[patrickp]

Does anyone knows if the system can be modified so that if I push the T/C button, it completely removes the T/C (even during the first 10 mph/h)? I know I can remove the T/C fuse but it will also disable the ABS. I was wondering if there was a better way of doing this....

Thanks for any insights!

 

[imajsdaddy]

I know of no other way to accomplish this... I went as far as to have my dealer research this and he said they have no idea how to disable it and were impressed with the "off-switch" I made for it via the ABS fuse... My dealer also said that if anything were ever to go wrong with it that way they wouldn't cover it under warrenty!

T/C is that dumb thing Ford threw on there to make the car "sound" better than it was.

 

[bfocused]

Why do you want to dis-able the T/C?
To spin the tires?
Abuse the drive train?
Seems a bit foolish to me, but each to his own, I guess.

This has been covered many times in this forum. Seems the only solution is to remove the fuse. So, go ahead and tear it up.

 

[bryanjw82]

what are you smoking bfocused? He wont tear is car up by removing traction control. He could do all the near redline take off's he wanted and be fine with that engine and drive train.

 

[patrickp]

I think I'm used to drive without TC. I don't like the feeling of having the car almost dying when I make a quick start... I don't know why Ford went into the trouble of adding a Traction Control button if it removes it only after you are up to speed and when you don't need anymore Traction Control...

But this winter, I'm sure I will like this feature very much... Anyone who traveled in Quebec during winter will know what I mean..

 

[patrickp]

imajsdaddy: can you tell me more about your "off switch"..

 

[vanace]

I don't have the problem of my engine almost dying when I take off with the traction control... I think it is a great feature. And by the way.. it was an added option, you could have gotten one with out it. I see no reason to disable it. It saves wear on your tires, and in a race situation, it will perform better than the next guy who is spinning his tires. It still slips some... I even got the traction control to kick in when I shifted into second when I was racing a powerstroke 4 door truck... I wasted him LOL

 

[patrickp]

Vanace, here in Canada, the only option was the Audiophile Sound System... I understand the merits of T/C but I just want to feel more in control of what the car does.. never liked those electronic 'driver aids'... Apart from ABS which can be quite usefull in some conditions..

 

[CowsGoMoo]

It's good to have a bit of tire spin, not a lot, just enough so you do NOT bog your engine down. That switch sounds like an ingenious idea. I'm assuming you just ran a wire from the fuse box, to an external fuse, then to a switch, then ran that wire back to the main fuse box? Or something like that... good idea though. Can you turn it on and off on the go or do you have to restart the car or something for the computer?

 

[ODG]

I'm kinda fond of the TC also. It's nice to be able to stomp on it in the rain and not have the car spin the tires and slide all over the road.

 

[Dave]

First of all, you are going to run much slower at the track with t/c, so if you race it its definetly hindering you. Second, I hardly see how running some wires to cut t/c is "ingenious", I just pull my fuse (takes like 2 seconds), that way if there ever is a problem, I don't have to go throw trouble of taking out wiring and taking out switch (leaving hole wherever its mounted).

 

[vanace]

Dave... sorry.. you will not run slower at the track with traction control. Our cars don't have near the power that it would slow them down. I still get slight wheel spin on a hard take off, and the traction control handles it much faster than your right foot can. Spinning the tires slow you down... BIG TIME!! And the traction control will make a limited slip diff. go hide in the weeds because traction control is more efficiant and putting the traction to the ground. If one tire starts spinning, the brake is applied to that wheel only, transfering power to the other wheel.. keeping the power to the ground. Only in extreeme circumstances of both tires spinning will the traction control cut power to the engine.

 

[imajsdaddy]

The off switch is....

2 pieces of wire connected to a rocker switch installed into the fuse box cover. (I placed a 20 AMP fuse into the wires)

Needless to say when you want to have the T/C off you flip the button and it's disabled... When you want it to be on flip it back...

 

[Dave]

Sorry, but t/c does slow you down and I have timeslips to prove it. Your car is going to want to spin the wheels when it takes off at decent rpm, whats better, let them spin a bit, or retard timing and appply brakes while gas is floored (like t/c does). It is proven our cars launch alot faster and get better 60' times with t/c disabled. Also with t/c on you still have abs, which you can't thresh hold brake with slowing you down, and your powering out of a turn and your wheels start to slip. t/c once again pulls timing and brakes to stop spinning, which is bad and slows you down. I have timeslips and laptimes to prove all of this, as do many other people.

 

[focus]

Yes T/C does slow down your launch and an LSD would be much better for performance. Do you people have car magazines? Go subscribe to one and you will learn alot.

 

[patrickp]

The key here is not to let the engine go under 4000 rpm - where there is no power.. The T/C do actually just that and it takes forever to go back over 4000 rpm. By keeping the revs over 4000-5000 range, we ensure that we keep the engine to where it can deliver performance - it's better to have a little wheelspin than to go under 1000 rpm... For a 0-60mph - the difference is probably only 0.2 seconds faster without T/C. Dave - is this assumption correct?

Now if we had an F1 car with 900+ hp or a car with huge torque - then the T/C control would be very handy - has you can see if you have followed F1 races in the last 2-3 years.

But my point here - is to have fun! I want to control the amount of wheelspin myself - not rely on the electronics... I bought the Focus SVT to have fun and the only thing I don't like is T/C.. But like I said, I will probably like it a lot this winter.. - T/C will make a huge difference!!

 

[Infra3sv]

While we're on the subject of TCS why doesn't the indicator flash when the TCS is actually in use. I don't like the way the light kicks on a second after I'm out a corner. I drove a GTI once and it flashes while the tires are spinning.

 

[njbmx]

so your saying that if i have the traction control on...i cant spin the tires or peal out? i must have the switch turned off or the fuse out?

 

[Infra3sv]

No, you can still burn rubber. TCS Just helps reduce wheelspin. If your TCS light comes on then your TCS should be working. Turn your TCS off and take some corners while accellerating. You should notice a difference.