to the floor acceleration runs (though I think it would be great if it was designed to be used as a launch control).

Edited 09/11/05 12:01 AM by cobrav8

[bugster70]

Totally agree with cobrav8, 'cept if you try the sharp corner/nailing it combo, I would have thought that that would be enough to override the TC? And as for WOT acceleration runs, I can't override my TC doing that (in a straight line on a dry road) even with a Wogedit!!

[cobrav8]

that's cause you have a auto soaking all the power Buggy!

I can get the car wheelspinning in the dry with the traction control on - but not to the extent of smoking up the tyres - just the right amount to get going.

[Addy]

thanks guys for the info, I will go and find a empty carpark and do some tests.

[bugster70]

that's cause you have a auto soaking all the power Buggy!

Silly me, of course!

Many Wogedited cars are easily breaking traction with autos though, now THAT would be something!!

[cobrav8]

an even better test - do a circle in the carpark - and go as fast as you can with TC on - then turn it off! See if you can cause the car to break traction that way as well. I did that at a BMW 3 series demo day - was good fun (though was on light coating of gravel to make it slip easier).