General Tech Forum Use this form for tech related topics that relate to all/most Mustang platforms

How does traction control work?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
  #1  
Old 07-08-2006, 08:29 PM
jadartt's Avatar
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Faibanks, Alaska
Posts: 250
Default How does traction control work?

Just wondering how the system monitors wheel spin. I am suspecting that it takes the wheel speed sensors from the front and compares them to the wheel speed sensors on the back. My right front speed sensor is bad and my ABS light is on. My trac off light is also on and am hoping that fixing the speed sensor will correct the traction control also.
 
  #2  
Old 07-08-2006, 08:52 PM
PColav6's Avatar
FYL.
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Pensacola, Florida
Posts: 7,493
Default

Well if what you said is how it works and that's how I thought so basically if that's right you just answered your own question.
 
  #3  
Old 07-08-2006, 09:04 PM
PureStang's Avatar
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Downingtown/West Chester, PA
Posts: 5,796
Default

it moniters how fast the wheels in the front are spining compared to the back and cuts power to the engine some how...so ur pretty much on the dot....but ur abs has nothing to do w/ ur traction control
 
  #4  
Old 07-08-2006, 09:32 PM
jadartt's Avatar
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Faibanks, Alaska
Posts: 250
Default

Originally Posted by PureStang
....but ur abs has nothing to do w/ ur traction control
If in fact the speed sensors are in play when figuring wheel spin, then ABS and traction control are interlinked since ABS absolutely uses the wheel speed sensors.

The reason I am inquiring is because my dealer seems to think it's my Xcaliber that is turning off my traction control, but that just isn't the case since I returned it back to stock and the trac off light is still lit. Also because I know that the ABS light and the trac off light came on at the exact same time. I believe one is freaking out the other.
 
  #5  
Old 07-09-2006, 08:32 AM
r3dn3ck's Avatar
Wowbagger hates me too!
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Magrathea/California
Posts: 9,865
Default

if you have a bad wheel speed sensor, your traction control and ABS will both be offline until it senses the repair has been made. I removed my two rear sensors so that I wouldn't have traction control or ABS. I like the au natural control systems without a computer futzing with it.

ABS can't work unless it has an accurate view of all 4 wheel speeds. 3 just isn't enough. Traction control works with the same sensors so incomplete data is just as bad as none for either system.
 
  #6  
Old 07-09-2006, 08:48 AM
Ghostalker's Avatar
BOLO 4 ME
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Danbury, CT
Posts: 2,576
Default

Originally Posted by r3dn3ck
I removed my two rear sensors so that I wouldn't have traction control or ABS.
woah, hardcore... I always turn trac control off, but I wouldnt turn off ABS if I could... I think removing your ABS could land you in a bit of troubl should you get in an accident... afterall your insurance company thinks you have ABS and our insurance is prolly 5 dollars cheaper because of it...
 
  #7  
Old 07-09-2006, 09:33 AM
r3dn3ck's Avatar
Wowbagger hates me too!
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Magrathea/California
Posts: 9,865
Default

when you learn to drive well enough not to need them, they become a serious safety hazard to still have. I can drive well enough that I don't need the ECU to keep me out of trouble. TC is never useful, ABS is only useful if you can't modulate your own braking. ABS lets you floor the brake pedal and not think about how you're trying to stop. I can actively think and plan how and where I'll stop even in the rain. I have big enough tires, big enough brakes and good enough suspension to make hard stops shorter than most any car in front of me.
 
  #8  
Old 07-09-2006, 09:41 AM
spike_africa's Avatar
Administrator
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Orlando,Florida
Posts: 11,974
Default

Like they said it reads the wheel speed and uses the ABS to apply the rear brakes and stop wheel spin.
 
  #9  
Old 07-09-2006, 10:30 PM
jadartt's Avatar
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Faibanks, Alaska
Posts: 250
Default

My local service dept. is full of performance idiots. They assured me that my Xcaliber II is making my traction control go off. I'm probably 1 of 3 guys that actually have a tune on their car up here. I knew I was right on how it worked. I should moonlight as a ford tech, I can't do any worse than they are doing.
 
  #10  
Old 07-10-2006, 09:44 AM
jjtgiants's Avatar
jjtgiants
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Dublin, CA
Posts: 4,177
Default

I hate the traction control on my car.....one time I pulled out of a parking lot where the visibility wasn't very good.....anway, there was a car coming and I had to punch it....the traction control kicked on and shut down the power and I almost got freaking hit! It's dangerous if you ask me.
 
  #11  
Old 07-10-2006, 09:47 AM
r3dn3ck's Avatar
Wowbagger hates me too!
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Magrathea/California
Posts: 9,865
Default

that's part of the reason I disabled it. To have a machine decide when I'm allowed to break traction, especially in emergency situations just seemed silly to me. JJT, you can disable it by removing any 1 of your ABS sensors, but that will disable ABS too. I've been without both for over a year and I've gotten the feel of modulating the brakes so ABS isn't really necessary. The removal takes about 5 minutes and 1 socket.
 
  #12  
Old 07-10-2006, 09:51 AM
stevemainian's Avatar
I8URVTEC
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Virginia Beach, VA
Posts: 193
Default

Traction control saved me losing control, running over a curb, and hitting oncoming traffic.







Dont ask..
 
  #13  
Old 07-10-2006, 11:39 AM
jeredan2003's Avatar
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Murfreesboro, TN
Posts: 1,787
Default

Originally Posted by jadartt
My local service dept. is full of performance idiots. They assured me that my Xcaliber II is making my traction control go off. I'm probably 1 of 3 guys that actually have a tune on their car up here. I knew I was right on how it worked. I should moonlight as a ford tech, I can't do any worse than they are doing.
Your dealer sounds like all the rest of em....If the car is not BONE STOCK they assume your mods have something to do with it. Next thing you know theylle be telling you your cold air intake is turning your ABS light on. Id stay far far away and find people who arent so narrow minded and actually know what theyre talking about....
 
  #14  
Old 07-10-2006, 08:46 PM
jadartt's Avatar
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Faibanks, Alaska
Posts: 250
Default

Originally Posted by jeredan2003
Your dealer sounds like all the rest of em....If the car is not BONE STOCK they assume your mods have something to do with it. Next thing you know theylle be telling you your cold air intake is turning your ABS light on. Id stay far far away and find people who arent so narrow minded and actually know what theyre talking about....
I wish I could stay far far away. I live in Fairbanks, Alaska. The nearest ford dealer is 340 miles away. I do what I have to do to get by, but it sucks.
 
  #15  
Old 07-10-2006, 09:31 PM
GREG@SN95's Avatar
Banned
Join Date: May 2006
Location: JACKSON NJ
Posts: 4,135
Default

Originally Posted by stevemainian
Traction control saved me losing control, running over a curb, and hitting oncoming traffic.







Dont ask..
just be an ***...

what the heck were you doing??@?@!!1?/
 
  #16  
Old 07-10-2006, 10:03 PM
Codiddy's Avatar
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: California
Posts: 1,786
Default

Originally Posted by jadartt
I wish I could stay far far away. I live in Fairbanks, Alaska. The nearest ford dealer is 340 miles away. I do what I have to do to get by, but it sucks.

At least you have nice cold air to combust!
Thats the real cold air intake, move to alaska.
 
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Link2006
General Tech Forum
13
04-17-2022 03:13 PM
NewMustang
V6 Tech Forums
4
01-09-2007 02:25 PM
TEXASPAUL
The Lounge
8
02-11-2006 01:35 AM
crookstang
Modular 4.6L Tech
12
01-02-2006 02:59 PM
dsdaddy
General Tech Forum
3
07-26-2005 08:26 PM



Quick Reply: How does traction control work?



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 08:04 PM.