Traction control - Diesel Forum

K45 · 03-15-2007, 10:58 PM

Working in the oilfield, mountain driving, snow & ice, thought I would take the truck out of 4 wheel drive & see how the tires work.
Everything going well, hit a very steep icy section, truck started to power out & almost came to a complete stop, ***, looked down and see something flashing, it was the traction control.

Not a very handy item in a situation like this.
In 4 wheel drive it turns off, probably works alright on the hwy tho.
It must cut the power when sensing wheel spin [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img]

NickBeek · 03-15-2007, 11:02 PM

In my '03 Grand Marquis it would de tune the engine and apply a brake to the slipping wheel. We had a good old South Carolina ice storm and I took it out to see what it would do. It walked it's way down the road spin lock that wheel, spin the other lock that wheel, alternated back and forth but kept creeping along.

cadamwil · 03-16-2007, 12:16 AM

I don't believe the 08 Traction control does anything but reduce the throttle. I don't think I have any interest in having it on my truck.

Adam

first_ford · 03-16-2007, 10:22 AM

my wifes taurus had it, it was a major pain becuase all it would do is cut power dramatically. it got hairy in many traffic pull outs. her yukon has it also but seems to work alot better. it will keep it going. I think ford must have it set too sensitive. on a side note her freestyle had it also but the thing did not have enough power to even break the wheels loose in the ice, glad to be rid of it.

timskitoo · 03-16-2007, 10:47 AM

For those who have traction control on their new trucks is there a switch to turn it off when not wanted or does it just come on automatically when truck senses the need?

Royster · 03-16-2007, 10:53 AM

There is a switch right below the 4x4 switch. The reverse sensor is below that.

The traction control works great here in Wi.We get a little bit of snow and ice here. I would not have a pick up without it.

GShelton · 03-16-2007, 11:57 AM

Yup, has a switch. But it turns itself back on each time you start the vehicle.

I am almost sorry I had it installed.

kehale · 03-16-2007, 03:06 PM

[ QUOTE ]
... mountain driving, snow & ice, thought I would take the truck OUT of 4 wheel drive & see how the tires work.
Everything going well, hit a VERY STEEP ICY SECTION, truck started to power out & almost came to a complete stop, ***, looked down and see something flashing, it was the traction control.

Not a very handy item in a situation like this.

[/ QUOTE ]

You simply didn't have enough traction in 2wd to overcome the ICY STEEP HILL.

Try the hill again with the traction control turned OFF and your foot on the floor to see how far you get. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Static friction is greater than kinetic friction. Once the tire starts spinning, you have LESS traction.

Traction control does not equal traction magic.

dzl wannabe · 03-16-2007, 11:29 PM

But, If speed is great enough to maintain movement, wheelspin is acceptable.
Reducing power, = losing momentum, not good.
In some vehicles it has also resulted in overheated brakes, not good.

Bmortenson · 03-17-2007, 12:32 AM

I think its most useful at high speeds w/ cruise on. I rented a Hertz Shelby w/ it and it didn't apply brakes, only detuned. W/ it off that car was a blast. It would go sideways on dry pavement at the drop of a hat.LOL

GrampyJim · 03-20-2007, 04:50 AM

Traction depends on grip.... grip depends on eliminating wheelspin....

Back when I was an avid hunter, I found that I could get stuck in some real interesting places. Idling out of the hole worked every time. Spinning wheels only ever made the holes deeper.

FWIW, the traction control on the SD is "engine only" and can be turned off - albeit, only for that key cycle.

Black05 · 03-20-2007, 09:35 AM

GJ -- With all due respect, not so in gumbo or clay based mud. Wheel spins promotes tread cleaning allowing the tire to bite on the next revolution and move the vehicle forward (or backward). Slowly trying to motor through this type of mud results in clogged up mud slicks with no traction.

Rutcutter · 03-20-2007, 09:41 AM

[ QUOTE ]
GJ -- With all due respect, not so in gumbo or clay based mud. Wheel spins promotes tread cleaning allowing the tire to bite on the next revolution and move the vehicle forward (or backward). Slowly trying to motor through this type of mud results in clogged up mud slicks with no traction.

[/ QUOTE ]

That was the only way I could get out yesterday as it was real sticky.

GrampyJim · 03-23-2007, 04:08 AM

Point taken.... With the crap our guys have to navigate (northern Alberta.... logging and oilfield.....) we see that, if we have forward momentum, powering your way across whatever it is is usually the best bet. If the truck is at rest, wheel spin makes for high centered.

We still have a lot of areas where a satellite phone could be a life saver.... remote - no cell phone coverage - severely cold temps during winter - wildlife - deep snow and slush.... a driver needs to be sure that he wont make his situation worse.

I haven't experienced the way this traction control works as yet but there have been many times that I managed to get my own truck to "wipe it's feet" and cause me extra grief.

We still tell the stick shift guys "if you stalled it, you almost got it out".