Quick question. So as most know we had the huge snow storm hit the east coast not long ago. My truck handled the snow great, however I noticed an odd behavior and this being my first ford not sure if it is normal. My suspension is all stock fyi. Upon enaging 4 HI everything is normal that is until some or all my tires start to spin trying to find traction, my truck begins to bounce/hop from what seems like the bed until it is finally able to bite into the snow/ground and regains traction. Seems almost like really bad wheel hop or axle wrap, is it normal for these tricks to bounce like that when in 4x4 and tires are spinning looking for traction? Normal driving and such with 4 HI engaged is fine no bounce etc, only when it looses it and the front tires begin spinning does it start to bounce.

 

Pretty sure all my 4x4's have done that when digging for traction in 4 wheel drive

 

that's the traction control playing with your brakes trying to get your tires to grab

 

So how do you disable traction control in 4x4 to go mudding? TC nearly got me stuck today as it shut off power to my wheels and I lost my momentum.

 

It explains it in the owners manual under advance trac and traction control.


The long and short of it is to hold the traction control button (about 5 seconds) until it flashes on your dash and you get a warning saying "traction control disable" and "advance trac disabled". Both systems will remain offline until your tires spin faster than 35 mph. After you exceed 35 mph tire spin the advance trac will turn back on and start to cut power.


If you know you are going to go off road and risk getting stuck, you can pull the fuse, but it also controls your ABS so you will be without all three until you put the fuse back in.

 

Press the TC button once for no traction control.
Press and hold it for about 5 seconds for no traction control or stability control, but stability comes back on at about 35 MPH.
You can pull a fuse if you want it totally gone, just cant remember witch one.

 

There is a button on the upper center portion of the dash on my 2012 to turn on/off traction control.

 

Stability comes on after 35, it doesn't cut power at all. You can spin tires all day, it will also let you do donuts no problems without interference from systems.

 

Just to note - it's 35mph from the speedo. If you lose traction and your tires are going crackhead nuts it will display the speed at which the tires are moving - not necessarily how fast you are going.


Also, 4 low disables all computer nannies related to traction. Not bad considering an EcoBoost in 4low puts down 4700 ft/lb in 1st gear at peak torque. (420#*4.17 first gear reducrtion*2.69 T-case reduction)