Explain traction control please

[Area51BS]

Stupid question, maybe...is your traction control disabled? Maybe try toggling on-off.

Tried cycling

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[PWillette]

Tried cycling

Figured as much but had to ask. Does the light illuminate when toggled? I presume there must be a fuse or relay involved somewhere.

 

[HPNQ420]

Even though everything says traction control is disabled in low range I swear I have heard ABS cycle in steep low traction situations in 4L.

My son has a Tacoma and that system works very well.

Try your Trail Control (off road cruise control) and you will definitely feel the traction control acting like ATRAC. I generally don’t use GOAT modes because I’m old school and awesome but I bet you’d feel it kick in then as well.

I am older school with a manual so no Trail Control. I'll pay more attention next time I'm off-road.

 

[dgorsett]

Are you using hill descent control in these situations?

No, headed uphill with some slip

 

[rdg04578]

traction control is only as good as your tires are--if all the tires have the same traction--or no traction the system will not work very well--it is not as positive as a locking or limited slip differential which controls wheel spin in the differential. Traction control attempts to slow the wheel spinning -- and works on the "assumption" that the other wheels have traction. When no wheels have traction it will be essentially useless since it will continue to try and control wheel spin with brakes and cutting engine power. At this point in my experience that is when you are stuck. Turning off traction control allows you to spin the tires and often will allow you to get out of a tight situation since spinning the tries clears out the tread allowing more traction. Pushing the locker buttons allow your wheels to spin at the same speed on both sides of the axle regardless of tire traction.

 

[MadMan4BamaNATL]

Please explain what traction control does. In wet roads my Badlands will spin the rear’s as long as you stay in the gas on wet pavement. I know Fords definition and use of brakes. But it doesn’t appear to work. Thanks. It’s easier to ask than search.

I know that everyone has been very generous in answering your question directy and explaining (in detail) what traction control is, although google could answer or the owner manual.

What isn’t being mentioned is the variable outside of the system that often comes into play in an off-road vehicle on wet pavement - tires.

Not sure which tires you’re running, but AT and MT tires don’t usually grip well on wet pavement; they’re not meant to, they are made to excel off pavement, so it’s one of the compromises.

If using the stock Goodyears on Squatch, they are ok in wet, but under fast acceleration, will lose traction. All that space between lugs shrinks the contact patch I guess, so in 2H, really shouldn’t accelerate like that. If you’re used to passenger cars and tires, or even trucks with truck street tires, this may be a different experience, so adjusting how we drive is important.

Your Bronco has smallish brakes for the weight, oversized tires, off-road tires, so street handling is of course compromised.

I’d bet your traction control works just fine, but it will not be as effective in the situation described as a Mustang GT for example.

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