Disabling traction control permanently on a 2016?

[GrafX]

How can I disable traction control permanently? I can disable thru the menu between each restart but haven't figured it out how to set it as default. Sorry if this is a redundant question but I found various results with no luck.

 

[peterk9]

The default setting is ON. Therefore you would have to get into the system to change the default setting, if turning it Off is even possible. When traction control is turned OFF, you also turn off the side sensing system and the Active Park Assist system for those Explorers so equipped.
Also, keep in mind that the Terrain Management System also uses traction control in some settings.

Peter

 

[GrafX]

When traction control is turned OFF, you also turn off the side sensing system and the Active Park Assist system for those Explorers so equipped.
Also, keep in mind that the Terrain Management System also uses traction control in some settings.

Peter

Peter, I really find that hard to believe. I'm not sure how traction control affects other unrelated sensing systems but being a software engineer, I just don't see the relation.

 

[peterk9]

Peter, I really find that hard to believe. I'm not sure how traction control affects other unrelated sensing systems but being a software engineer, I just don't see the relation.

I got that info from the 2016 Owner's Manual.

 

[GrafX]

Yeah, I went through my manual as well and don't see the option. I'm assuming I need to go through FORScan to bypass this stuff.

 

[613GT500]

While its not permanent, its faster than going thorough the settings, you can just select any of the terrain management modes; which disables traction control.

 

[Napalm]

are you sure it disables traction control or just allows wheel slip.

2 questions are you wanting to disable all traction control as it the stability system, or are you just wanting to allow some wheel slip so you can spin the tires and make noise.

modern cars sold to the public are required to have a full time stability augmentation system - this is required in my countries now also. As such many still use the term "traction control" but the reality is it is a more complex system that is still always on. There are ways to defeat the system by way of intensive computer reprograming or in some cases hidden options in the system. I'm not 100% sure if ford does that, but I know Chrysler did at one time.


To that end. letting the wheels spin a bit - can be adjusted in some systems, like GM's. You go in with your tool (phrasing) and adjust a parameter that would allow for XX% wheel slip. Unless there is yaw in the system you can light up the tires on a whim - but turn the steering wheel and the system goes into protection mode.

Finally - it is possible on some cars to wire in a unit that injects the CAN Buss code to the system upon startup. Thus doing your menu selection for you automatically upon start up everytime. I would bet if it was possible on ford systems one of those devices would already exist in the world for the Mustang or Tarurs SHO. This is how I would go about it if that is your desire. you can then demod the car just as easily - and it's not in the software.

 

[613GT500]

are you sure it disables traction control or just allows wheel slip.

2 questions are you wanting to disable all traction control as it the stability system, or are you just wanting to allow some wheel slip so you can spin the tires and make noise.

modern cars sold to the public are required to have a full time stability augmentation system - this is required in my countries now also. As such many still use the term "traction control" but the reality is it is a more complex system that is still always on. There are ways to defeat the system by way of intensive computer reprograming or in some cases hidden options in the system. I'm not 100% sure if ford does that, but I know Chrysler did at one time.


To that end. letting the wheels spin a bit - can be adjusted in some systems, like GM's. You go in with your tool (phrasing) and adjust a parameter that would allow for XX% wheel slip. Unless there is yaw in the system you can light up the tires on a whim - but turn the steering wheel and the system goes into protection mode.

Finally - it is possible on some cars to wire in a unit that injects the CAN Buss code to the system upon startup. Thus doing your menu selection for you automatically upon start up everytime. I would bet if it was possible on ford systems one of those devices would already exist in the world for the Mustang or Tarurs SHO. This is how I would go about it if that is your desire. you can then demod the car just as easily - and it's not in the software.

Actually, you may be right (will check again later today).
Selecting one of the terrain management mode, may not "disable" traction control, but as you stated; allow more wheel spin (controlled).

 

[peterk9]

In the Grass, Gravel, Snow setting, the 2016 Manual states that if wheel traction fails in deep snow, turn Traction Control (TC) OFF. So in this setting TC stays ON. Neither of the other settings mention TC. I was also under the impression that one of the settings turned it off.

Peter

 

[GrafX]

are you sure it disables traction control or just allows wheel slip.

2 questions are you wanting to disable all traction control as it the stability system, or are you just wanting to allow some wheel slip so you can spin the tires and make noise.

Not trying to spin the wheels or anything like that.

Call me old school but I find the driver assist doesn't give me a true feeling of the road. When it's disabled, I can feel the grip of the tires on the road pulling on the steering wheel, especially in turns. With it enabled, it feels almost as I'm driving in snow and the system is over-compensating.
.

 

[need-a-cage]

I'll try your


Not trying to spin the wheels or anything like that.

Call me old school but I find the driver assist doesn't give me a true feeling of the road. When it's disabled, I can feel the grip of the tires on the road pulling on the steering wheel, especially in turns. With it enabled, it feels almost as I'm driving in snow and the system is over-compensating.
.

Yeah, I wish I could change the damn default setting. I hate having to go so deep into the menu every time I start the car. Give me one button damn it!! Anyway, I am not even sure if it is the traction control or the trailer sway control, but with them both on you can not pull out into traffic quickly. With the steering wheel turned, it cuts a ton of power. It cuts so much power that it makes it as slow as the NA 3.5. My wife has even complained about it. Why the hell is trailer sway control defaulted to on. I don't even think I have ever seen an Explorer towing anything around here, so I would say 99% of the time, Explorers on the road are not towing. With both turned off, it performs much better and is predictable. With those "aids" turned on, you don't know what the hell it is going to do. AWD is the only traction control needed!

 

[GrafX]

UPDATE: Ok, well, I'm finding this is quite a bit out of my realm since all these stability systems are so closely tied into each other.

I talked to someone at known custom tuning shop in South Carolina who specializes in this and there is a software solution, but requires hardware and codes that need to be relayed back-and-forth to authenticate (I'm guessing it's pulled from their database?). The hardware can be mailed out and the codes can be relayed for just under $500. Ouch!

 

[613GT500]

UPDATE: Ok, well, I'm finding this is quite a bit out of my realm since all these stability systems are so closely tied into each other.

I talked to someone at known custom tuning shop in South Carolina who specializes in this and there is a software solution, but requires hardware and codes that need to be relayed back-and-forth to authenticate (I'm guessing it's pulled from their database?). The hardware can be mailed out and the codes can be relayed for just under $500. Ouch!

At $500, might as well buy a tuner.

 

[1995E]

Yeah, I wish I could change the damn default setting. I hate having to go so deep into the menu every time I start the car. Give me one button damn it!! Anyway, I am not even sure if it is the traction control or the trailer sway control, but with them both on you can not pull out into traffic quickly. With the steering wheel turned, it cuts a ton of power. It cuts so much power that it makes it as slow as the NA 3.5. My wife has even complained about it. Why the hell is trailer sway control defaulted to on. I don't even think I have ever seen an Explorer towing anything around here, so I would say 99% of the time, Explorers on the road are not towing. With both turned off, it performs much better and is predictable. With those "aids" turned on, you don't know what the hell it is going to do. AWD is the only traction control needed!

It's because of laws. Whatever settings are on when you start the car are the default settings that the EPA will test with for fuel efficiency. Also, traction control has to be on when you start the car by law.

 

[Nasty]

At $500, might as well buy a tuner.

No kidding. Personally, I wonder what they were even telling him.. lol

 

[613GT500]

Ok, I can cofirm that selecting any of the Terrain Management mode will light up the traction control "off" symbol on the dash.
Whether or not it completely disables traction control, without intervening, is still to be seen.

 

[dco43054]

It's because of laws. Whatever settings are on when you start the car are the default settings that the EPA will test with for fuel efficiency. Also, traction control has to be on when you start the car by law.

Just curious. What law are you referring to?

 

[need-a-cage]

The traction control makes accellerating unpredictable, especially with the steering wheel turned. Turn off traction control and trailer sway control and it accelerates like it should. It takes 13 button pushes to disable and get back to the display! Ridiculous. I am going to ask the tuner to change its default setting to off on start up if possible.

 

[Napalm]

curious do you drive your explorer sport in sport mode. I got to thinking about that the other day.

as in shifter lever all the way to the S at the bottom, or just in D. Using the "sport' mode in the transmission also changes other programed aspects of the car's reactions. throttle ramp is increased, timing mape and fuel maps are increased for performance, and I bet in there the stability assistance has different limits too. I don't know for certain but I know it's possible. Again my GM car does just that.

 

[need-a-cage]

I don't like the shift schedule in Sport mode. It depends on the driving. At the drag strip, my quickest ET's were in normal mode not Sport mode, so I think the only thing it does is change the part throttle shift rpm and it usually holds a lower gear. The tip in might be a little mite aggressive. I have a loaner 2.7 Eco reg cab 2wd F150 and this thing rips! 1 button on dash to disable TC and then it spins them.