Traction control on or off???

[mrstallion]

I have a vy series 2 SS and I was just wondering what I should have my traction control button on (off/on) and if it makes any differences in power or fuel economy???

Also what you should have it on with everyday driving??

Any info would be great.
Thanks Frank

[Danv8]

I rarely use T/C on my Calais unless the road conditions are terrible. I prefer to drive a car that does not make the accelerator fight with my go foot.

It would do bugger all for fuel economy but it will cut the performance when the t/c kicks in.

[Holden Nut]

I have a vy series 2 SS and I was just wondering what I should have my traction control button on (off/on) and if it makes any differences in power or fuel economy???

Also what you should have it on with everyday driving??

Any info would be great.
Thanks Frank
It's a personal preference thing, there is no rule whether you should have it on or off. Experiment with it and put it to the test, see what you think about it and then make your choice then.

[xcapee]

keep it on in the wet. too easy to lose the rear even in normal day to day driving whilst its wet.

[gibbsy]

I agree keep in on in the wet. Unless you are happy wagging your tail..
P.s. What clour is your SS , May have seen you around.?

Gibbsy

[mrstallion]

I have a red SS 6m. What colour is your Vx clubbie?? also have you modified it in any way?? 1 last question Gibbsy are you in any holden club in gladstone?

[Neatvx]

I always turn it off unless it's wet.

Haven't told the missus you can turn it off though.

[gibbsy]

I am in the CQHSV club.
And of course validated in this forum.
Do you Know Brendan (moderator) ??
red VS HSV with the funky tail lights I think the Rego is BMH 83
My Rego is as callsign
GIBBSY and the colour is red.

[highlander_69r]

well i not worry bout turnin it off unless i plan to give it a bootfull , the only real time its off is when its at the strip

[Vulture]

I always turn it off unless it's wet..

No fun. I turn it off when it IS wet :D

[V8BRUTE]

Should be instinct to turn the damn TC off as soon as the engines starts, TC is :limpy:

You buy a V8 and worry about a little tail action :lol:

[Tron2004]

Funny ya know.
When I first bought the red beast, I used to leave the TC on all the time.

Hey... I went from a 2 litre Toyota to a 5.7 litre LS1... gimme a break!! :)

Anyway, that was over 2 years ago, and now I'm thinking how good it would be if the TC was OFF by default.
Very rarely use it now except in wet conditions.

[OLS108]

for me, Start car... Turn Trac Off select Gear and drive away ( yes i always drive with the Handbrake on. :lol:

in the wet Trac on , or if my misses is Driving ( heaven Forbid ) :lol:

[NickS]

I once saw something where Mark Skaife said "any idiot can spin the wheels, the real skill is in driving on the limit without breaking that limit". There seems to be this notion that using traction control is lame / pathetic / whatever, honestly it worries me a bit that you even realise it's there ... every time you get in the car !!! Are you honestly saying that you drive in a manner that every time you start the car you are going to be sliding the rear end around on public roads :confused: Bring on the flames if you like but there seems to be a traction control thread every few weeks just so everyone can talk themselves up because they don't use it and hammer anyone who happens to leave it on because they don't drive in a manner (every day) where they would need it ... geez, I must be the biggest pansy ever, my car doesn't slide around wet or dry.

[Drewie]

I once saw something where Mark Skaife said "any idiot can spin the wheels, the real skill is in driving on the limit without breaking that limit". There seems to be this notion that using traction control is lame / pathetic / whatever, honestly it worries me a bit that you even realise it's there ... every time you get in the car !!! Are you honestly saying that you drive in a manner that every time you start the car you are going to be sliding the rear end around on public roads :confused: Bring on the flames if you like but there seems to be a traction control thread every few weeks just so everyone can talk themselves up because they don't use it and hammer anyone who happens to leave it on because they don't drive in a manner (every day) where they would need it ... geez, I must be the biggest pansy ever, my car doesn't slide around wet or dry.

Well said Nick....Couldn't agree more.

[Vulture]

Hey but you've got AWD!

Even a slightly exuberant throttle application accelerating around a corner from slow speed can easily activate the traction control on our RWDs. The TC on the VY is bloody annoying, the way it bangs your foot, power delivery and smooth acceleration are then out the window with it surging away. The VZ is much better. Personally, if the road is empty and wide and wet, there is nothing I like better than turning off the TC and getting it sideways. I don't pretend I'm a particularly good driver, hence the reason I steer well clear of traffic, but enough with the holier-than-thou stuff! :p It's just a bit of fun but sure, the car is a safer proposition with it on - especially for the wife.

[jneil]

I once saw something where Mark Skaife said "any idiot can spin the wheels, the real skill is in driving on the limit without breaking that limit". There seems to be this notion that using traction control is lame / pathetic / whatever, honestly it worries me a bit that you even realise it's there ... every time you get in the car !!! Are you honestly saying that you drive in a manner that every time you start the car you are going to be sliding the rear end around on public roads :confused: Bring on the flames if you like but there seems to be a traction control thread every few weeks just so everyone can talk themselves up because they don't use it and hammer anyone who happens to leave it on because they don't drive in a manner (every day) where they would need it ... geez, I must be the biggest pansy ever, my car doesn't slide around wet or dry.

I have it off AT ALL TIMES (wet and dry), not because I go sliding around, but because it promotes better throttle control!

I drive a M6 and proper use of the throttle and clutch means that there is no wheel slip even in the wet.

I just HATE the fact that you pull out up an off camber corner and the inside rear slips a little and the damn car loses almost all power and leaves you thinking WTF as it starts coughing and spluttering. Worse in the wet. Like Skaifey said "any idiot can spin the wheels" learn to drive without it. Sure the wheels may slip for a second or so and you will soon drive out of it (unless the boot is burried to the floor) or you back off slightly. It isn't rocket science.

I want to change my ABS kick in point to a little later too, I find it comes on too early and when the ABS kicks in, my braking ability is INCREASED. I believe you can get it changed by like .3 of a second slower or something. I'll ask next service.

My sequence 99% of the time is....get in, key in, clutch in, make sure netural is selected, clutch out, turn on, window down, TC OFF, Cruise on, sunroof open, sunglasses out, drive off.

[myles]

I once saw something where Mark Skaife said "any idiot can spin the wheels, the real skill is in driving on the limit without breaking that limit". There seems to be this notion that using traction control is lame / pathetic / whatever, honestly it worries me a bit that you even realise it's there ... every time you get in the car !!! Are you honestly saying that you drive in a manner that every time you start the car you are going to be sliding the rear end around on public roads :confused: Bring on the flames if you like but there seems to be a traction control thread every few weeks just so everyone can talk themselves up because they don't use it and hammer anyone who happens to leave it on because they don't drive in a manner (every day) where they would need it ... geez, I must be the biggest pansy ever, my car doesn't slide around wet or dry.

Well said Nick (also read you've owned other HSVs as well, and not just the AWD Coupe 4).

People gain control when sliding around corners but some/most of the time it's not from staying in the one lane or sticking to the one line. If there were another car right alongside when turning, a parked car on the left when sliding around a sharp right turn, or another car breaking traction sliding around on the inside a split second later, then you have damaged cars.

If you can take the turn at a real good speed without it needing to kick in, IMO then you've taken the turn and judged it well.

[NickS]

Well said Nick (also read you've owned other HSVs as well, and not just the AWD Coupe 4)
Thanks myles, should have mentioned that. I traded in an R8 on the Coupe 4, drove that for almost 4 years so I do know what it's like to drive a RWD V8. I never turned the TC off in that because it hardly ever activated.

jneil, your comment about the off camber corner is the only thing I agree with. We have a T-Junction near our place that is a hill going one way joining a hill going another way and if you tried to turn from uphill to uphill ... no matter how gently ... the TC kicked in. But that is the only spot that it ever did it. In the wet it would activate very occasionally but in the dry I didn't even know it was there.

I know ... I wasn't trying hard enough. :doh: Just my 2c of course.

[NickS]

Sorry fellas, one more thing. jneil, everything you have said (just read it again) is very true. My point was that everyones replies in the monthly TC thread seem to be "TC is pussys" and the like. I just think that is a rediculous attitude that is going to encourage a lot of young guys to turn it off ... guys that really should be leaving it on. If you turn it off but drive sensibly then I'm behind you 100%, but as I said, so many seem to be saying that they like the rear end sliding around and that only (insert insult)'s leave it on.

[Drewie]

I remember not long back I was walking the dog and witnessed a guy doing a left turn onto a semi main road, the road was damp and he hung the tail coming around the corner, nice controlled slide and he kept the power on (it was the engine revs and nice V8 note that got my attention) he was holding it beautifully only trouble was he was over the centre line by about half a car and promptly ran head on into a woman slowing down to pull into the lights.
No one hurt but lots of damage, felt sorry for the poor woman just minding her own business.

[EvillBill]

I keep it on. The day i turn it off and over-reach myself is the day the plod is watching me. And I really, really hate giving them money.

[OLS108]

Not sure what the Trac is like on the VY and Coupe4 but on my VX 1 its damm right Shithouse, at the slightest hint of any Power it knocks it on the Head by applying the Brakes :mad: so now like i said mine is off in the Dry , there is nothing wrose then needing to Use the Right foot and Nailing it and the Trac light comming on and stopping my Progress.
but i can understand from where your comming Nick, but to me being an lazy auto driver i want to have a little more control that i miss out on with the auto.

[SS_Fury]

my vx ss always has the tc on....i never really gave it much thought although i have only had the car a couple of months and am still getting used to the power i guess...i think tc is a good thing it has only ever kicked in once for me so far :confused: mabe i am a pussy driver :confused:

[Tron2004]

Sorry fellas, one more thing. jneil, everything you have said (just read it again) is very true. My point was that everyones replies in the monthly TC thread seem to be "TC is pussys" and the like.

Hmmmm... reminds me of my tongue-in-cheek remark I made some time ago about auto vs manual transmissions. Caused a bit of a stir that one! :D

I believe that the TC is a damn good addition to have with any powerful vehicle, but I suppose it's at the cost of allowing people to get used to their car and to understand the capability and how to control it manually.

It certainly doesn't worry me one little bit if Joe Bloggs uses TC all the time and Jim Bloggs turns TC off all the time. Who cares, as long as we all have as much control as humanly possible over what we drive!

[jneil]

Hmmmm... reminds me of my tongue-in-cheek remark I made some time ago about auto vs manual transmissions. Caused a bit of a stir that one! :D

I believe that the TC is a damn good addition to have with any powerful vehicle, but I suppose it's at the cost of allowing people to get used to their car and to understand the capability and how to control it manually.

It certainly doesn't worry me one little bit if Joe Bloggs uses TC all the time and Jim Bloggs turns TC off all the time. Who cares, as long as we all have as much control as humanly possible over what we drive!

Exactly, I couldn't give too hoots if anybody does or anybody doesn't use it. I am only stating that I have gained much better throttle/clutch control especially in the wet by not using it. I find it too intrusive and don't like any sudden changes to unbalance the car.

[SV8VY]

Mine is off as soon as I am in the car wet or dry.
To me its anoying as the slightest bit of traction loss it drops power.
Trying to cross the road with oncoming traffic and a small loss of traction is a nightmare.
I always use semi slicks on the car so when the tyres are cold there is always a little loss of traction before they heat up.
Doesnt mean you are going out spinning the wheels and doing burnouts.
I also dislike the abs but thats another story.
Maybe Im an old bugger as I prefer the old school ways :lol:
Self control is what its about most of the time and I would rather control the car instead of the other way around.

[Toddler78]

turn it off and leave it off in all weather conditions especially in the wet. Nothing is worse when your about to pull across traffic to turn right and you accelerate only to have traction controll kick in and stall the car as you see a car thundering down on you at 80km and about to clean up your drivers door. in the wet is worst and before every one starts to stick the boot in on my thoughts mark skaif is right any idiot can spin the tyres but think about it traction control exists for those people that spin their tyres even if by accident, this is my first car with trac control and abs and i hate both of them

[Neatvx]

Maybe Im an old bugger as I prefer the old school ways :lol:


Hey easy up on the old bugger thing your depresing me. 39 in 5 days :(

[RedVYIISS]

Mines a VYII A4, and I must admit that I find the T/C very invasive and turn it off pretty well all the time in the dry, and I do leave it on in the wet. With T/C on there are two off camber, slightly rough left hand turns on my way to work and travelling at 20 km/hr around either bend brings on the T/C and annoys the bejesus out of me. At twice that speed, no T/C, dry road, there's no perceptible sliding and certainly no wheel spinning.

[SUX350]

I Have A Vy Ss Ute And It Does'nt Have T/c.so Dont Need To Worry About It.

[VX2VESS]

wheels start to loose some traction lift foot a bit, not too hard :p

someone stole my button :D

not hard to learn the limits and keep it under control.

go to some skid pan days and track days learn what it does there

[XsPwr2W8]

There must be a way of permantly disabling the T/C, I tryed once but if I disabled it it also turned off all SRS systems and gave warning lights. Anybody know if the ECU firmware can be reprogramed to avoid this?

[SV8VY]

Hey easy up on the old bugger thing your depresing me. 39 in 5 days :(
Happy birthday and welcome to the old mans club :lol:
As long as you feel like 20 and go better than one :stick: there is no problem.
I tend to think traction control and abs is like viagra.
Only for people that cant control their toy :lol:

[Jimbo_AUS]

Hey easy up on the old bugger thing your depresing me. 39 in 5 days :(

Only 39 you lucky bugger....I'm 44 on thursday....and still kicking ass :)

[Tron2004]

Only 39 you lucky bugger....I'm 44 on thursday....and still kicking ass :)
Happy Birthday Jimbo... you young whipper snapper!
48 for me and I'm also still kicking... [snore... snore....] :sleep:

[HSVMAN]

Bunch of old farts! (44 next month)

T/C is there for a purpose and as already mentioned you can turn it off. You think its bad in your VY V8? Try an XR8's T/C :eek: bout as bad as the VY V6 bloody awful so think yourself lucky.
When you are on a neg cambered corner in the wet and you think all is fine when your TC suddenly kicks in.... The TC only activates when a wheel loses traction, even momentarily.
When VZ arrived it improved no end in fact its actually quite fun as you can sit on the limit without losing it and keep your power on :D

[georgec]

I usually leave the traction control on in the GTS unless I really want to have maximum control. I've been going home a different way lately that involves doing a left hand turn uphill onto a three lane road. I noticed that traction control was activating during that turn and thought that was a bit annoying. The next day I turned traction control off as I approached the corner. Had to stop to give way to traffic but then there was a break in the left hand lane. Started off with a little too many revs and planted it. Man, you should have seen the cloud of tyre smoke - never experienced anything like it - prefer traction over wheelspin. Traction control certainly protects the tyres on high powered cars.

[Jimbo_AUS]

Bunch of old farts! (44 next month)

Watch it young fella...I most likely own a pair of shoes older than you :)

[VX2VESS]

I usually leave the traction control on in the GTS unless I really want to have maximum control.
The next day I turned traction control off as I approached the corner. Had to stop to give way to traffic but then there was a break in the left hand lane. Started off with a little too many revs and planted it. Man, you should have seen the cloud of tyre smoke - never experienced anything like it - prefer traction over wheelspin. Traction control certainly protects the tyres on high powered cars.


Don't take this the wrong way but the first sentence and the rest of the story contradicts the first statement.


You make it sound like you have no throttle control without the tc button off.
the pedal doesn't have to go all down and stay there. back off quickly and reapply. if I take off and break traction I don't keep the boot in that position hope it will go away. If you prefer full control and tyre life you need some practice. the tyres should only loose traction only if you want them too. its so easy to prevent it manually.

wet conditions & traction off is the best way to learn throttle control, straight lines first. Be best to do at a track if its that hard to do, street isn't the place to practice, a skidpan is good. i think the foot is the best TC, the button can't give you full control to make the car perform if required.

a little slip can get quick acceleration, too much slip slow acceleration. its a balance that come with practice.
TC can be dangerous. piture this its wet, someones coming fast at the side of you, you can't get out of the way as the TC prevents you. where with it off you may have just made it, with foot control and a tiny bit of spin.

its like ABS and dirt roads, you can stop shorter without it.

[HSVMAN]

Watch it young fella...I most likely own a pair of shoes older than you :)

Respect! :yup:

Another thing with Traction Control that no-one has mentioned here is that your V8's fitted with LSD will have a tendency for the inner rear wheel to "slip" more on corners - under normal power. The TC doesnt allow for this and will cut in regardless as soon as it senses one wheel turning faster than the other. Once again for VZ models on, you wont experience this pain.
Needless to say TC is a huge safety factor with the majority who may just use that bit too much throttle at the wrong time. Those that are competent and carefull (or just want to play) who prefer to feel the car themselves can simply push the button whenever they want :)

[XsPwr2W8]

Respect! :yup:

Another thing with Traction Control that no-one has mentioned here is that your V8's fitted with LSD will have a tendency for the inner rear wheel to "slip" more on corners - under normal power. The TC doesnt allow for this and will cut in regardless as soon as it senses one wheel turning faster than the other. Once again for VZ models on, you wont experience this pain.
Needless to say TC is a huge safety factor with the majority who may just use that bit too much throttle at the wrong time. Those that are competent and carefull (or just want to play) who prefer to feel the car themselves can simply push the button whenever they want :)


I agree,
But still want to turn it off permanently with out loosing ABS and airbags.
:D