Traction Control???

[Marauderjack]

Just for kicks & giggles I went to a large, rain slick parking lot and experimented with the "Traction Control" and was surprised that it didn't do anything apparent??:confused: Wheel spin from a stand still was about the same with it off or on?? :rolleyes:

What is it supposed to do?? The Owner's Manual says it is for snow and ice but turns right around and says if you are stuck in snow turn it off!!:( It also leads me to believe it is only functional at 25+ MPH??

Maybe it's broken....But wouldn't the computer diagnose that on start-up??:confused:

Marauderjack:cool:

PS: Manual says the indicator in the instrument panel will be lit if there is a problem with the system or the user turns it "off" with the switch.....Mine is never lit "on" or "off".....spinning or not??!! I'd just as soon not have it at all........NO SNOW OR ICE HERE IN BEAUFORT!!!:D

[TripleTransAm]

Odd... when you turn off the TC, the button should light up, not an indicator in the dash. The indicator in the dash only lights up when TC kicks in (and ABS as well, I think, I'm not sure). It's this little yellow graphic of fishtailing skid marks behind a car.

Sounds odd that you weren't able to kick it in. I can easily get it to trigger from a complete stop, in rain. However, I've noticed that the dash indicator only lights up in the later stages of TC actuation... I can nail it from a launch and *feel* the system doing something, but by the time the light goes on in the dash, the system has moved to the next stage and is applying more desperate measures.

I forget the order of these traction control measures... I understand they consist of:
-timing and/or throttle limitation to limit engine power
-automatic actuation of the rear brakes to limit spin

I regularly trigger stage 2 climbing my slightly inclined driveway, when iced or snowed-in. Seems that the best way to use TC to one's advantage is to maintain a steady but light throttle application, even as the system is kicking in. Starting in 2nd seems to help a great deal as well.

A hard "TC-off" launch on wet pavement seems to blow away my rear tires once 3500 RPM comes around. The same thing with TC-on seems to invisibly keep things in line, without any visible dash indicator.

[Marauderjack]

Thanks TTA....

I guess mine is OK since it acts just like yours!! I didn't stay on it long....thinking that it would do something drastic?? You know how new gadgets somehow intimidate you!!:rolleyes:

The switch lights up and says off when I switch it off....the little dash icon comes on when it goes through it's test at start-up!!

I guess it will be OK but no ice here so I won't worry about it!!;)

The car is really limbering up and seems pretty nimble!!

Marauderjack:cool:

[TripleTransAm]

I suppose the reason they say to switch it off when stuck in snow, is that it's impossible (or pretty damned hard) to rock the car out of a stuck situation with the TC on.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. The TC system on this car seems very smooth. Very 'upscale'. As far as effectiveness, my WS6's traction control is fantastic, but BOY does it let you know it's working. 'Stage one' is a reduction in engine power through timing and throttle reduction, and you feel that through the throttle pedal as it smacks RIGHT back at your foot. 'Stage two' is the rear brake application.

The MM probably does the same thing but it sure does it discretely. If it wasn't for the dash indicator, I'd simply think the engine was faltering or something, since it lowers power so smoothly. Backing up my driveway sometimes starts with an initial spin followed by the muting of the engine into a weird hum.

[RedMM]

I too thought mine was not working as I was used to the TC on my 98 CV PI which is about 1000 times more sensitive-it activates over anything and everything!! Hell, it even activates if it hears rain forecast on the radio- it ain't wet yet but just incase!! I agree with TTA's assessment of the MM TC-much less sensitive and more refined. Mine came on for the first time from getting some snow in the treads from my unshoveled driveway. I was AMAZED how easily the stock tires spin on DRY streets with just that small amount of snow in the treads. This is the ONLY time TC has activated and it was very precise and deliberate. In 1000 miles of non snow or ice driving it never came on once!!! Thanks! Mike

[TripleTransAm]

Originally posted by RedMM
I too thought mine was not working as I was used to the TC on my 98 CV PI which is about 1000 times more sensitive-it activates over anything and everything!! Hell, it even activates if it hears rain forecast on the radio- it ain't wet yet but just incase!!


:lol:

[RedMM]

Hey TTA-sad but true-the TC on the CV PI really is that paranoid!!!:eek::eek::eek: "Dear God, is that a damp spot in the road ahead!?!?!?!? ENGAGE!!!!!!!!!!!Danger Danger!!! :lol: