Troubleshoot traction control
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 621
Likes: 2
From: Stillwater Minnesota
Troubleshoot traction control
I have a 99 FRC w/o active handling. It just has the standard traction control.
When I cornering and punch the gas the car seems to loose traction in a MAJOR way. It can even swap ends at times w/o traction control engauging at all.
If I am accelerating in a straight line though and it breaks loose when shifting it seems to catch that.
Is this normal behavior for the traction control? I had thought it would help keep me from over powering into the ditch around corners and whatnot. It seems if I'm going around a corner it simply does nothing at all.
When I cornering and punch the gas the car seems to loose traction in a MAJOR way. It can even swap ends at times w/o traction control engauging at all.
If I am accelerating in a straight line though and it breaks loose when shifting it seems to catch that.
Is this normal behavior for the traction control? I had thought it would help keep me from over powering into the ditch around corners and whatnot. It seems if I'm going around a corner it simply does nothing at all.
Drifting
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,590
Likes: 1
From: Littleton Colorado
I don't think traction control will help much in a turn. From what I understand, traction control does not keep you from spinning the tires a litte, it lessens the spin not so much eliminate it. From what I gather, traction control works by monitoring the speed of each wheel, and when it detects that one wheel is spinning faster it starts to act. Thats an important point, it starts to act after wheel spin has happened. A little wheel spin when your not ready for it in a turn can spin you, or worse. You loose most of your grip in the rear when you spin the tires and it takes a lot to regain the grip.
Acitve Handling on the other hand monitors what the car is doing and what you are doing, and will try and keep the car under control before you get into trouble. Read this article, someone else posted it today on a Active Handling thread: http://www.idavette.net/hib/ah1.htm
Acitve Handling on the other hand monitors what the car is doing and what you are doing, and will try and keep the car under control before you get into trouble. Read this article, someone else posted it today on a Active Handling thread: http://www.idavette.net/hib/ah1.htm
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,058
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From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
Under the conditions you describe the TC should cut in almost immediately and limit wheel spin thus limiting car rotation. My 97 would limit wheel spin almost instantly. Sometimes if the car was going in a straight line it would allow a certain amount of tire slippage and also allow the backend to walk back and forth as the car accelerated. However, if the car got so far out of attitude that a loss of control was going to happen it would cut power.
Bill
Bill
Drifting
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,590
Likes: 1
From: Littleton Colorado
Depending on speed I think your right, low speed yes its pretty easy to catch. But if enough force going on you can (not will) spin even if the traction control is engaging. But that is pretty extreme. Not sure what speeds the guy is doing. If low speed, then I’d agree with you could be an issue. Otherwise, turns are why AH was designed.
However, I think we should suggest some things for the OP to check. Been thinking of it since I posted and was thinking of first checking codes, but he said nothing of tc/abs lights. Still, the codes definitely could tell us something.
Tires? Are they the GY run flats? How old?
Rear brake pads, in good condition?
Suspension, any mods? Check shocks and sway bars for wear.
Lowered?
Any other ideas?
However, I think we should suggest some things for the OP to check. Been thinking of it since I posted and was thinking of first checking codes, but he said nothing of tc/abs lights. Still, the codes definitely could tell us something.
Tires? Are they the GY run flats? How old?
Rear brake pads, in good condition?
Suspension, any mods? Check shocks and sway bars for wear.
Lowered?
Any other ideas?
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 621
Likes: 2
From: Stillwater Minnesota
My traction control seems to pretty much do nothing. I would think I should not be able to go from a stand still and whip cookies like mad with it on in a parking lot and notice nothing.
On rare occasion the dash lights up and says it's detected slip.
Car is a 99 FRC with C5 Z06 rims. 4.10 gears. PCM has been reprogrammed. Heads. Cam. Rear tires have very little tread left.
On rare occasion the dash lights up and says it's detected slip.
Car is a 99 FRC with C5 Z06 rims. 4.10 gears. PCM has been reprogrammed. Heads. Cam. Rear tires have very little tread left.
Last edited by weinerschizel; Aug 8, 2008 at 10:46 AM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
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From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
You need TIRES! PERIOD! Your traction control does nothing on controlling rear end step out. You need to drive a car with active handling and compare the difference. 
Even the BEST AH system will not overcome the laws of physics. If you overcome the ability of the tires traction, you going in the weeds!
Get some new tires and I bet you will see a MAJOR improvement!
BC
Even the BEST AH system will not overcome the laws of physics. If you overcome the ability of the tires traction, you going in the weeds!
Get some new tires and I bet you will see a MAJOR improvement!
BC
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 21,766
Likes: 25
From: The artist formally known as NONO5.0 Mobile, Al
You need TIRES! PERIOD! Your traction control does nothing on controlling rear end step out. You need to drive a car with active handling and compare the difference.
Even the BEST AH system will not overcome the laws of physics. If you overcome the ability of the tires traction, you going in the weeds!
Get some new tires and I bet you will see a MAJOR improvement!
BC
Even the BEST AH system will not overcome the laws of physics. If you overcome the ability of the tires traction, you going in the weeds!
Get some new tires and I bet you will see a MAJOR improvement!
BC
with no tire tread left AND 4.10's the car's 
Also, try holding down your 'traction control' button for 10 seconds and see if it changes modes to competitive mode 
