We have traction control on our new ford focus. It is supposed to prevent the front wheels from spinning in the snow. I think it is broken because nothing changes when it is engaged and the wheels still spin. The indicator light seems to work though. What’s up? Am I missing something?
Also, does anyone know what that shift arrow is supposed to do? Why would it tell me to shift into the next gear when the engine is running at 2000 rpm?
No specific help on Q #1, but understand that traction control REDUCES, not ELIMINATES, wheel spin. It works well in situations where you have widely diferent traction on the two wheels, but at least some tractionon one of them. On really slippery surfaces, it’s no help; it can’t create traction out of nothing.
For #2, the Focus is an economy car. For best economy in any car, gently apply the accelerator and when RPM reaches about 1800-2000, shift to the next higher gear.
In other words, as soon as the RPMs are high enough in this gear that upshifting to the next gear will leave the RPM above the lugging range, it’s time to upshift.
Conversely, for best power & fastest accelleration (and worst mileage), slam the accelerator to the floor and upshift just before hitting redline RPMs.
I did not know that about upshifting. Thanks.
Electronic traction controls tend to work in one of two ways.
Way number one, the ABS system will apply the brake to just the spinning wheel (lightly) to get it to have the same resistance as the other drive wheel, so that you can drive away. To use just press down on the gas just enough to get one drive wheel spinning, the system should apply/release the brakes as needed to get the car moving. Floor boarding the gas, or stepping on the brake (2 footed driving) will disconnect the system, and result in no traction control.
Way number two: Engine management system reduces power output of the engine until traction is regained. Not as good as the first system. You can still find yourself stuck, but better than nothing.
May I recommend that you spend a little quality time with your owner’s manual, as it will most likely answer your questions about traction control, and the upshift light.
The owner’s manual does not provide the information I need. My next option after S.D. is to go to the dealer.
I’m pretty sure that this is the system the Focus has. We have an '05 with traction control, and we were told it was only an option on vehicles with ABS.
Both systems need to know the speed of each wheel, and get that info from the ABS system. So the presence of ABS is not an indicator one way or the other.
Are you talking about both wheels spining or one wheel spinning? You need at least one wheel to have traction for it to work, if they’re both spinning then the TC isn’t going to help.
Agreed, but even with both of them stuck in the mud one wheel will be easier to turn than the other. In a case like this the system will switch from wheel to wheel as traction is lost and then regained when the power is moved to the other wheel. The car kind of wiggles and works it way out of the mud.
I didn’t know that. Thanks!