Traction control on Olds van

Wifes got a 2001 Olds silhouette minivan that has that traction control stuff on. Seems like it doesnt go through the snow like our cutlass use too. Read in the owners manual a bit but it didnt really tell much about it. It has a switch to turn it off, seems like you can go through the snow drifts better with it that way. I told her to leave it off on the gravel roads when she is going slower and turn it on on the highway when she is going faster.

Anyone have much experience with these and is that good advice? Seems to me its mainly so you don't spin out on ice, but if you are trying to buck snow with it, seems like it kind of fights itself.

I believe they use the ABS wheel speed sensors and pulse the brake on the fast wheel if the speed difference exceded normal turning.
Later Bob

My sisters Pontiac Vibe has traction control to. She called my the last storm we had. She was stuck on the level in front of the garage in 4 inches of snow. I hopped in, put it in drive and it wouldn't even spin the tires. I found the traction control switch and shut it off. It would then spin the tires and after turning the wheel side to side it pulled itself out. Traction control may work good on glare ice but to pull thru snow, mud or gravel the tires have to spin some to move material from in front of the tires to gain traction. I think you gave her good advice as I gave my sister the same advice.

Yep,

Like Bob says, that "function" just engages the anti-lock brake system without the pedal being pushed.

Also, it toys with the tranny controls to eliminate first gear so the urge to "spin" is removed.

Allan

Leave the TC on at all times unless your stuck. If you have to rock the vehicle MAKE SURE YOU TURN IT OFF or you can damage things.

I have in back of my mind the traction control doesn't work at higher speeds anyway. only at lower speeds.

It's interesting to hear other people have this problem too. Marilyn's Toyota van has traction control and the other day, in the snow, I couldn't get it up over a little raise to enter a parking lot. Had to stop right at the entrance for a car that was backing out, then I just plain couldn't go forward in the snow to get it over the hump. Had to back up into the traffic to get a run for it. Tried making a run it and the van just lazily accelerated till I got to the hump, then it stopped. Had to do the routine all over again only I had to back clear across the street this time, with the side traffic stopped and waiting for me. Is this progress when a $35000 van can't even pull itself into a parking lot?

I'm going out to the garage right now to get the owner's manual. Jim

they way traction control is set up, it uses the abs sensors to detect wheel slip. in the event of say spinning the tires on ice, the computer will up shift the car to the next higher gear, or cut fuel to the injectors to take power from the engine to stop wheel spin. it doesnt help you if you are stuck, but it tries to keep you from pouring the coals to the car and spinning out.

You're right, Bob. Using the ABS system, it applies the brake on the drive wheel that is spinning to let the other wheel pull. Exactly like putting the brake on one tractor rear wheel that's spinning to let the other wheel with traction pull.

My wife's Chrysler mini-van and my Olds 88 both have it, and both owner's manuals say you can simple leave it turned on unless you have reason to turn it off. It simply won't operate unless its needed. I like it. When you're on slick stuff, sometimes you can hear the ABS system "grunting" so you know it's working. Also a "Traction" light flashes on the dash while it's in operation.

I was a GM salesman when it came out around 1993. There was a live demo at a sales meeting in Kansas City. They'd put down a sheet of slick plastic on a dry parking lot and poured soapy water on it. They then had us drive a car onto it with one drive wheel on dry pavement and the other on the soapy plastic and stop. We were then told to hit the throttle hard. There would be a lot of noise and carrying on from the ABS system, but the car would take off like both drive wheels were on dry pavement.

That demo convinced me.

Thanks for the replies, on packed snow and ice I think its an asset, but with virgin snow seems best to leave it off.

You got plenty of good advice re. the traction contorl but my mini vans dont have the dig that the front wheel drive sedans like the regals/cutlass they didnt need it.