Traction Control?

[Jon32288]

It seems that every SVTF I look at on autotrader or on ebay, they all seem to have TC. My car does not have this option. Was it more money from the factory to get the TC? or was it not available on all years?

[svtf02red]

Part of the cold weather package.

[DigitalGT]

Yep it was included on all EAP cars and all cars with the cold weather package. It's fairly intrusive and a real pain in the ass for performance driving. When the system kicks in it cripples power output. I've driven my SVT on some fairly slippery nasty snowy roads and when the TC has gone active, it has not helped me at all.

[blackbird]

I've only driven mine in snow a few times while visiting family up in the Pacific Northwest but it doesn't always help even in snow. I think it works best for rain and other light weather conditions but if I lived in an area with deep snow I'd disable it during winter.

Even down here in SoCal it has been a pain the couple times I've taken the Focus to the drag strip over the years. For those occasions I usually crawl under the rear and disconnect a rear wheel ABS sensor. This kills the traction control (since it is integrated with the ABS unit) but also disables the electronic brake force distribution (which uses the ABS system to proportion braking force front-to-rear vice using a conventional proportioning valve). This isn't an issue at the drag strip but may not work well for other types of competitive driving.

The heated seats are nice but if I could have opted out of traction control I'd do it in a heartbeat (at least with this implementation used on the SVTF anyways).

[DigitalGT]

I'm fairly certain the SVTF does not have electronic brake force distribution. I'm under the impression that it is strictly a plane jane 4 channel ABS system.

When you do want TC completely eliminated, simply push the TC disable button and pull out the ABS fuse in the interior fuse panel. Far easier than crawling underneath to remove wheel speed sensors.

[Grommish]

I live in Cincinnati, where we tend to get a Mix of Ice and Slush rather than Man-killer Snow. TC is nice for the asphalt/brick combo streets we have here in my area.

[hermitmaster]

TC is nice in rain, but even when you turn it off it engages at speeds > 40mph.

[DigitalGT]

Originally Posted by hermitmaster

TC is nice in rain, but even when you turn it off it engages at speeds > 40mph.

Actually when you turn it off with the button it still engages at speeds < 25 mph.

[smitty]

What about disabling it with a tuner? Can you completely turn it off with one of those without pulling fuses, etc?

[DigitalGT]

No. Disabling TC in tune is identical to pushing the TC defeat button.....except without the annoying yellow light on the instrument cluster. Disabling in tune leaves the ABS portion of traction control active below ~25 mph.

[smitty]

Another question. Since the svt didn't come stock with a torsen diff., would adding one of those "mess with it's head" so to speak? I feel a limited slip or torsen diff. is more useful in low traction situations than electronic nannies that apply brakes and pull timing to the point that I can't tell what's going on. At least that has been my experience

[DigitalGT]

I don't have a Torsen LSD but I do have a Quaife differential installed. I also have a red guarded switch on my interior fuse block cover which replaces the ABS fuse. Basically I wired in spade terminals in the fuse block so when I open the switch it kills power to the ABS system thereby defeating low speed traction control.

The Quaife does provide for a significantly greater amount of grip over the factory open diff but it does not mess with the factory traction control system. The TC system relies solely on the ABS tone rings and that's it. I have noticed that the addition of a helical limited slip diff has pushed the threshold of traction control engagement back significantly. That said, even in the presence of the limited slip, if both wheels spin the TC system will kick in and limit power production through ignition or brake control.

Simply put, adding the Torsen or Quaife limited slip will not interfere with the existing factory traction control system. Both differentials will only serve to increase grip and push the threshold of TC engagement back further than originally intended. Specifically, adding a Torsen will not "mess with the head" of the factory TC system.

[zetec-j]

Originally Posted by blackbird

I've only driven mine in snow a few times while visiting family up in the Pacific Northwest but it doesn't always help even in snow. I think it works best for rain and other light weather conditions but if I lived in an area with deep snow I'd disable it during winter.

Even down here in SoCal it has been a pain the couple times I've taken the Focus to the drag strip over the years. For those occasions I usually crawl under the rear and disconnect a rear wheel ABS sensor. This kills the traction control (since it is integrated with the ABS unit) but also disables the electronic brake force distribution (which uses the ABS system to proportion braking force front-to-rear vice using a conventional proportioning valve). This isn't an issue at the drag strip but may not work well for other types of competitive driving.

The heated seats are nice but if I could have opted out of traction control I'd do it in a heartbeat (at least with this implementation used on the SVTF anyways).

TOTALLY AGREE. I had the pleasure of testing out the TC in the snow and IT SUCKED. It's very slow to respond compared to other mfgs and then it seems to actually kill your throttle altogether. I couldn't get up the slightest snow covered hill because it kept slowing me down and i'd lose momentum. Without the TC the tires would have slipped a little but still kept moving. Just going easy on the throttle and having some know-how will get you further along in the snow. In the rain it works a little better because there is usually just a short spin and it quickly hooks back up.
I really wish there were a way to disable it w/o pulling the fuse.