Traction control?

[Catmonkey]

I've never owned a vehicle with traction control, so I'm not quite sure how effective it is supposed to be. It doesn't seem to do much in my GT500. Since it is starting get warmer, I hit the gas in second gear yesterday and the tires broke loose. This is consistent with what it does anytime I get aggressive in first or second. When I lifted the car snapped back because the back end was sliding to the left. It just seems that traction control should be kicking in sooner. Now the car does have a VMP TVS and 65mm CJ throttle body. Admittedly, I have never tried to see if the traction control symbol lights up, but shouldn't these systems show a fault by throwing a code if it is not working? Anyway, what is your experience with traction control?

 

[Foozeh]

Don't quote me on it..but I am fairly certain with almost any tune (from any tuner) turns the traction control off by default. Traction control is essentially you just letting off the gas because it cuts off the flow of fuel for that brief moment it kicks in.

Like I said, don't quote me on it but that is my understanding.
Hope it helps,
Blake

 

[sykb47l]

Being modded you pretty much have no traction control to rely on. Even stock you can still spin with the TC on.

 

[Imatk]

There's only one place where my traction control actually kicks on. Where I work there's a fairly extreme dip when entering the main roadway (60 mph roadway) and every single time I hit that dip the traction control BEEEEPS and shows "Trac Control Active" in the message center on the speedo.

At no other time does this happen. If I matte the accelerator in 1st or 2nd the tires will spin and I do go sideways and the TC has NEVER turned on from this.

So I'm guessing it has very little to do with "Traction" on acceleration. But more of a signal the ECU gets that the tires have now left the ground and it needs try and do something to help the car get under control.

But again... I really don't know. Would be nice if a Ford engineer was a member here and had an answer though because I've wondered the same thing as you OP.

 

[NuclearPower]

Even stock you can still spin with the TC on.

+1 The TC is set for a pretty advance rate. It will let you get pretty far out there before it stops something. I routinely, not on purpose, get wheel spin shifting to second. The TC doesn't really stop it as much as it tries to keep up. It feels more like it is gradually cutting fuel off rather than abuptly shutting all gas off.

 

[2nd2none]

I'm still uncertain what the difference is between "Traction Control" and "Advancetrac". If you just tap the button once, you get "Traction Control Off". If you hold the button down for a few seconds you get "Advancetrac Off". I know what the "Sport Mode" does but not sure about the other 2.
For people that go to the drag strips, do you just tap the button once for the "Traction Control Off" or hold it down until you get "Advancetrac Off"

 

[zimm17]

The traction control activates the rear brakes. It'll let you spin, but it's dragging the rear brakes. Try this in an open place, like a big parking lot. Turn the wheels a bit from a stop and give it enough gas to break the rear end loose. See how far it will let the rear end go. I bet it interrupts before the car gets the rear 45 degs out of line. lets you get even more loose and sideways before it steps in to save you from swapping ends.

 

[zimm17]

-deleted for the the info below-

 

[zimm17]

This is from the 2012 owner's GT500 supplement:

ADVANCETRAC STABILITY ENHANCEMENT SYSTEM
AdvanceTrac Sport Mode
The AdvanceTrac system provides an available Sport Mode specially
calibrated for the GT500’s unique performance characteristics. This can
be selected utilizing the stability control off switch. See the Driving
section of the Owner’s Guide for more information.
Sport mode is not intended for use on public roadways as this mode
provides less AdvanceTrac system intervention than when the default
ESC and traction control systems are on. Sport mode will allow more
spirited driving while the AdvanceTrac system is still enabled.

Owner's manual:

ADVANCETRAC STABILITY ENHANCEMENT SYSTEM
Your vehicle is equipped with the AdvanceTrac system. The
AdvanceTrac system provides the following stability enhancement
features for certain driving situations:
• Traction control system (TCS), which functions to help avoid
drive-wheel spin and loss of traction.
• Electronic stability control (ESC), which functions to help avoid skids
or lateral slides
The AdvanceTrac system automatically enables each time the engine is
started. All features of the AdvanceTrac system (TCS and ESC) are
active and monitor the vehicle from start-up. However, the system will
only intervene if the driving situation requires it.

Driving

The AdvanceTrac system includes a stability control button located on
the center console, a stability control light and a stability control
off light in the instrument cluster. Both the stability control light and the stability control off light in the instrument cluster will illuminate temporarily during start-up as part of a normal system self-check. The stability control light may illuminate (flash) during certain driving situations which cause the AdvanceTrac system to operate. If the stability control light and the stability control off light illuminate steadily, contact your authorized dealer as soon as
possible to have the system serviced immediately. If equipped with a
message center, the vehicle will also indicate a failure with the
AdvanceTrac system.
When AdvanceTrac performs a normal system self-check, some drivers
may notice a slight movement of the brake, and/or a rumble, grunting, or
grinding noise after startup and when driving off.
When an event occurs that activates AdvanceTrac you may experience
the following:
• A slight deceleration of the vehicle
• The stability control light will flash.
• A vibration in the pedal when your foot is on the brake pedal
• If the driving condition is severe and your foot is not on the brake, the
brake pedal may move as the systems applies higher brake forces. You
may also hear a whoosh of air from under the instrument panel during
this severe condition.
• The brake pedal may feel stiffer than usual.
Traction control system (TCS)
Traction control is a driver aid feature that helps your vehicle maintain
traction of the wheels, typically when driving on slippery and/or hilly
road surfaces, by detecting and controlling wheel spin.
Excessive wheel spin is controlled in two ways, which may work
separately or in tandem, engine traction control and brake traction
control. Engine traction control works to limit drive-wheel spin by
momentarily reducing engine power. Brake traction control works to limit
wheel spin by momentarily applying the brakes to the wheel that is
slipping. Traction control is most active at low speeds.
During TCS events, the stability control light in the instrument cluster
will flash.

If the TCS is activated excessively in a short period of time, the braking
portion of the system may become temporarily disabled to allow the
brakes to cool down. In this situation, the TCS will use only engine
power reduction or transfer to help control the wheels from
over-spinning. When the brakes have cooled down, the system will regain
all features. Anti-lock braking, and ESC are not affected by this condition
and will continue to function during the cool-down period.
The engine traction control and brake traction control system may be
deactivated in certain situations. See the Switching off AdvanceTrac
section below.
If you should become stuck in snow or ice or on a very slippery road
surface, try switching the TCS off. This may allow excess wheel spin to
“dig” the vehicle out and enable a successful “rocking” maneuver.
Electronic stability control (ESC)
Electronic stability control (ESC) may enhance your vehicle’s directional
stability during adverse maneuvers, for example when cornering severely
or avoiding objects in the roadway. ESC operates by applying brakes to
one or more of the wheels individually and, if necessary, reducing engine
power if the system detects that the vehicle is about to skid or slide
laterally.
During ESC events, the stability control light in the instrument cluster
will flash.
Certain adverse driving maneuvers may activate the ESC system, which
include but are not limited to:
• Taking a turn too fast
• Maneuvering quickly to avoid an accident, pedestrian or obstacle
• Driving over a patch of ice or other slippery surfaces
• Changing lanes on a snow-rutted road
• Entering a snow-free road from a snow-covered side street, or vice
versa
• Entering a paved road from a gravel road, or vice versa
• Cornering while towing a heavily loaded trailer (refer to Trailer
towing in the Tires, Wheels and Loading chapter).
Switching off AdvanceTrac
If the vehicle is stuck in snow, mud or sand, and seems to lose engine
power, switching off certain features of the AdvanceTrac system may be
beneficial because the wheels are allowed to spin. This will restore full
engine power and will enhance momentum through the obstacle.

 

[zimm17]

 

[UnleashedBeast]

I've always turned traction control off in all of my cars. TC can't compensate for bone headed drivers.

 

[zimm17]

I didn't know turning off TC left the ESC on. Looks like I'll be turning TC off from now on. ESC is still there to save you from spinning out. Now turning everything off (5 second button hold) really takes off all the gizmos.

 

[stkjock]

Don't quote me on it..but I am fairly certain with almost any tune (from any tuner) turns the traction control off by default.
Blake

totally incorrect - tuners will not shut it off unless you ask them too and some even then will not turn it off.

 

[VNMOUS1]

totally incorrect - tuners will not shut it off unless you ask them too and some even then will not turn it off.

+1. We'll default to OFF in a race tune....
IF you request.


Bj

Sent via Tapatalk from my MoPho

 

[UnleashedBeast]

and if it's defaulted to "off" in the PCM, you can't turn it on from the switch in the dash, at least on the 2007-2009 models you can't.