TC saved my **** yesterday
Traction control, my @$$!
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,420
Likes: 5
From: "This is not a psychotic episode, but a cleansing moment of clarity."
Traction control, my @$$!
Just had a little fun on one of the main streets in town. I'd left the Post Office and was on my way back home when I saw the sign for a detour up ahead for a water main break. I also saw a lot of brake lights and decided that I wanted no part of that action. I saw a break in the double yellow line and oncoming traffic was still pretty far away, but the speed limit on that street is 50 MPH, so after slowing down to almost nothing before initiating the U-turn, I gave it a little gas as I was making the turn and was surprised when the rear end swung around on me a little and squealed some rubber. Did a nice little fishtail. 
It didn't get away from me or anything, but it sure gave me something to ponder over the next few moments. 
The traction control definitely has it's limitations. I was glad no LEO's were around, otherwise I might have been in for some real pain.
It didn't get away from me or anything, but it sure gave me something to ponder over the next few moments. The traction control definitely has it's limitations. I was glad no LEO's were around, otherwise I might have been in for some real pain.
Last edited by JMc; Mar 16, 2007 at 04:36 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 11,651
Likes: 9
From: HOW FAST WAS I GOING OFFICER? Los Angeles Hating GM Dealership Service Dept.'s Since Sept. 2004
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
Maybe your car knows you well enough to know the difference between intentional and unintentional... you are an HID afterall 
Glad you and the car were okay though...
Glad you and the car were okay though...
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,042
Likes: 9,805
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
Depending on conditions the TC will allow you quite a bit of freedom before cutting in. What it gets upset with are wheel speed differences where one wheel will suddenly accelerate as though it ran over a slippery spot on the road. When both rear wheels start spinning at the same time and the car is maintaining proper yaw control as determined by how you are steering it TC will let the backend hang out quite a bit.
Bill
Bill
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 9,121
Likes: 1
From: Southeast Va.
I saw a break in the double yellow line and oncoming traffic was still pretty far away, but the speed limit on that street is 50 MPH, so after slowing down to almost nothing before initiating the U-turn, I gave it a little gas as I was making the turn and was surprised when the rear end swung around on me a little and squealed some rubber. Did a nice little fishtail. It didn't get away from me or anything, but it sure gave me something to ponder over the next few moments. The traction control definitely has it's limitations. I was glad no LEO's were around, otherwise I might have been in for some real pain.
It didn't get away from me or anything, but it sure gave me something to ponder over the next few moments. The traction control definitely has it's limitations. I was glad no LEO's were around, otherwise I might have been in for some real pain.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 432
Likes: 0
From: Bowie Maryland
Luckily, I wasn't pulled over. He either didn't see me do it or chose to ignore it. I'm thinking the later because he made the u-turn with me, he had to have seen it. I make that u-turn all the time and it's never happened before. There must have been oil on the road or something.
I just blame the runflats.... they are coming off asap.
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Sometimes doesn't take much to break the back end loose.
Drifting
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,917
Likes: 3
From: Southern NH
Traction control prevents wheel spin on hard acceleration. Pulling a U-turn puts a lot of lateral force on the rear so it's no surprise it broke free even with minimal acceleration.
The question is: do you have Active Handling? That system is what detects oversteer/understeer and compensates to prevent the rear end from coming around.
The question is: do you have Active Handling? That system is what detects oversteer/understeer and compensates to prevent the rear end from coming around.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: I speak the truth. Harsh but accurate. The Woodlands Texas
St. Jude Donor '09-'10
Just had a little fun on one of the main streets in town. I'd left the Post Office and was on my way back home when I saw the sign for a detour up ahead for a water main break. I also saw a lot of brake lights and decided that I wanted no part of that action. I saw a break in the double yellow line and oncoming traffic was still pretty far away, but the speed limit on that street is 50 MPH, so after slowing down to almost nothing before initiating the U-turn, I gave it a little gas as I was making the turn and was surprised when the rear end swung around on me a little and squealed some rubber. Did a nice little fishtail. It didn't get away from me or anything, but it sure gave me something to ponder over the next few moments. The traction control definitely has it's limitations. I was glad no LEO's were around, otherwise I might have been in for some real pain.
It didn't get away from me or anything, but it sure gave me something to ponder over the next few moments. The traction control definitely has it's limitations. I was glad no LEO's were around, otherwise I might have been in for some real pain.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,420
Likes: 5
From: "This is not a psychotic episode, but a cleansing moment of clarity."
Mine is an '02 with active handling and traction control. Both were engaged. I've tried to be a little more "careful" accelerating hard around those tight, low speed turns ever since...
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Picking on the weakest kid in the yard.
When the situation is right, I turn AH off just so I can do that type of U-turn since the turning circle is soo huge on this car. I guess it can be done with AH on, but it's probably less predictable.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,150
Likes: 890
From: South Western Ontario
The TC on these cars seems to be a little all-or-nothing.
Before buying this car I was looking at a new Mustang. I took a GT 5-spd out about 2 months ago when the roads were a little wet and pretty crappy with sand still covering them. I will say the TC on it was amazing. I couldn't even tell when it was working but that car wouldn't hold full power traction on those roads in 1st gear with the pedal mashed. Actually, I could feel it slipping every so slightly but didn't notice the power fluctuating at all and the slipping wasn't enough to slide the tail around with. I did click it off and the car was just blowing away the tires without it in the first 2 gears. It didn't do the wheel spin followed by the big complete power cut-out like my Vette tends to do.
But then, I was driving a Firebird last summer and they're fun cars to hang the tail out with and really predictable. This Vette gets real tail happy fast with the TC off so I'm glad it's there. Maybe once I'm more used to the car I'll be able to hold a drift in it.
Peter
Before buying this car I was looking at a new Mustang. I took a GT 5-spd out about 2 months ago when the roads were a little wet and pretty crappy with sand still covering them. I will say the TC on it was amazing. I couldn't even tell when it was working but that car wouldn't hold full power traction on those roads in 1st gear with the pedal mashed. Actually, I could feel it slipping every so slightly but didn't notice the power fluctuating at all and the slipping wasn't enough to slide the tail around with. I did click it off and the car was just blowing away the tires without it in the first 2 gears. It didn't do the wheel spin followed by the big complete power cut-out like my Vette tends to do.
But then, I was driving a Firebird last summer and they're fun cars to hang the tail out with and really predictable. This Vette gets real tail happy fast with the TC off so I'm glad it's there. Maybe once I'm more used to the car I'll be able to hold a drift in it.
Peter
Last edited by lionelhutz; Apr 25, 2007 at 07:08 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,995
Likes: 61
From: Fort Wayne IN
Depending on conditions the TC will allow you quite a bit of freedom before cutting in. What it gets upset with are wheel speed differences where one wheel will suddenly accelerate as though it ran over a slippery spot on the road. When both rear wheels start spinning at the same time and the car is maintaining proper yaw control as determined by how you are steering it TC will let the backend hang out quite a bit.
Bill
Bill
I leave mine on almost all the time to minimize big time wheel hop.
