TRACS/ABS: - Is it generally cr@p??

NI_Volvo_Nut · Nov 15th, 2010, 11:52

Mate has a S60, 2003, when he takes off sharp the wheels spin, especially on a wet road, I would've thought the TRACS should have stopped that?

On my Dad's Zafira the wheels wouldn't spin at all, even in snow

Is this normal, or is there something wrong with the traction control?

I notice the same on my TDi S70, it doesn't even flash a light, cut engine power or nothing

Bill_56 · Nov 15th, 2010, 15:48

I certainly noticed that traction control rarely stopped my wheels spinning in last winter's snow. It is commonly advised to disable 'spin control' in snow, but I found it made very little difference on or off.

It may depend upon whether the traction control is clever enough to compare the activities of all four wheels, or just the two driven wheels (assuming FWD). If traction control computer only takes input from the driven wheels then I'd imagine one problem may be that if both wheels have zero traction, and so both are spinning freely at a similar speed, then the computer may think all's well and good, and fail to notice the car's still stationary.

I've heard that a comparable problem exists with many ABS systems in snow. If all four wheels are locked up solid and no longer rotating, the ABS thinks the car is stationary, even though it is still hurtling along. Whereas as we all know, locked wheels are rarely the quickest way to stop, especially in snow.

Kizzer · Nov 15th, 2010, 16:53

DTSC Cuts in fine and stops spinning the C30's wheels.

STC on my S80 T6 works fine also, always stopped the spinning. Unless it is totally pooring it down then the S80 will spin slightly and the light will flash on the dash.

In snow I never turn DTSC off the the C30 as it drives fine on it

NI_Volvo_Nut · Nov 15th, 2010, 17:29

Was only recently when I had the S70 in the hedge on a country road (passing a car, not hedge trimming) and the wheel on the ditch was spinning and reading 20mph (yeah, childish I know

) and no lights or nothing flashed on the dash

There's a road we both use, its a bit of a hill onto a main road, if you try to pull out sharp, the wheels spin, its not to say he's spinnig the wheels though abuse

Nov 15th, 2010, 11:52	#1
NI_Volvo_Nut Volvologist Last Online: Dec 6th, 2023 11:13 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Bangor - Norn Iron View Photos By: NI_Volvo_Nut	Is it generally cr@p?? Mate has a S60, 2003, when he takes off sharp the wheels spin, especially on a wet road, I would've thought the TRACS should have stopped that? On my Dad's Zafira the wheels wouldn't spin at all, even in snow Is this normal, or is there something wrong with the traction control? I notice the same on my TDi S70, it doesn't even flash a light, cut engine power or nothing __________________ What's the matter with the car I'm driving? Can't you tell that it's out of style? Should I get a set of white wall tires? Are you gonna cruise the miracle mile?

Nov 15th, 2010, 16:53	#3
Kizzer VOC Member Last Online: Dec 11th, 2023 14:42 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Wherever I May Roam	DTSC Cuts in fine and stops spinning the C30's wheels. STC on my S80 T6 works fine also, always stopped the spinning. Unless it is totally pooring it down then the S80 will spin slightly and the light will flash on the dash. In snow I never turn DTSC off the the C30 as it drives fine on it __________________ XC90 T8 R-Design - Previous Cars - V70 R-Design - 305bhp C30 R-Design T5 - V40 - XC90 D5 SE Lux - MY10.5 C30 R-Design - S80 T6 - C30 R-Design MY09 - S80 T6 - S90 3.0 24v - 760 Turbo Intercooler & V6

Nov 15th, 2010, 17:29	#4
NI_Volvo_Nut Volvologist Last Online: Dec 6th, 2023 11:13 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Bangor - Norn Iron View Photos By: NI_Volvo_Nut	Was only recently when I had the S70 in the hedge on a country road (passing a car, not hedge trimming) and the wheel on the ditch was spinning and reading 20mph (yeah, childish I know ) and no lights or nothing flashed on the dash There's a road we both use, its a bit of a hill onto a main road, if you try to pull out sharp, the wheels spin, its not to say he's spinnig the wheels though abuse __________________ What's the matter with the car I'm driving? Can't you tell that it's out of style? Should I get a set of white wall tires? Are you gonna cruise the miracle mile?

Nov 15th, 2010, 15:48	#2
Bill_56 Premier Member Last Online: Oct 29th, 2021 23:58 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Over the hill	I certainly noticed that traction control rarely stopped my wheels spinning in last winter's snow. It is commonly advised to disable 'spin control' in snow, but I found it made very little difference on or off. It may depend upon whether the traction control is clever enough to compare the activities of all four wheels, or just the two driven wheels (assuming FWD). If traction control computer only takes input from the driven wheels then I'd imagine one problem may be that if both wheels have zero traction, and so both are spinning freely at a similar speed, then the computer may think all's well and good, and fail to notice the car's still stationary. I've heard that a comparable problem exists with many ABS systems in snow. If all four wheels are locked up solid and no longer rotating, the ABS thinks the car is stationary, even though it is still hurtling along. Whereas as we all know, locked wheels are rarely the quickest way to stop, especially in snow.

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