[BullittMike]

What the heck is it supposed to do? I thought it "seemed" like it was working before. However, today on the way home I was turning left at a stop sign onto a highway. I had to give it a little juice to insert myself into the traffic.

The road was a littlevwet and I slid all over the place due to rear tires spinning (I was able to keep control though). I would expect the traction control to kick in...shouldn't it?

 

[TwoStangWmn]

Mike, when Traction Control is engaged, the little green tires light up on the instrument panel. Have you seen them yet?

 

[BullittMike]

No, that's what worries me. I would have thought the snail light would have come on in this circumstance.

 

[Five Oh B]

As long as the accelerometer in the car is detecting enough forward acceleration, you can spin the tires without the Traction Control engaging. The owner's manual and Ford's literature refers to this as the Power Start Feature.

There's a simple test, however, to see if it works. I wouldn't try this on let's say Hwy 2, because you know how busy that road is. But, Mike, pick a side street that's wet with fresh rain. From a standing start rev up the motor and dump the clutch to intentionally spin the tires hard. The Traction Control will bog the motor down and the green snail on the lower edge of the gauges will light up.

I actually hate the Traction Control and routinely turn mine off every time I start up my car.

 

[BullittMike]

I'll give that a shot!

 

[Bullittgirl]

BullittMike, what you described sounds like your TC didn't work. Sounds like you'll be making a trip to the dealership. While there are times when it's appropriate to turn TC off, it is a valuable safety feature at other times. Personally, I like knowing it's there (especially if I let one of my kids drive the Bullitt).

 

[BullittMike]

Okay, I did my test this morning by reving up and dropping the clutch. The tires spun and the snail light came on.

Interesting though that it didn't come on under the real driving condition of pulling out on a slick road. I guess I compensated too quick with my foot so it didn't have to engage. :roll:

 

[Green Monster]

For a long time, it seemed lke my TC didn't work. I found out that it did when I hit a slick spot just after it had rained. I was glad I had it, otherwise the car could've gone sideways and hit a curb. I leave it on all the time, I only turn it off when I'm looking to have some fun.

 

[Y2K16T8]

It doesn't work in reverse however. I was backing out of the garage I store 2759 in. There's a slight incline up from the door to the main road. Only about 5 feet in length. This incline is all gravel. Well I lost traction and the TC didn't come on. Figures just when I want it too. Now there are several tiny gravel chips on my rockers on both sides.

 

[BULLITT00208]

Speaking from experience. I have tested the traction control many different times. This is what I have discovered. If you launch and spin the tires in a straight line the traction control allows you to spin the tires. If you launch and get the least bit sideways, traction control will kick in very quickly. If you accelerate out of a corner and break the back end loose traction control will kick in. The problem is that if you respond in the normal manner by lifting off of the gas you work against the traction control. It has been my experience that it only works under power, meaning that the minute you lift of the gas the traction control ceases it duties. (I suspect the traction control only senses differences in the rotational speeds of the tires and not yaw like the systems on more expensive vehicles.) I say this based on the fact that I have intentionally powered the car sideways exiting a corner only to have traction control cut the power. I responded by lifting off of the gas and yet I still continued to get more sideways. If there was yaw sensing it would attempt to correct this by breaking the apropriate wheel. I haven't tested by keeping my foot in the gas to see if it helps bring the back end in line, but I will.

Hope this helps,

Eric

P.S. If your abs warning light comes on and stays on there is a good chance your traction control won't work. Traction control uses the abs sensors so when abs goes out more than likely trac control will also.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: BULLITT00208 on 2001-12-06 13:20 ]</font>