Just got a quick question, and sorry if it's stupid. How come traction control on the XB is always on until turned on? I have had the car for six months now, and knew the car was equipped with that feature, but not too long ago I hit the traction control button to turn it on thinking it was off, and then the light comes on saying trac off. After shutting down the car, and then starting it back to drive again every time the traction control is automatically on. It's not a bother, but I am just curious. I have not done anything detrimental to the car by having the traction control on pretty much since i've owned it have i? i'm pretty sure this is the first car i have owned with traction control. my 02 Focus didn't have it!

 

Always on until turned off... if you reread your post you'll see that you answered your own question

 

I did, but why is that? Am I hurting my fuel efficiency by never shutting it off? Sorry for the ignorance, but I have NEVER had traction control before.

 

I may not be the most technical person in the world... but if you are capable of safely operating a vehicle, why do you believe that a system designed to assist you in a situation where your vehicle looses its footing with the pavement is hurting your fuel mileage

 

I don't think it is. I never took an exact calculation, but my mileage is maybe 32-33 highway. Just wondering if it did thats all. I guess my point was is there any particular reason that traction control is on until it is turned off? Or is it like that in all vehicles? This is the newest non 4WD/truck vehicle I have ever owned. All the others didn't have this feature! If this is how the feature is in all cars that have it I would honestly not know!

 

Yes there is a reason that's its on, because when you need it it becomes operational. I never have mine on personally, due to the standalone and not having my factory computer control anything. Trust me your not hurting a thing, 33< highway is just about normal

 

It is a lot safer to it it on all the time, you never know when you are going to use it sometimes ( a lawer might have made this choice )

 

The trac control is basically a passive system. You wont see a gain in fuel mileage by turning it off, or leaving it on, as it should be left, because it really isn't doing anything until you need it. And when it activates... you'll know it !!

Simply, it works by measuring a difference in speed between the front and read wheels. When the fronts are spinning faster than the rear, it works by automatically cutting the throttle, and or applying the brakes to the spinning wheels through the ABS.

You don't mention what state you live in, but if it snows there, you'll get to know the trac system real well. Especially if you get stuck in the deep stuff like last years winter!!

Another little trac test you can do at your own risk, if you ever have the whole front end jacked up with the wheels off the ground, the engine running and in gear with the front wheels spinning, you have to turn the trac OFF, otherwise the front wheels just don't spin, and it sounds like you car will be falling apart when the system is activating.

 

keep the traction control turned on unless you

are stuck in really deep snow and want a chance to move...or you wish to do smoky burnouts

 

My driveway was mostly ice last week, and I had to turn TC off just to get up the hill. Otherwise it was killing the throttle and I was losing all my momentum. That's the only time I've had to shut it off, but I wouldn't have been able to get up the driveway with it on.

 

I had no idea about trac control, and this post did not help my ignorance. I now suspect that trac control has nothing to do with snow traction, but is related to stability, as in preventing skidding out of control and overturning.

So... to increase traction when you are stuck in snow, you should turn off traction control. Because traction control actually decreases traction, right?

 

No. google/howstuffworks it. Professional writers do a good job of explaining things although Davestoaster did a decent job.

 

Think of it like ABS, preventing too much pressure on the throttle to keep the wheels from slipping.

 

Traction control (TRAC) prevents the driving front wheel spin that can be caused by snow, water or sand, etc. by applying the brakes automatically. It can be disabled by hitting the TRAC switch so you can spin the wheels all you want or all the engine power will allow.
Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) works to prevent the loss of direction. The system monitors the speed, position of the steering wheel (where you want to go), the speed of rotation of each wheel and the car's yaw rate. It can not be disabled by the switch.