How 'bout that traction control?

CRZYHRSGT · Dec 25, 2004

Now that I've officially hit my second winter with my GT, I'm really starting to wonder if the traction control is all it's cracked up to be. There's been a few times that I started spinning, the T.C. came on, the engine started bogging down, the ABS started kicking in on the rear wheels, and then I was worse off than before. I let the wheels stop spinning, turned the T.C. off, let 'er rip and got out no problem. Is anyone else under the impression that traction control is actually doing more harm than good?

mcmmotorsports · Dec 25, 2004

Just another reason I am glad I got the Deluxe Package with NO TRACTION CONTROL and ABS at all. I want to be the one driving my car, not some dumbarse computer.

ShadowGT · Dec 25, 2004

IF you read in the manual it says that TC should be turned off when you are stuck. Basically, the name is misleading. TC isn't meant to give you more traction, per se, but to save your ass should you hit a slick spot while cruising down the freeway at 70 mph.

Most people in that situation (feeling the car start to slide at 70) would panic and throw on the brakes or over-correct, making the situation worse. TC does the thinking for you in that situation to prevent you from totally loosing control.

IN that sense, TC works very well.

Needless to say, I turn it off as soon as I start the car.

KISSEL · Dec 25, 2004

I have mixed feelings about it. Lately, it seems like the TC
is so sensitive, it is constantly coming on. I leave it off now
in the snow but not so much in the rain.
One thing that sort of bugs me about it is that I forget to turn it
off sometimes at start-up and then when I tear @#s out of a parking lot onto the street, Feels like I have the parking brake on.
All said, I can take it or leave it. Since the car came with it, I try to
use it once in a while, but if it wasn't there, I really would not miss it.

csledd · Dec 25, 2004

First winter I've had my GT and we get our worse snow in like 30 years. I didn't even move mine for 2 days and finally decided to dig it out. THE TC MADE ME WANT TO CRY The TC was on constantly because I was spinning of course and it made the car sound so terrible and it felt like I had some ricer car with no power I didn't really know much about TC so I went on the net and found this article..

http://www.musclecarcalendar.com/Letters/Page8.htm

nickthegenius · Dec 25, 2004

I liked my traction control so well, that I had it locked out with my dynotune.

Pearl02 · Dec 25, 2004

I believe you can get a tuner that will disable the traction control. Pearl02.

triggz · Dec 25, 2004

I never liked driving my buddys mustang with TC.. Mine doesn't have it.

I imagine it could be useful when the rear end starts to quietly swap with the front... but I'd rather leave it as is...

More of a thing for the grannys that drive GTs.

02LaserRed2V · Dec 25, 2004

Pearl02 said:
I believe you can get a tuner that will disable the traction control. Pearl02.

Yes, I have mine disabled, using the Predator tuner.

Traction control is pretty much useless for me, down here in GA anyways.

twogts4us · Dec 25, 2004

I dunno, ours work well in the rain here in the sunshine state. But if it's dry, it's off. Still, I wish it was off by default.

BryanRoush3 · Dec 25, 2004

The ford traction control is nothing like an Audi or Volvo system. It only bogs the motor, it does not transfer the power to the outside wheels or anything. So don't expect a lot out of a system designed for just another factory accessory.

CRZYHRSGT · Dec 26, 2004

Pearl02 said:
I believe you can get a tuner that will disable the traction control. Pearl02.

I had mine turned off with my Predator as well, but last weekend I turned it back on, thinking I should have it in the snow. The way I look at it, if you really know how to drive your Pony, you don't really need it. My '02 seems a heck of a lot better than the older bodies, but it is still a rear wheel drive V8. All I know is that I've had a lot of fun the last few days with it off, and I love passing front wheel drive cars on the road that have run into a snow bank. If I can make it in a Stang, then they must be just plain bad drivers(that makes it better for us that they're off the road anyways).

Black Stang 97 · Dec 26, 2004

I have a 97 GT and I dont see a traction control button, my car is stick, does my car not have it or does it have it and i cant do nothing about it??

02GTBlack · Dec 26, 2004

I think they didn't come stock till 99+

xseler8 · Dec 26, 2004

nickthegenius said:
I liked my traction control so well, that I had it locked out with my dynotune.

Ditto

Milenko · Dec 26, 2004

My 96 GT doesn't have either ABS or traction control. Sometimes I wish I had the ABS though...hate it when the car won't stop.

propellerhead · Dec 26, 2004

Traction Control is great for my daily driver. Under light slipping where I would typically fishtail a little, it applies light braking pressure to the wheel that is spinning. It keeps me going in the directions I intend. It doesn't bog the engine unless it senses heavy spinning. Under those conditions, I would've spun around and ended up facing the oncoming traffic. It saves me from paying my insurance company the $500 deductible.

The only thing I don't like about it is when it bogs the engine down under heavy slipping, it takes like a full second to recover. If you can modulate your gas pedal well enough to avoid heavy slipping, it won't bog you down. Other than that, it works great.

For those with track cars, or those who like to peel out on the roads, Traction
Control sucks.

Erskine · Dec 26, 2004

my 96gt has abs but no traction control o well cause i drove it in 6in of snow ok but tires are not helpen me at all

Marks5.0! · Dec 26, 2004

only time i leave mine on is when its raining.

BlackenedSVT · Dec 26, 2004

KISSEL said:
I have mixed feelings about it. Lately, it seems like the TC
is so sensitive, it is constantly coming on. I leave it off now
in the snow but not so much in the rain.
One thing that sort of bugs me about it is that I forget to turn it
off sometimes at start-up and then when I tear @#s out of a parking lot onto the street, Feels like I have the parking brake on.
All said, I can take it or leave it. Since the car came with it, I try to
use it once in a while, but if it wasn't there, I really would not miss it.

I COMPLETELY agree, and use it in the same manner

How 'bout that traction control?

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