traction control

[sporty]

Might be a dumb question but what does the traction control do?

 

[mlc]

Not a dumb question - basically it stops the powered wheels spining (skiding). In round figures a tyre that is either locked due to braking or spinning due to excessive acceleration has half the grip of a tyre that is under control. ABS deals with the braking problem traction control deals with the spinning. How the system works differs make to make but essentially if the car senses that a wheel is spinning it can either apply the brake slightly on that wheel or reduce the acceleration or possibly both. Most cars show a warning light when the system is operating but on our SLK thats hardly needed because the throttle is rained back so much that you would think the engine had cut out.

Hope that helps.

Mark.

 

[jberks]

The ESP actually goes one step further. Standard traction stops a wheel spin by backing off the throttle and in some cases, applying the brake. ESP detects a skid, even if a wheel is not under power (e.g. front), or you have already backed off the throttle. It does this by comparing the wheel speeds and the steering angle (not sure if it uses a G meter). If it senses something is not quite right, it can brake the opposite wheel to bring the car back into line.
Merc developed ESP to get around the original A class elk test issue, where they fell over if you swerved too hard.

 

[SLinKyjoe]

it dont help in snow tho...i was all over the road today.....mind you i had drunk far too much(! JOKE!)

 

[mlc]

SLK - your comment reminded me that in the late 80's I had a Ford Scorpio and recieved a owners manual supplement through the post from Ford. It basically spent 8 pages to tell me that just because the car had ABS didnt mean I could beat the laws of Physics. No grip means no grip! and all these wonderful gadgets just mean that its easier to push you luck and get away with it.

Braking in snow with ABS just proves how little grip you do have, which is basically none! I understand that in snow your better without ABS because a locked wheel actually pushes snow in front of it and that provides more braking. Didnt know that ESP came out of the Elk problem, you learn something every day.

Mark.