I don't believe for a second that it uses the brakes. No ***** way. I've been able to overwhelm it and get wheel hop even with the system on. And with the button off, it ain't doing anything to stop wheelspin. I've been horsing around in the snow already.

It doesn't use the brakes to prevent wheel spin!!! It uses them to equalize the speed of the right and left tire under acceleration. You can spin the tires still but it's gonna use the brakes to equalize the traction between the right and left wheel.

Now the primary function which cuts power under wheel slip is the only thing that can be disabled with the button.

Have you ever tried to drive an IVD car in nasty snow? It sucks!!! With the button off you can get somewhere, but if you are in deep snow, the abs pump eventually overworks itself and goes into thermal protection and shuts itself off. Then the car is drievable because you dont have the brakes trying to equalize wheel speeds.

Think of IVD as a 2 chanel system. One chanel (controled by the button on the console) tries to keep the front and rear wheels going at the same speed so When It detects wheel spin cuts power to equalize wheel speed. The other chanel Which can not be turned off tries to equalize wheel speed right to left. It does this subtly. It again is there as a "Simulated" posi traction.

 

i can tell the diff with the switch off and then i pull fuse 46. abs and tcs light comes on. I can roast them well into 2nd NICE with the fuse pulled, with only the switch, i can barely get it to spin in 2nd. With it fully on, the car is just retarded.

 

I don't believe for a second that it uses the brakes. No ***** way. I've been able to overwhelm it and get wheel hop even with the system on. And with the button off, it ain't doing anything to stop wheelspin. I've been horsing around in the snow already.

 

I've got a button that I installed to stop the connection for the fuse for the traction control, but have never even used it because it does turn off the abs as well. The car's plenty fast with the tc on as it is. I don't even use the stock button ever.

I'll probably use the button when I take the car to the track, but have been waiting since I'm still on the stock clutch and open diff. It's my daily driver and I need to save for those parts before I can really get on it.

 

One other piece of information: I have an '05 with TC, and if you read the owner's manual (nudge, nudge, hint, hint), it describes how the TC system works in 2 parts. First it uses the ABS to slow the spinning wheel with allows the differential to transfer some torque to the opposite wheel. Second, if you continue with slippage at both wheels, it will cut engine spark to regain traction. Now, and here is the kicker to reading the manual, turning the TC "off" removes only the 2nd function, so the brakes still are used to create an electronic LSD. Ok, maybe not a true replacement for a proper LSD, but I've been pretty happy with mine. In fact, if there's interest, I'll post how the system can actually help the front end turn in better on loose surfaces. Hope this helped.

Absolutely true. You guys don't realize it but the brakes mimic a limited slip diff under acceleration and the button does not turn it off. The button only turns off the secondary function. The only true way to disable the system is to pull the abs fuse or relay.

I have an 03 auto zetec car with a powerworks and The IVD/advancetrac package. WIth the traction control button on the car hesitates bad. With the button off it does not hesitate as bad but If I were to floor it from a stop I can tell the brake system takes over after about 3 seconds of wheel spin. If I pull the relay I get beautiful wheelspin and the car is definetly faster.

I'm actually thinking of making a kit that would give you an in car switch to truely disable the IVD system. The only bad part is it will turn off the abs as well.

 

I agree with P-51's impressions here entirely. I don't think the focus's TC uses the brakes at all, and it is a piece of crap.

I do however get the impression that it uses the clutch to regulate power to the wheels. I could be wrong though.

 

For the first time yesterday the wheels spun (on purpose) with the control off it still kicked in? can this be tuned out? and why did it come on? sorry if this post is in the wrong place.

cool i'm not the only one with this problem. I drive with this feature off and it goes off as soon as the sensors detect any lost of traction. is there a way to disconnect this or if i switch to a different set of tires with more grip tire will this help? i don't know i need some feedback on this also.

 

One other piece of information: I have an '05 with TC, and if you read the owner's manual (nudge, nudge, hint, hint), it describes how the TC system works in 2 parts. First it uses the ABS to slow the spinning wheel with allows the differential to transfer some torque to the opposite wheel. Second, if you continue with slippage at both wheels, it will cut engine spark to regain traction. Now, and here is the kicker to reading the manual, turning the TC "off" removes only the 2nd function, so the brakes still are used to create an electronic LSD. Ok, maybe not a true replacement for a proper LSD, but I've been pretty happy with mine. In fact, if there's interest, I'll post how the system can actually help the front end turn in better on loose surfaces. Hope this helped.

I don't think this is true. At least not in 06.

My wife has an 03 with AdvanceTrac. You can feel and hear when the brakes activate to slow a spinning wheel, and you can also feel that the car is actually being helped along.

On my 06 with TC, I do not believe the brakes activate. It just kills power. I never heard the "grunch" sound the brake actuator makes in the 03, and I CERTAINLY never feel a wheel being braked. The TC just kills power. Thanks, my foot does a better job of that if given the chance.

This TC is the biggest piece of crap ever.

My father had a 95ish Intrepid back in the day, it had brake-TC, and it actually worked. You could accelerate faster with it on, than off. That's not the case on the Focus.

 

all month long Iv been callin out the Owners Maunal... it should be mandatory to read it before driving off the lot.

 

One other piece of information: I have an '05 with TC, and if you read the owner's manual (nudge, nudge, hint, hint), it describes how the TC system works in 2 parts. First it uses the ABS to slow the spinning wheel with allows the differential to transfer some torque to the opposite wheel. Second, if you continue with slippage at both wheels, it will cut engine spark to regain traction. Now, and here is the kicker to reading the manual, turning the TC "off" removes only the 2nd function, so the brakes still are used to create an electronic LSD. Ok, maybe not a true replacement for a proper LSD, but I've been pretty happy with mine. In fact, if there's interest, I'll post how the system can actually help the front end turn in better on loose surfaces. Hope this helped.

someone didn't read the entire thread .... there is an image I posted above with all that info...

 

Ya know we never read directions or ask directions! I get it THANKS

 

One other piece of information: I have an '05 with TC, and if you read the owner's manual (nudge, nudge, hint, hint), it describes how the TC system works in 2 parts. First it uses the ABS to slow the spinning wheel with allows the differential to transfer some torque to the opposite wheel. Second, if you continue with slippage at both wheels, it will cut engine spark to regain traction. Now, and here is the kicker to reading the manual, turning the TC "off" removes only the 2nd function, so the brakes still are used to create an electronic LSD. Ok, maybe not a true replacement for a proper LSD, but I've been pretty happy with mine. In fact, if there's interest, I'll post how the system can actually help the front end turn in better on loose surfaces. Hope this helped.

 

werd

 

Ok I think i'm getting it. I missed the whole point. When the light is on in the dash it's off. So when the light was off i thought it was off, when in fact it's really on, so this would explain it, i guess this why you should read the owners manual, I guess on the plus side someone may come up with a way of deleting the TC

 

I will break it up for ya next time... heh

 

I understood that... I was answering Oreo's question...

have to make it more clear... I thought that whole thing was to me.. bwhahaha. :rock:

 

I understood that... I was answering Oreo's question...

 

I know Im talkin about me making a circuit that will turn off TC when car is started, for people that have TC. Instead of hittin the button it would be automatic.

 

Bryan, getting TC was option for the 06 model year... for any 05 ST it was a standard feature... I have asked Randy about removing it with tuning and he said its just not possible... Hopefully he pops in here and replies...

 

Well even better Im goin look though the manual and find the TC circuit and make somthing that will auto turn off the TC when you start the car.

Stay tuned.

 

I understand that when the button is used to turn off TC that the ABS still works. I was questioning whether using a tune that permenantly disables the TC, or (if possible) sets the TC to default off when the car is started, interferes with the ABS. The key part of my question being using the tune instead of the button.

 

Yes it is the ST, if you push the button it is always on , i dont want it on as soon as the tires spin the engine detunes & bogs, a quick shift to 2nd gear fixes it but time & effect are lost!

Did you read the image of the manual I posted? If you press the button and the light is SOLID its manually turned OFF for all intense purposes (your ABS will still work too)... If its blinking then the system is engaged and doing its job...

 

Yes it is the ST, if you push the button it is always on , i dont want it on as soon as the tires spin the engine detunes & bogs, a quick shift to 2nd gear fixes it but time & effect are lost!

 

The two systems are linked, and there is no way to actually remove this from the car totally... Your best bet is to push that button so the light goes solid... If it has a solid light, it shouldn't be kicking on, I havn't had it engage when I have my TC light lit...

http://www.paulhaskew.com/focal/tc_manual_page.jpg

There is the page from the manual...

interesting what foci come with tc? im guessing the st cause paul has one. any other ones didnt know a focus can have tc

 

The two systems are linked, and there is no way to actually remove this from the car totally... Your best bet is to push that button so the light goes solid... If it has a solid light, it shouldn't be kicking on, I havn't had it engage when I have my TC light lit...

http://www.paulhaskew.com/focal/tc_manual_page.jpg

There is the page from the manual...