traction control

[Essex4x4]

Whats the traction control button do? I know that when the lights on the traction control is off and when the lights off its on, i get that part. What i want to know is anybody notice a difference with it on or off. I totaly don't see or feel anything different

 

[A Wise Guy]

I will have to grab my owners manual to let you know for sure but there are two stages to it. If you just tap the button once it will turn on the light. Stage one. If you press and hold the button until you get something like three blinks stage two. Truck launches much better in stage two. But as I said I will grab my manual if you don't have one.

 

[Essex4x4]

all i want to know is any body feel a difference cause i am convinced that its kinda a load of , i don''t really feel much of a difference

 

[Richie18]

Unless you're driving in very slick conditions, snow, or pushing your explorer to the limits of adhesion you wouldn't notice the traction control doing anything.

 

[Essex4x4]

i tried it on sand

hows it work?

does it use braking power to control wheel spin?

 

[A Wise Guy]

It can use braking. It will also shut down the throttle to control spin.

 

[Essex4x4]

Is the traction control what holds you back when going down hill in 4low?

Heres what i mean:
Shift to 4L
Pull the gear selector back to 1
Going down hill i don't even have to use the brakes even on a really steep hill.

Is this the traction control or is it the 4x4, i have never owned a 4x4 before so this may sound dumb to some of you seasonal folks but i am a newb to the 4x4 world

 

[99ExploratorySUV]

Essex, what you just described about shifting into first gear and descending a hill is called engine braking. When in low gear the cars own engine speed will slow it down when going down a hill. This isn't so much the 4x4 system that's causing the truck to descend slowly, it's the fact that you've shifted into 1st gear. This method is used by truckers so that they can save their brakes. Traction control is the car's way to electronically control wheel spin. It's not something that you would really notice in normal driving, but when in snow or heavy rain, it prevents wheel slippage and keeps your car stable. It's not a failsafe so that you can drive crazy in nasty weather, but it helps you maintain control of your vehicle when it gets rough. Its good to always keep it on.

 

[Essex4x4]

so if its something that helps that much why is there a button to turn it off? What i mean is when would you ever turn the traction control off?

 

[jeeden]

so if its something that helps that much why is there a button to turn it off? What i mean is when would you ever turn the traction control off?

It's automatically turned off when you put the truck in 4 low. It does this because your going very slow and it has less effect. It also does this because the transfer case is locked and aside from the limited slip, you can't independently control the speed of each wheel with the brakes and throttle. It will stay on in 4 high though.


Why turn it off? I've been on the beach driving in 4 high pretty fast (lke 35 mph) and have had the truck slide a little and the advancetrac has pulled down the throttle and straightened the car out with the brakes. I wanted to be able to get a little slide out of it, so I turned it off.

As for other reasons...I don't know why there is a button since it automatically does it in 4 low for you. Maybe to make absolutely sure that there is no way the throttle can be cut down on you no matter how bent out of shape you get the truck? I think Jack Bauer probably wouldn't care if he is loosing traction, as long as he doesn't loose throttle to catch the bad guys

Of course, you need to hit the button to turn it off everytime you start the truck.

 

[A Wise Guy]

so if its something that helps that much why is there a button to turn it off? What i mean is when would you ever turn the traction control off?

Ford gives you the option to turn it off incase you are stuck. They realize that you may need power and you may need to get some spin in order to get unstuck. They also realize that if you are spinning at 25 mph trying to get unstuck the traction control will activate and act normally because you are just beating the heck out of the truck and not getting unstuck.

 

[Essex4x4]

So other than showing off or getting unstuck any other reasons for the button? Okay so I got high centered a few weeks ago and I first switched to 4x4 high, no luck, and then I tried it with the traction control off still no luck, finally I went to 4x4 low, and gave up. If the traction control doesn't help as much as I thought it did, other than paying for tow service, what am I supposed to do?


ANY IDEAS I NEED HELP!!!

I am leaving for pismo beach on the 16th or 17th what do i need to drive in sand????

 

[jeeden]

So other than showing off or getting unstuck any other reasons for the button? Okay so I got high centered a few weeks ago and I first switched to 4x4 high, no luck, and then I tried it with the traction control off still no luck, finally I went to 4x4 low, and gave up. If the traction control doesn't help as much as I thought it did, other than paying for tow service, what am I supposed to do?


ANY IDEAS I NEED HELP!!!

I am leaving for pismo beach on the 16th or 17th what do i need to drive in sand????

Well, if you were high centered then all the traction control in the world won't help if you don't have any rubber on the road with traction for it to control



To drive in the sand:


Air down the tires before you go out on the beach. Make sure you have a tire pressure guage with you to check the tires when you air them down (and later back up). I suggest 20 psi at least, some go as low as 17psi, 20 is usually plenty fine for me.

While driving in wide flat areas where you can go faster, I would use 4 high with traction control on. If you want to hot dog, turn off the traction control.

If your in steep, deep, curvy, or other types of areas, use 4 low. The traction control will automatically turn off for you and turn back on when you exit 4 low.

Bring a folding car snow shovel with you to dig the thing out if you get stuck or high centered. Someof your serious folks bring a jack and boards to jack it out. Unless your in a really big bog or something crazy you shouldn't get that stuck. Careful going over the tops of dunes, you'll get high centered here.


Don't drive through the salt water like the commercials, hit a pressure car wash when your done to get the salt off.

Drive it like you stole it, just don't roll it



Finally, take a picture on the beach like this

 

[Richie18]

Your Explorer makes it look like a PR photo from Ford, very nice.

 

[Essex4x4]

if i air down to 17-20psi wont the computer say i have a flat tire? the newer Explorers are equipted with a tire pressure monitoring system.

 

[jeeden]

if i air down to 17-20psi wont the computer say i have a flat tire? the newer Explorers are equipted with a tire pressure monitoring system.

Yup, it will, but you know better. I'm not sure if the message center will say anything, but you will get this symbol

It will stay on like a check engine light or something would, but won't hurt anything.

 

[Essex4x4]

does it go off when i fill the tires back up, or do i have to go to ford and have them reset it?



What kind of compressor did you use to fill your tires back up when you left tbe beach?

 

[jeeden]

does it go off when i fill the tires back up, or do i have to go to ford and have them reset it?



What kind of compressor did you use to fill your tires back up when you left tbe beach?

Yup, it should go off when you fill the tires back up.

Compressor....just the one at the closest gas station

 

[michael loibl]

For those of you who would rather not drive back to a service station on 17 psi tires, Wal-Mart sells a small blue air compressor for $9.99 that actually works quite well and fits in the small driver side rear corner compartment with space to spare. I'm not generally a wal mart fan for quality but I was very impressed with this unit (for the price)

 

[CHiNO_PeLoNCiTo]

The traction button has 2 stages

Stage 1: Pushing the Trac button for 1 Second. The light will come on
It stops ESC and Traction Control but NOT the Brake Assist or EBD under 30 MPH. This is great if you're pushing something, pulling something, or just wanna have some "FUN" HAHAHA!!! If you go over 30 MPH though, the icon will remain lit indicating that AdvanceTrac is turned off, but AnvanceTrac will come back on untill you go under 30.

Step 2: HOLDING the Trac button for 5 seconds. The indicator will flash then remain lit
This does everything as step one AND Brake Assist and EBD

Note that Brake Assist is NOT the ABS system, but will apply the brakes at full force in cases of emergency when the driver is not able to apply them at full force. EBD will stabalize the car and keep it from whipping around when stopping by checking which wheel has the most grip and applying the most brake pressure to that wheel.

Hope that helps =]