4 ms·

Not very convincing. On most cars, you can't completely turn off traction control. The "ESP off" button is there driving with tire chains, it just increases th

by andor 11y ago

Not very convincing. On most cars, you can't completely turn off traction control. The "ESP off" button is there driving with tire chains, it just increases the threshold of the safety systems but doesn't disable them. That could explain the warnings in the dashboard, and also the reduced torque. High torque on low-traction surfaces leads to wheel spin.

dghughes 11y ago
Off topic but I hate cars that don't allow traction control (TC) to be turned off it can be dangerous. We had Ford Transit vehicles at work and in the winter if there is a lot of snow the TC will kill 90% of engine power trapping you in the snow. I've almost been killed by TC on a Ford Transit activating at the worst moment. When I first drove the vehicle I had the vehicle stop abruptly when the TC kicked in and a car almost ran into the back of me. You can disable it by taking out a fuse but it also disables the ABS and airbag. Plus it was a leased company vehicle so I couldn't do that anyway. It's like a practical joke here kill 90% of the engine power at the worst moment. For you warm climate people drifts of snow at the end of driveways or on the road are common in winter regions. Usually you power through them if possible, wheels straight, foot down on the pedal all the way. In the end I found out I could go fast and then put the vehicle in neutral and coast through as best I could. I should say for ice TC is fantastic but it's not common for pure ice to be on a road, some parts but most times it would be melted by applied road salt.
- jessaustin 11y ago
  ISTM the Transit's TC might just not be tuned very well? That might be related to the model year or might be something a Ford dealer could fix with a firmware update. Friends I've had in snowy places have sworn by their AWD vehicles. Personally I've scared myself half to death driving a big RWD truck in the snow.
  - dghughes 11y ago
    Living in a snowy climate yes AWD and 4X4 are great yes (even FWD) it's the traction control that's the problem. You can tell it wasn't designed by people who have ever seen snow. The Ford Transit is manufactured in Turkey but I don't know if that's a reason for the terrible traction control (and poor heat, and failing wheel bearings, and always cracking windshields).
  - dghughes 11y ago
    Living in a snowy climate yes AWD and 4X4 are great yes (even FWD) it's the traction control that's the problem. You can tell it wasn't designed by people who have ever seen snow. The Ford Transit is manufactured in Turkey but I don't know if that's a reason for the terrible traction control (and poor heat, and failing wheel bearings, and always cracking windshields).

by andor 11y ago

dghughes 11y ago

Off topic but I hate cars that don't allow traction control (TC) to be turned off it can be dangerous. We had Ford Transit vehicles at work and in the winter if there is a lot of snow the TC will kill 90% of engine power trapping you in the snow. I've almost been killed by TC on a Ford Transit activating at the worst moment. When I first drove the vehicle I had the vehicle stop abruptly when the TC kicked in and a car almost ran into the back of me. You can disable it by taking out a fuse but it also disables the ABS and airbag. Plus it was a leased company vehicle so I couldn't do that anyway. It's like a practical joke here kill 90% of the engine power at the worst moment. For you warm climate people drifts of snow at the end of driveways or on the road are common in winter regions. Usually you power through them if possible, wheels straight, foot down on the pedal all the way. In the end I found out I could go fast and then put the vehicle in neutral and coast through as best I could. I should say for ice TC is fantastic but it's not common for pure ice to be on a road, some parts but most times it would be melted by applied road salt.

jessaustin 11y ago
ISTM the Transit's TC might just not be tuned very well? That might be related to the model year or might be something a Ford dealer could fix with a firmware update. Friends I've had in snowy places have sworn by their AWD vehicles. Personally I've scared myself half to death driving a big RWD truck in the snow.
- dghughes 11y ago
  Living in a snowy climate yes AWD and 4X4 are great yes (even FWD) it's the traction control that's the problem. You can tell it wasn't designed by people who have ever seen snow. The Ford Transit is manufactured in Turkey but I don't know if that's a reason for the terrible traction control (and poor heat, and failing wheel bearings, and always cracking windshields).
- dghughes 11y ago
  Living in a snowy climate yes AWD and 4X4 are great yes (even FWD) it's the traction control that's the problem. You can tell it wasn't designed by people who have ever seen snow. The Ford Transit is manufactured in Turkey but I don't know if that's a reason for the terrible traction control (and poor heat, and failing wheel bearings, and always cracking windshields).