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Sedans Ford Fusion/Mercury Milan Ford Fusion/Mercury Milan Traction Control
15 messages, Last post on Dec 28, 2008 at 1:46 AM
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Traction Control uses the ABS computer and sensors to monitor wheel slippage at any speed. It helps improve traction on slippery or loose driving surfaces by using engine controls to reduce the amount of torque being sent to the drive wheels. Engine controls are: • Fuel injection cutoff • Ignition spark retard Traction Control helps provide a confident driving experience under adverse road conditions — improving vehicle traction and steering control — without sacrificing dry pavement performance: • When the lane is slippery on one or both sides • As the vehicle pulls out from icy parking lots or highway shoulders • During acceleration when cornering Mark
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Replying to: mschmal (Sep 25, 2006 10:08 am)  More sophisticated TC, widely available even in the Fusion's competition, breaks the spinning wheels before throttling power.
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Replying to: evandro (Sep 25, 2006 10:56 am) Not quite. Ford's new system, which is in the Fusion, uses the vehicle's PCM to control traction wheras the "cheap" systems you are referring to use a separate sensor and/or processor which can be slow and annoying to live with. This link is the only one I could find quickly that goes into it but I have read others like it. One was on Edmunds IIRC. Scroll about half way down to read it or just read the quote below. "May 30, 2006 Ford's New Traction Control System Among the Best Performers DEARBORN, MI – Ford Motor Company began rolling out its patented traction control system last year as an option on the 2006 F-150, Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, and as standard on the Lincoln Zephyr and 4x2 Lincoln Mark LT. The innovative traction control system, among the best performing systems on the road, works by momentarily decreasing engine power to help regain traction at the tires. The system is particularly helpful while accelerating on a slippery surface. Using signals from the vehicle’s anti-lock brakes, a computer algorithm — embedded in the Powertrain Control Module — detects if the drive wheels are slipping. Then, within milliseconds, the system adjusts the engine power to allow the tires to regain traction. The system is unique in that it was developed to operate using the vehicle’s engine computer processor, rather than a standalone module."
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Replying to: baggs32 (Sep 25, 2006 12:24 pm) An Audi A3, which uses Haldex and wheel braking, can plow through 10 inches of snow without breathing hard (so say a couple of reviews). But in that vehicle, you get a mandantory sports suspension and lo pro tires; good handling, lousy ride. Sometimes raction control varies on the model itself. The Malibu, for example, has the engine power only version, but its SS variants get engine power and brake application version. Of course, none of these have AWD. |
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Replying to: kurtamaxxxguy (Sep 25, 2006 2:12 pm)
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Replying to: akirby (Sep 25, 2006 3:18 pm) |
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Replying to: kurtamaxxxguy (Sep 25, 2006 2:12 pm) I have to agree with the others. Show me where Ford's new system is worse than one with the additional braking mechanism. You're trying to compare their new quicker reacting system to an older, slower system which isn't really fair. If the only reason some other manufacturers add the braking mech is to back-up the power cut system then doesn't it stand to reason that a better power cut system will be just as effective if not better? Plus, having only one system reduces complexity and cost.
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Replying to: baggs32 (Sep 26, 2006 4:24 am) The TC that retards ignition does so for longer than necessary. Whereas the TC that breaks only the wheel spinning can allow a wheel with traction to pull with full power. That's a major difference whose advantage should be quite clear to anyone.
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Replying to: evandro (Sep 26, 2006 7:31 am) I think the point some of us are missing is that the Ford system is new and unique. If you haven't driven a vehicle with it then you can't compare it to an older system from another manufacturer. Everything offered here so far has just been speculation and mis-information. I own two vehicles with the new Ford system but have never driven, to the best of my knowledge anyway, one with the dual system. Therefore I will not praise one and bash another. |
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