CorvetteForum - Chevrolet Corvette Forum Discussion

C5 C6 Corvette: How to Disable Traction Control

Controlling traction control on your Corvette can mean the difference in winning, losing or simply hitting something you may not want to hit. Turning off traction control is a simple process.

By Nick Vaughn - February 20, 2015

This article applies to the C5 and C6 Corvette (1997-2013).

Traction control was introduced and made standard to the Corvette with the 1992 build, although it was called Acceleration Slip Regulation. The Traction Control System (TCS) has been designed and improved from year to year. It helps you keep the car under control while actually pushing the car harder. Basically, it is designed to make you a better driver. But some people want more control of the car, or full control in some cases. Below is the process of turning the traction control off in your C5 or C6 Corvette.

Materials Needed

  • Your fingers

The traction control button is located roughly where your forearm sits if you are holding on to the shift knob of the car, directly in front of the arm rest latch. If you were to go from 1st gear to 2nd, you're pulling the gear shift straight towards the button. In an automatic you are putting the car in gear and pulling the gear shift in the direction of the button. The location is nearly the same for both generations.

Figure 1. Traction control button location.

Turning off the TCS in the C5

To turn the traction control off on the C5, the driver needs to press the TCS button one time. When the TCS is turned off, a symbol of the back of the car with two wavy lines will light up in the instrument panel. This symbol is to the right of the Corvette logo that is in the center of the speedometer. It will stay lit while the TCS is off. A TRACTION SYSTEM OFF message will appear in the Driver Information Center (DIC). The DIC is directly above and center of the steering wheel column.

Figure 2. Traction control off light.

Pro Tip

In the C5 Corvette, traction control is either on or off; there are no other options.

Turning off the TCS in the C6

The C6 Corvette has 4 modes for traction control. They are all controlled by the TCS button previously discussed. They are as follows:

Mode 1:

The default when the car is turned on. Full traction control and full active handling.

Mode 2:

One press the of traction control button. Traction control is turned off, active handling remains on. The TCS light will appear on the instrumentation panel. The DIC will say "Traction System Off."

Mode 3:

Pressing the traction control button twice in less than 5 seconds. This turns off traction control and puts active handling into Competitive Driving Mode.

Mode 4:

Press and hold the traction control button for greater than 5 seconds. This will turn off traction control as well as active handling.

Related Discussion and Site