TRACTION CONTROL
Y
Your vehicle is equipped with the Traction Control
y
system. This system
helps maintain the stability and steerability of your vehicle. It is
especially useful on slippery and/or hilly road surfaces. The system
operates at all speeds by detecting and controlling wheel spin. The
system borrows many of the electronic and mechanical elements already
present in the anti-lock braking system (ABS).
Wheel-speed sensors allow excess rear wheel spin to be detected by the
Traction Control
y
portion of the ABS computer. Any excessive wheel
spin is controlled by automatically applying and releasing the rear brakes
in conjunction with engine torque reductions. Engine torque reduction is
realized via the fully electronic spark and fuel injection systems. This
process is very sensitive to driving conditions and very fast acting. The
rear wheels “search” for optimum traction several times a second and
adjustments are made accordingly.
The Traction Control
y
system will allow your vehicle to make better use
of available traction on slippery surfaces. The system is a driver aid
which makes your vehicle easier to handle primarily on snow and ice
covered roads. This is especially evident if wheel spin-up should occur
while turning.
During Traction Control
y
operation you may hear an electric motor type
of sound coming from the engine compartment and the engine will not
“rev-up” when you push further on the accelerator. This is normal
system behavior.
If you should become stuck in snow or on a very slippery road surface,
try switching the Traction Control
y
system off. This may allow excess
wheel spin to “dig” the vehicle out or enable a successful “rocking”
maneuver. Refer to
Message center
in the
Instrumentation
chapter.
If the Traction Control
y
system is cycled excessively, the brake portion
of the system will shut down to prevent the rear brakes from
overheating. A limited Traction Control
y
function using only engine
torque reduction will still control wheels from over-spinning. When the
rear brakes have cooled down, the system will again function normally.
Anti-lock braking is not affected by this condition and will function
normally during the cool down period.
If the engine coolant temperature is below −23°C (−10°F) the engine
torque reduction portion of the Traction Control
y
system is
NOT
active.
The system will operate normally when the engine coolant warms up.
Driving
96
