traction control issues
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Junior Member
Joined: May 2009
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From: Sk
traction control issues
Hi from Saskatchewan guys,
When in 2WD, my 2009 F150s traction control performs as expected. When in 4WD however, the TC engages when turning right or left at slow speeds, under very light acceleration, causing the truck to actually shudder and slow down. Dealer indicates this might be normal. Opinions?
When in 2WD, my 2009 F150s traction control performs as expected. When in 4WD however, the TC engages when turning right or left at slow speeds, under very light acceleration, causing the truck to actually shudder and slow down. Dealer indicates this might be normal. Opinions?
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Joined: Dec 2009
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From: Republic of Texas
Hi from Saskatchewan guys,
When in 2WD, my 2009 F150s traction control performs as expected. When in 4WD however, the TC engages when turning right or left at slow speeds, under very light acceleration, causing the truck to actually shudder and slow down. Dealer indicates this might be normal. Opinions?
When in 2WD, my 2009 F150s traction control performs as expected. When in 4WD however, the TC engages when turning right or left at slow speeds, under very light acceleration, causing the truck to actually shudder and slow down. Dealer indicates this might be normal. Opinions?
If you do that "shudder and slow down" thing too much, you are likely to break something in the drive train.
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From: Republic of Texas
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Joined: Feb 2010
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Hi from Saskatchewan guys,
When in 2WD, my 2009 F150s traction control performs as expected. When in 4WD however, the TC engages when turning right or left at slow speeds, under very light acceleration, causing the truck to actually shudder and slow down. Dealer indicates this might be normal. Opinions?
When in 2WD, my 2009 F150s traction control performs as expected. When in 4WD however, the TC engages when turning right or left at slow speeds, under very light acceleration, causing the truck to actually shudder and slow down. Dealer indicates this might be normal. Opinions?
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Joined: Dec 2009
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I'm in 4wd a lot, and the TC only kicks it when it obviously should (when the wheels are definitely losing traction in snow or ice, etc). I have limited slip on my rig.
The trailer scenario you mention is the typical situation where you should need to turn TC off, but just driving in 4WD you shouldn't need to. (At least I don't need to in mine.)
The trailer scenario you mention is the typical situation where you should need to turn TC off, but just driving in 4WD you shouldn't need to. (At least I don't need to in mine.)
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Junior Member
Joined: May 2009
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From: Sk
Hi guys,
Thanks for your responses. I guess my reference to Saskatchewan did not provide the right information. I'm north of the North Dakota/Montana border. Its winter here, and although the streets have been plowed, the intersections are slippery. When in 2WD and the TC engages, its a smooth control, allowing me to have moderate acceleration. In 4WD, my description may have sounded like a hard turn on a dry parking lot, but its different than that. It just seems to over-control the situation. Disengaging the TC is helpful, but then I have that stupid slippery car icon on the dash display all the time. It just seems that I should have less traction control required in 4WD than in 2WD, and the opposite is true.
Thanks for your responses. I guess my reference to Saskatchewan did not provide the right information. I'm north of the North Dakota/Montana border. Its winter here, and although the streets have been plowed, the intersections are slippery. When in 2WD and the TC engages, its a smooth control, allowing me to have moderate acceleration. In 4WD, my description may have sounded like a hard turn on a dry parking lot, but its different than that. It just seems to over-control the situation. Disengaging the TC is helpful, but then I have that stupid slippery car icon on the dash display all the time. It just seems that I should have less traction control required in 4WD than in 2WD, and the opposite is true.
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Joined: Dec 2009
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Hi guys,
Thanks for your responses. I guess my reference to Saskatchewan did not provide the right information. I'm north of the North Dakota/Montana border. Its winter here, and although the streets have been plowed, the intersections are slippery. When in 2WD and the TC engages, its a smooth control, allowing me to have moderate acceleration. In 4WD, my description may have sounded like a hard turn on a dry parking lot, but its different than that. It just seems to over-control the situation. Disengaging the TC is helpful, but then I have that stupid slippery car icon on the dash display all the time. It just seems that I should have less traction control required in 4WD than in 2WD, and the opposite is true.
Thanks for your responses. I guess my reference to Saskatchewan did not provide the right information. I'm north of the North Dakota/Montana border. Its winter here, and although the streets have been plowed, the intersections are slippery. When in 2WD and the TC engages, its a smooth control, allowing me to have moderate acceleration. In 4WD, my description may have sounded like a hard turn on a dry parking lot, but its different than that. It just seems to over-control the situation. Disengaging the TC is helpful, but then I have that stupid slippery car icon on the dash display all the time. It just seems that I should have less traction control required in 4WD than in 2WD, and the opposite is true.
Those conditions are similar to what I drive in all winter (snowpacked roads, with some ice thrown in here and there for good measure). I am in 4wd regularly, and I can't recall every having TC kick in when 4wd was engaged at normal driving speeds.
Does your truck have limited slip?
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Joined: Nov 2009
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From: Boise Idaho
Yep, all these computers instantly turn a novice into an expert driver!! 
I have a similar thread here "Too many computers" where I have even more problems with my little pop up camper and a thing on the new F150s called Rollover Stability Control. It hits the brakes in a curve on dry pavement in the middle of a curve!!!! 
In a couple years I can afford a new truck and if the F250s still don't have all this gobble-de-gook I'm gonna have to trade!!!
I have a similar thread here "Too many computers" where I have even more problems with my little pop up camper and a thing on the new F150s called Rollover Stability Control. It hits the brakes in a curve on dry pavement in the middle of a curve!!!! In a couple years I can afford a new truck and if the F250s still don't have all this gobble-de-gook I'm gonna have to trade!!!