Launch with TractionControl on or off?

GinoGT · May 26, 2004

TC is designed to save the driver from going overboard, and it counteracts the driver's excessive inputs with its own excessive inputs.

Go launch hard or powershift with TC on, you'll find out really quick why everyone shuts it off. It's not some magical system that finds every last ounce of traction for you in milliseconds time. First it will realize you're getting into trouble, then it'll bog your engine down, then it will slowly reapply power.

By the time it's done that, your competition is halfway down the track.

I made the mistake of forgetting to turn TC off at the track one time. From a launch, it actually didn't interfere since I had very little wheelspin. I believe from a standstill, if it senses that your have a decent rate of acceleration with some wheelspin it'll let you go. I think GM reprogrammed the traction control halfway through the run of the LS1 F-bodies to be a little more performance oriented when launching.

Anyway, I went to shift 1-2 and went "WTF!?!?" when the car fell flat on it's damn face. Result: 14.7xx ET.

Take your car to the track, 95% of people here that race have their Mustang as their daily driver.

EH819 · May 26, 2004

john_324 said:
But isn't the TC designed to automatically shut off if the car detects massive throttle application from a standing start? I remember reading that, but haven't tried it myself recently...

That doesn't happen with my car. If I forget to turn it off and do that, that green spinning wheel light on the dash comes on and the engine rpms drop.

propellerhead · May 26, 2004

mogs01gt said:
Because if you loose traction and you have TC on, you will loose a lot of RPM. Meaning you will be dropping out of your power band a hell of a lot more if you have traction loss.

That's the part I was missing! I didn't know the recovery time is slow and it keeps your RPMs down long after the wheel spin has stopped.

Thanks! Now it makes sense.

Ryan02Stang · May 26, 2004

propellerhead said:
That's the part I was missing! I didn't know the recovery time is slow and it keeps your RPMs down long after the wheel spin has stopped.

Thanks! Now it makes sense.

NOW GO TO THE TRACK!!!

Islander03GT · May 26, 2004

VatStang said:
When traction control is activated, usually one bank of cylinders is shut off to decrease torque to the rear wheels.

No it doesnt. If so, can I shut them off so I can get 4cyl. gas mileage?

I dont leave traction control on because I feel it overacts. The few times I have had it go off were in situations where I was making a right turn on a green light. The TCS felt I took it too fast and applied the brakes... every time I was within centimeters of being rear ended becuase the car behind me wasnt anticipating that I would slow like that. IMO TCS is dangerous. I'll leave the thinking to me when its dry out, and just have the computer help when its wet and my lead foot could end me up backwards.

Jesus · May 26, 2004

All I know is that when traction control kicks in it basically shuts the engine off (not really, but it shure feels like it) and its really hard to go fast with the engine off.

PDubs · May 26, 2004

Simply put: TC will literally slow you down once activated by excessive tirespin. HOW it slows you down has been mentioned above.

4.6_02_Black_GT · May 26, 2004

Guys...just a correction...lots of incorrect info flying around.

All the TC does is retard the spark(pulls timing back). Causes the engine to bogg and loose rpm/power. Its all the ECU working....NO BRAKES...as someone incorrectly posted.

Agian...its all the computer..the ABS sensors are compared, the ECU detects loss of traction(wheel spin) and staring retarding your engine timing...and this causes the engine to rapidly loose power, and the ECU will continue to pull your timing until the ABS sensors indicate traction is regained

Hope this clears up the mis-information..... also it takes a second or two for the engine to recover from the pulled timing...I would think this would be bad at the track...so no TC at the strip.

4.6_02_Black_GT · May 26, 2004

...almost forgot.... have you ever noticed ABS/TC are always an option together... Cant have TC unless you have those ABS sensors so the computer and pick up the wheel spin.

281Ponies · May 27, 2004

It was my understanding that the original poster asked why TC... not how does TC work. The fact that I said you “Basically” setup your car to apply just enough brakes to stop the tires from spinning is not totally incorrect. It was simply a general description of how it would feel to someone when launching a car with TC On.

I do not wish to get into any argument here but Traction Control does in fact use the rear breaks. It is a combination of Ignition Timing, Cylinder Cut-Off and Brake Application. Traction Control is linked to two different modules, engine control module (ignition timing - cylinder cut-off) and the ABS module (brakes).
To say Traction Control has nothing to do with brakes in incorrect, brakes do come into play when TC is On.

-Cale

vballshake · May 27, 2004

There is such a thing as optimal wheel spin when driving on street tires. I always take the traction control off, so when that car pulls up next to me and wants some I don't make an ass of myself.

twogts4us · May 28, 2004

281Ponies said:
It was my understanding that the original poster asked why TC... not how does TC work. The fact that I said you “Basically” setup your car to apply just enough brakes to stop the tires from spinning is not totally incorrect. It was simply a general description of how it would feel to someone when launching a car with TC On.

I do not wish to get into any argument here but Traction Control does in fact use the rear breaks. It is a combination of Ignition Timing, Cylinder Cut-Off and Brake Application. Traction Control is linked to two different modules, engine control module (ignition timing - cylinder cut-off) and the ABS module (brakes).
To say Traction Control has nothing to do with brakes in incorrect, brakes do come into play when TC is On.

-Cale

I think 4.6 02 GT has the right explaination. And I don't believe he is off subject here since this thread has evolved into how TC works.
I really have a hard time believing cylinders are cut off when TC is enabled and activated. And I don't feel as if the brakes are applied when TC kicks in...just a big loss of power. Wouldn't cutting off cylinders (or one bank as someone else suggested) cause the engine to run majorly rough and buck or something like this?

Kevin2811 · May 29, 2004

Not to be an *******, but learn how to launch your car...the TC is not designed for the strip. It is designed to keep our babies ass end under control in inclement weather or excessive, real world tire spin situations. Those who know how to handle a stang don't normally need this feature, but having owned many fox mustangs as a first time driver this feature would have helped me out a hell of a lot. The equal weight distribution is just not there and the girl can become a handful in a hurry!

FallenPhoenix · May 29, 2004

the traction control in these cars isn't exactly like what's in a Ferrari. Those systems are designed to let the wheels slip, but not completely spin, giving you the absolute best launch you can get. The traction control in the GT is just to keep you from getting out of control, a safety net. The traction control in the '03-'04 Cobra is supposed to allow the wheels to spin in a straight line, but if one starts to spin faster than the other it will cut power to keep the car from spinning out.

hotmustang331 · May 29, 2004

Yea the TC slows you down ALOT,try hitting 3rd with it on it basically slams you foward a bit,not just like letting off the gas,but you can feel it apply brakes and bogg the engine by retarding the timing...not sure about the fuel cutoff part.I take it off when I go to take off fast and run through the gears,but for the most part I shift into another gear at about 1600-1700 RPMs,even into 5th at that around 40 MPH at like 1150 RPMs...the CD I got with it said that you should shift at the following speeds for the best MPG...11MPH 1st-2nd,19MPH 2nd-3rd,30MPH 3rd-4th,and 40MPH 4th-5th,and it all turns out to be around 1600-1700 RPMs like I said above...hmm weird how I got into that,but anyways I say leave it off when you race,but not all the time cuz I PERSONALLY do not like the idea of having an unnecessary light on while driving because of the possability of it burning out prematurely and then I may forget if I turned it off or not and could cause me to loose a race or something...just not sure how long the light will last and if its LED or just a bulb...maybe both are bulbs but I think the LED will last longer.

JohnyD05 · May 29, 2004

I know this is off topic but to answer the last guys question...I drive with mine off so much, i burnt the bulb out, it cost me about a buck at radio shack to replace it, pull the switch oput and take it apart its pretty easy to fix if your light goes out, its been good ever since

XStanger · May 29, 2004

Did the 2000 Gt's have that option? My mother has a 00GT and it does not have a traction control option.

WaltA · May 29, 2004

XStanger said:
Did the 2000 Gt's have that option? My mother has a 00GT and it does not have a traction control option.

TC isn't a separate option. It comes with ABS.

jas142 · May 29, 2004

Have you ever floored it on a road that was slightly wet or not the best traction with tc on and seen the green light go on on your dash? If you have, you know it feels like the car dies. It totally stops giving power. Keep it off whenever you race

jas142 · May 29, 2004

JohnyD05 said:
I know this is off topic but to answer the last guys question...I drive with mine off so much, i burnt the bulb out, it cost me about a buck at radio shack to replace it, pull the switch oput and take it apart its pretty easy to fix if your light goes out, its been good ever since

How do you pull it out? On my year, its a button in between the foglights and the rear defroster. Just yank the button out?

Launch with TractionControl on or off?

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