Traction Control Question.....

[mission008]

When I try to spin the tires with the traction control on, obviously, it kicks in and takes over. With the traction control off, I can spin my tires for a couple seconds and then something else kicks in and it almost feels like my fuel cuts off. Is the traction control over-riding something?

[Aurora40]

It is probably the torque management that limits torque when starting from a stop. My car won't spin much wheel either.

[mission008]

I hate that. What's the point of having the stupid traction control button then? Basically there's an all-time traction control

[Marc]

I really don't understand the point of torque management. It kills performance more than it protects
the transmission.

[Aurora40]

In a low-traction condition, torque management wouldn't help at all. All it does is limit the torque at certain times (starting from a stop, and when shifting) to keep the tranny working. If you spun one wheel, all it would do is put tons of heat in the tranny and tear stuff up.

[mission008]

ok i agree with that ^ . . . . so then whats the point of being able to turn on and off the traction control, when in theory, its kinda always on ?

[Marc]

There have been times when I've had to move out fast from a stop sign to get on a highway. The TC will cause my 2001 4.0 to bog down then, so it's helpful to turn the TC off.

[Custom88]

Torque management is there to protect the transmission like Bob said. You're not going to get any extra power or acceleration by spinning the tires. That actually slows you down. You have a traction control button to turn it off if you get stuck and need to rock the car back adn forth. If that's the case, you shouldn't be spinning the tires more than just a couple seconds at a time at a low speed. If the traction controls ystem senses excessive slip for an extended time it uses torque management to stop the wheel spin. Like I said earlier, there's no reason to need to spin your tires like that anyways. Why wouldn't GM do that? It helps make it harder to destroy a transmission then claim it on warranty.. I can really feel toque management on my 3.5 Aurora as well at WOT conditions. Right before and after a shift I feel the power drop way off, then about a second after it shifts the power kicks back in suddenly. It's an odd feeling definately. All in all, I consider the torque managment a good thing. Traction control shouldn't slow your car down because it's only actively working when there's wheel slip. Other than that you should have full power. It only retards ignition timing and applies the brakes to the spinning wheel.

[Aurora40]

TC steps in fairly heavily, though. I find the car launches better with TC off than with it on. But on ice, rain, snow, etc, TC is very helpful whereas torque management would not be. Also, once you are rolling, TC is still working, torque management really wouldn't be.

Turn TC off and punch the gas at a 10-20mph roll in the rain and see what happens.

[mission008]

custom88 said:

Torque management is there to protect the transmission like Bob said. You're not going to get any extra power or acceleration by spinning the tires. That actually slows you down. You have a traction control button to turn it off if you get stuck and need to rock the car back adn forth. If that's the case, you shouldn't be spinning the tires more than just a couple seconds at a time at a low speed. If the traction controls ystem senses excessive slip for an extended time it uses torque management to stop the wheel spin. Like I said earlier, there's no reason to need to spin your tires like that anyways. Why wouldn't GM do that? It helps make it harder to destroy a transmission then claim it on warranty.. I can really feel toque management on my 3.5 Aurora as well at WOT conditions. Right before and after a shift I feel the power drop way off, then about a second after it shifts the power kicks back in suddenly. It's an odd feeling definately. All in all, I consider the torque managment a good thing. Traction control shouldn't slow your car down because it's only actively working when there's wheel slip. Other than that you should have full power. It only retards ignition timing and applies the brakes to the spinning wheel.

3.5? phuff! j/k

yeah there's no need to spin the wheels but some people like to do that every once and a while.....I'm getting rid of my car to get a car that can spin the tires!













sarcasm

[mission008]

aurora40 said:

Turn TC off and punch the gas at a 10-20mph roll in the rain and see what happens.

I have to agree with that because when you are rolling and punch it, the car moves out! but when you are stopped its a different story imo