Traction control on or off?

[ryeguy666]

Hello,
I was just wonding the Pros and Cons of the traction control. Is it better to turn it off when not needed, and does it make a diffrence in the preformance of the PT? Thanks Ryeguy

[CREWZIN]

Don't have it on my PT, but my wife's new car does. The owners manual advises to leave it on. Doesn't hurt performance and you never know when you might hit a situation where it's needed.

[sca037]

I have found the opposite to be true.

In our '01 Limited, it actually impeded forward motion in snow (the OE Goodyear RSA's certainly didn't help either), and on our current '03GT it impedes acceleration in good conditions to the point that I run with it off anytime I anticipate any spirited driving.
In the snow, it's about a wash as I have been able to modulate the power as well or better than the TC system in the tests I've done for my own amusement. My experience (both cars were manual transmissions BTW) says it might be of some value to someone that is basically clueless as to the relationship between their control inputs and the cars' response to them......I dunno [:I]

Brian

[fritz_t_coyote]

One situation I have found it helpful with is when one front tire has traction, and the other has little or none, which is usually only when parallel parking (or unparking) after a snowstorm.

Leave it on, it does no harm in normal driving, and can help in slippery conditions, as it only intervenes when you get wheel spin. However a little wheel spin is a Good Thing when going for maximum acceleration:
So I switch it off as I roll up to the stop sign at the entrance to the parkway.
[8)]

[hharper1321]

Unless you absolutely can't modulate your right foot, leave it off. I've never had use for it, even in a snow storm. If you do any kind of spirited driving, TURN IT OFF. I've seen people who have spun axles because of traction control. The boost will overcome the TC but the brakes will still try to grab, resulting in extreme opposing forces on your axle, then, snap! This is especially true if you happen to get on it too hard and have the wheels turned, although, it's also happened in the burnout box. And I've found that it gives me a slight mpg boost to have it off, although I'd never recommend it just for that reason.

[fritz_t_coyote]

So the answer for normal street driving: Leave it on. It prevents wheelspin on acceleration, and can selectively brake one wheel to give you a chance of moving the car when only one front tire has traction.

And remember: When it kicks in, it is a sign you should be easing off the gas.

If, on the other hand, you are looking for maximum acceleration (with wheelspin) turn it off.

At the Drag Strip, be sure to turn it off before entering the burnout box...

For maximum gas mileage:
Leave traction control Turned On... and if the system engages it is a sign that you are accelerating too briskly; ease off the throttle and get better mileage.


--
By normal street driving I mean driving down streets where people live and kids might be playing; or dealing with real world traffic.

This is not to be confused with deserted twisty back roads and long stretches of freshly paved highway, or stoplight to stoplight contests along the cruise strip with those annoying Honda fast-n-foolish wannabees (and the occasional Mustang).


[8)]

[ryeguy666]

Thanks everyone for the input, and info will be writing agian im sure

[robinjoe]

I wonder if that explains why I already busted an axle (covered by warranty).

quote:Originally posted by bababooie

Unless you absolutely can't modulate your right foot, leave it off. I've never had use for it, even in a snow storm. If you do any kind of spirited driving, TURN IT OFF. I've seen people who have spun axles because of traction control. The boost will overcome the TC but the brakes will still try to grab, resulting in extreme opposing forces on your axle, then, snap! This is especially true if you happen to get on it too hard and have the wheels turned, although, it's also happened in the burnout box. And I've found that it gives me a slight mpg boost to have it off, although I'd never recommend it just for that reason.

[hharper1321]

quote:Originally posted by robinjoe

I wonder if that explains why I already busted an axle (covered by warranty).

It's possible. What were you doing when the axle let go? And if you got it replaced under warranty, you must have either minimal engine mods, or a very friendly dealer! Most people who I know that twisted their axles, blew up their warranty much earlier! lol

[AA PT]

I tried running with TC off and almost crashed my PT GT. I was getting after it when one front tire bit harder than the other. "Torque steer" threw me into oncoming traffic and I almost became a hood ornament for a Ford Explorer.

I leave it on.