Does anyone know the specs/characteristics the traction control is supposed to exhibit? Mine doesn't seem to have any effect or isn't working like I think it should.

I've had many situations where I lost traction and the only thing that regained control of it was letting up on the accelerator or letting it spin until the car reached speed to overcome it (I'm not talking about any huge burnouts). Most of this is from turning out at a corner and having to accelerate to get up to speed in 1st. The inside wheel spins pretty easily.

I had a situation last night in particular that sparked the notion to create this post. It was raining and I just left the interstate. At the end of the off ramp is a stop sign where I waited patiently for my turn to turn left . The road I was getting on was 4 lanes. My little underpowered XB spun both tires all the way across both oncoming lanes and the median area to the point that when I turned the wheels left the car kept going straight. I wasn't trying to spin at all; the road was very slick in that area. I think that traction control should have definately done something in that situation and I couldn't tell anything had happened.

Yeah, it really doesn't have traction "control".. real t/c systems use fuel cut to stabilize the torque to the wheels until the car regains traction. I have yet to fully understand why they advertise traction control on these cars, it really doesn't do much.

it has it just not by alot. try burning all the way thru 1st with it off and then try again with it on. i bet you wont be able to redline with it in first while burnin. or maybe mine works i unno. but it does work just not too great but hey that just means we can play around with the car more

the t/c is not working that bad, try to turn it off and do whatever you did before, you can see the difference right away. It just feels like the old Corolla. Driving with the T/C on, sometimes, I feel it turns better than my 300zx ( not talking about drifting) ..

My little underpowered XB spun both tires all the way across both oncoming lanes and the median area to the point that when I turned the wheels left the car kept going straight
The traction control on the xB works by applying the breaks to the tire that is spinning, this works kind of like a limited slip diff, in that it allows the wheel that is not slipping to get power. by this statement you made, your traction control IS working. Your diff is open, and if both wheels were spinning, then your traction control had to have been working. if you want to test your traction control out, tach it up and drop the clutch you chould hear a chattering. That's the breaks being applied intermittently like your ABS works.

It was raining and I just left the interstate. At the end of the off ramp is a stop sign where I waited patiently for my turn to turn left . The road I was getting on was 4 lanes. My little underpowered XB spun both tires all the way across both oncoming lanes and the median area to the point that when I turned the wheels left the car kept going straight. I wasn't trying to spin at all; the road was very slick in that area. I think that traction control should have definately done something in that situation and I couldn't tell anything had happened.I dont know how fast you tried to take off but if it was wet because of the rain then these cars will spin easily b/c they are light weight. so with it being wet the traction control isnt going to be as effective.. also was it like a smooth blacktop or like the gravel pavement.. b/c if smooth blacktop it is very easy to spin tires in rain.. I have done it numerous times without meaning too.

Dont forget the tires and/or wheels combo. I still have the stock Goodyears. Traction sucks on those tires. Even owners of different vehicles feel that the traction is bad (Tirerack).

On a side note. If you are ever stuck on mud or deep snow, the manual states to turn OFF Traction Control.

I have Pirelli P7000 Supersports on 17's. The traction is normally great but there are some situations when the traction control doesn't seem like it does anything or I'm expecting more than it's made to do. I don't really feel like doing any burnouts just to test it. I don't want to risk damaging the car. My wife would have my head.

I have had many cars with traction control 3 currently and all can spin the tires under certain conditions. It is meant to reduce spin not to eliminate it.