Trac Loc?

[FDR]

Is there a way to disable AT but retain TC? I remember seeing someone say there might be a difference between tapping the AT button and hoding it down for 5 seconds, but at least on my Gen 1, there's no difference.

When my brake pressure sensor came unplugged, I only had functioning TC with no AT. Just curious.

My friend asked about his TC still working after hitting the button and I sarcastically told him to hold the button for 5 seconds... too my surprise, it worked on his Chevy Sonic. I guess he either has stability control or doesn't know how to push a button

 

[LS4me]

Is there a way to disable AT but retain TC? I remember seeing someone say there might be a difference between tapping the AT button and hoding it down for 5 seconds, but at least on my Gen 1, there's no difference.

When my brake pressure sensor came unplugged, I only had functioning TC with no AT. Just curious.

My friend asked about his TC still working after hitting the button and I sarcastically told him to hold the button for 5 seconds... too my surprise, it worked on his Chevy Sonic. I guess he either has stability control or doesn't know how to push a button

I've read that too.... Never worked on my '06.....

 

[joegr]

I've read that too.... Never worked on my '06.....

It's somewhere in the service manual, but didn't work on my 04 or my 06. I know that on the Jaguars, pressing the button turns the stability control off, pressing and holding the button for ten seconds turns the traction control off too.

 

[FDR]

Sounds like a lapse between what documentation was told and what the engineers accomplished. I can't really think of any situations that I would want TC without AT, except for some system failure, but that would likely disable the system anyway

 

[jerrym3]

Just a little bit of info, if you are driving in deep snow and the car is starting to bog down, you'll need to turn the Trac Control off to spin your way free.

 

[stugots]

^This gets out at least half of the people I help that are stuck. Took me a few minutes to figure out how to turn it off in a new Focus the other day for someone. Now they're putting tc settings deep in car menus.

 

[LS4me]

If you twist the steering wheel just right when you floor it, you can break one wheel loose. Otherwise, put really bad tires on it or put some sacks of cement on one side of the trunk. The LS is a pretty well balanced car, with more weight over the rear wheels than most cars. The differential is open.

BTW, AFAIK the BMW 5 series (the car the LS was to compete with) also only comes from the factory with an open differential. I think you have to get one of the M cars to get an LSD from BMW.

Just checked my VIN. It has an electronic LSD.

 

[chris2523]

Just checked my VIN. It has an electronic LSD.

right, but that's just an open diff with a computer that runs the rear brakes isn't it?

 

[LSinYourLS]

right, but that's just an open diff with a computer that runs the rear brakes isn't it?

Yes, and it's not an "Electronic LSD" it's traction control.

 

[joegr]

Yes, and it's not an "Electronic LSD" it's traction control.

It is a fact that BMW refers to this feature as Electronic LSD. If you are trying to claim that LS4me is incorrectly quoting from his option list, then you are the wrong one. One possible reason that they don't call it traction control is that this feature does not cut engine power. It will let both wheels spin, unlike traction control. BWM does have an AdvanceTrac like feature called DSC that does reduce/prevent wheel spin when enabled.

Electronic LSD:
Electronic limited slip differential system uses Anti-lock brake sensors and hardware to electronically monitor wheel speed. If one of the wheels on an axle is rotating faster, computer briefly applies brakes to it, slowing the spinning wheel down and causing the wheel on the opposite end of an open differential to start spinning and gain traction. This is an opposite to the anti-lock brake application, when a locked wheel is electronically released.

One advantage of this system over mechanical is that the vehicle steering and control is less affected. It also generates less stress on the drivetrain compared to a mechanical locking device, making it particularly suitable for the vehicles with independent suspension. It can also be tuned for specific applications off- and on road and a different speeds.

A disadvantage is that it is less predictable when going over an obstacle, as the system needs time to react. Also, the wheel with traction will only have half of the available torque applied to it.

It replaces a more expensive (and probably better) system that BMW used to offer on some models, Variable M Differential Lock.

 

[Robot]

^^
I'd rather have it this way. I don't drag race. Another disadvantage of having a mechanical setup can be seen on the many YouTube videos of Corvettes crashing after losing control on crowned roads not designed for drag racing.

 

[chris2523]

i prefer the mechanical traction though, although my VIII has the "Traction Assist" that does the braking and a Track lock.
so why not both?

 

[LSinYourLS]

It is a fact that BMW refers to this feature as Electronic LSD. If you are trying to claim that LS4me is incorrectly quoting from his option list, then you are the wrong one.
It replaces a more expensive (and probably better) system that BMW used to offer on some models, Variable M Differential Lock.

Joegr, you are of course correct. I had misread what LS4me was saying, and thought he was talking about an LS, not a 5-Series BMW.