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Author
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Topic: Traction control ?????
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66fstbck
Gearhead Posts: 286
From: Worthington, Pa. USA 16262
Registered: Feb 2000
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posted 01-10-2005 07:52 PM
  
What is Traction control, and what does it do ??? I just got a 99 GT convertible w/o any owner's manual and this "traction control" is all new to me. To me, traction control is when I let off the accelerator to make the back wheels quit smoking !!!------------------
Alan
66 Fastback
99 GT Convertible
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IIGood
Moderator Posts: 3510
From: Arnold, MD, USA
Registered: Jun 99
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posted 01-10-2005 08:00 PM
 Traction control keeps the wheels from slipping excessively, basically. So when the traction control is on, you won't be able to do a nice smoky burnout. On the late models, by default, Traction Control will be on every time you start the car. Push the button "Trac Off" to turn it off. That's what I do every time I fire up my GT.  But I do leave it on if it's wet out...it does help a bit in that realm. Rights the car if it starts getting sideways...and with that much power, it's easy to get the rear end to start kicking out in the rain! There is a module available out there that you can splice in to have traction control off by default when you start the car, but at $50 or so for the module, then trying to figure out the wiring, it's so much easier and cheaper to just reach out and push the button.  Could probably have the ECM flashed too, but that might be even more expensive. So, in short, Traction Control on: Good for wet weather. Traction Control off: Good for smoky burnouts. ------------------
Frank S.----MCA Member 40390
'03 Mustang GT coupe
'99 Mustang coupe
'77 Ghia--"II Good"
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hwyman3
Gearhead Posts: 698
From: Southern Maryland, USA
Registered: Jul 2004
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posted 01-10-2005 10:00 PM
Mine has actually been a good thing. At the price of tires for my car, I try to limit the number of burnouts I do!------------------
Greg W.
MCA #52100
2002 Laser Red GT Coupe
1991 F-150 XLT 4x2 5.0
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GTRocks
Gearhead Posts: 3750
From: Lusby, MD
Registered: Jun 99
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posted 01-10-2005 10:44 PM
That button doesn't help much when gunning from 2nd either! I lit into mine the other day in 2nd and just buried the accelerator. Tires lit up, engine bogged due to the traction control kicking in, and it was all very anti-climatic!!  Have to work on that feathering thing!
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hwyman3
Gearhead Posts: 698
From: Southern Maryland, USA
Registered: Jul 2004
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posted 01-10-2005 10:53 PM
I've already bought tires for my car. I'd hate to see what tires for that Saleen costs!------------------
Greg W.
MCA #52100
2002 Laser Red GT Coupe
1991 F-150 XLT 4x2 5.0
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GTRocks
Gearhead Posts: 3750
From: Lusby, MD
Registered: Jun 99
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posted 01-11-2005 08:33 PM
'bout $180 each. Plus mounting, balancing, valve stems, environmental disposal, and air! Should come in about $250!  [This message has been edited by GTRocks (edited 01-11-2005).]
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IIGood
Moderator Posts: 3510
From: Arnold, MD, USA
Registered: Jun 99
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posted 01-11-2005 08:42 PM
quote:
Originally posted by GTRocks:
'bout $180 each. .
That's it?! Even after all the fees, that's not bad! I paid $249 for a stock GT tire...Goodyear Eagles. What do they use on the Saleen? I was thinking more along the lines of $300-$400 for a Saleen tire... ------------------
Frank S.----MCA Member 40390
'03 Mustang GT coupe
'99 Mustang coupe
'77 Ghia--"II Good"
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66fstbck
Gearhead Posts: 286
From: Worthington, Pa. USA 16262
Registered: Feb 2000
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posted 01-11-2005 09:19 PM
Thanks for the replys everyone. But, what is the traction control actually doing ? Does it detune the engine if wheel spin is detected or limit rpm ?------------------
Alan
66 Fastback
99 GT Convertible
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IIGood
Moderator Posts: 3510
From: Arnold, MD, USA
Registered: Jun 99
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posted 01-11-2005 09:31 PM
I'm not exactly sure...I can say that when the traction control is taking place, I've tried to gas it, and nothing happens.Probably closes off the throttle some, and applies braking as needed... But like I said, I'm not totally sure what specifically happens. ------------------
Frank S.----MCA Member 40390
'03 Mustang GT coupe
'99 Mustang coupe
'77 Ghia--"II Good"
IP: Logged |
hwyman3
Gearhead Posts: 698
From: Southern Maryland, USA
Registered: Jul 2004
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posted 01-12-2005 12:55 AM
The traction control works along with the Anti-lock braking system. When it detects a wheel is spinning, it applies the brakes to the wheel that is spinning.As for the tires, I replaced the stock Goodyear Eagle Gatorbacks with Eagle F-1s. They set me back around $250/tire. When I wore out the Gatorbacks, I heard Goodyear was discontinuing the Gatorback, yet pretty much any tire place can get them. Still, I like the F-1's so much better. The car handles so much better witht he F-1s on it. ------------------
Greg W.
MCA #52100
2002 Laser Red GT Coupe
1991 F-150 XLT 4x2 5.0
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GTRocks
Gearhead Posts: 3750
From: Lusby, MD
Registered: Jun 99
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posted 01-15-2005 10:03 AM
I need to introduce you guys to http://www.tirerack.com. You guys are buying the high end OEM tires though. They charge you through the nose for those. The Saleen tires are Pirellis 265/35/18s. I bought Kumhos or Yokohamas for my '93 GT. I liked them better than the Eagles, I'm sorry to say, for about 1/2 price.As far as the traction control goes, Greg is right. When it senses a wheel slipping, it will engage the brake at that wheel only which essentially transfers power to the opposite side. If they are still slipping, it will throttle back the engine until the slipping is eliminated. It kicks in much like a rev limiter.
IP: Logged |
GTRocks
Gearhead Posts: 3750
From: Lusby, MD
Registered: Jun 99
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posted 01-15-2005 10:05 AM
Oh, and by the way, the OEM tires for the Saleen are about $250 each from tirerack. They're probably closer to $350 out in town.
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hwyman3
Gearhead Posts: 698
From: Southern Maryland, USA
Registered: Jul 2004
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posted 01-16-2005 08:19 PM
I've looked at tirerack before, the only place listed that installed them locally was Mr. Tire. Who do you use to mount the tires locally?------------------
Greg W.
MCA #52100
2002 Laser Red GT Coupe
1991 F-150 XLT 4x2 5.0
Southern Maryland Mustang Club
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66fstbck
Gearhead Posts: 286
From: Worthington, Pa. USA 16262
Registered: Feb 2000
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posted 01-29-2005 02:04 PM
Sunny and 40 degrees here today so I took the GT out for a little spin. Pushed the little button for Traction lock (off) and found that nice smoky burnouts are now possible and will lead to new tires soon if I don't quit that stuff !!!! Wow does this thing have some torque. Gotta figure a blown one is just insane !!!  ------------------
Alan
66 Fastback
99 GT Convertible
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GTRocks
Gearhead Posts: 3750
From: Lusby, MD
Registered: Jun 99
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posted 01-29-2005 08:14 PM
Tires are so soft though, you don't realize they're spinning until either the car starts fishtailing, or smoke appears!
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hwyman3
Gearhead Posts: 698
From: Southern Maryland, USA
Registered: Jul 2004
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posted 01-29-2005 08:47 PM
I just leave mine on all the time unless I feel like leavign a little goodyear on the pavement to let everyone know I was there!------------------
Greg W.
MCA #52100
2002 Laser Red GT Coupe
1991 F-150 XLT 4x2 5.0
Southern Maryland Mustang Club
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Russ3747
Journeyman Posts: 52
From: Raleigh, NC
Registered: Jan 2004
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posted 01-30-2005 08:03 PM
i have hurd that they get better gas mileage with traction control off, true?also heard a good driver can turn faster times at the strip with off.
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hwyman3
Gearhead Posts: 698
From: Southern Maryland, USA
Registered: Jul 2004
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posted 01-30-2005 08:49 PM
I haven't tested that theory yet. I've just been working the fuel mileage thing byu trying to keep my right foot under control. Note I say trying! ------------------
Greg W.
MCA #52100
2002 Laser Red GT Coupe
1991 F-150 XLT 4x2 5.0
Southern Maryland Mustang Club
IP: Logged |
IIGood
Moderator Posts: 3510
From: Arnold, MD, USA
Registered: Jun 99
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posted 01-31-2005 01:21 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Russ3747:
also heard a good driver can turn faster times at the strip with off.
Even a bad driver can turn better times with Trac Control off. That traction control could hinder the run if the launch isn't right. A friend of mine took his 2000 Corvette to the track one time...his first run of the night, he forgot to turn his traction control off...and ran an 18.1 cuz he launched weird and TracControl must've thought he was slipping. His next run, he turned it off and got into the 13s, where he should've been. ------------------
Frank S.----MCA Member 40390
'03 Mustang GT coupe
'99 Mustang coupe
'77 Ghia--"II Good"
IP: Logged |
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