Tractioncontrol

I'm getting more and more frustrated with the factory TC. Ewen on wet roads it tends to limit the power, it kick's in way too soon. Is there anything that can be done to adjust it? Or do I replace it with better aftermarket one? Or just keep it off? any ideas are welcome

Have you checked the condition of your tires? Maybe they are worn out and slipping more causing the TC to kick in.

I asked a similar questions a few years ago when I started to do DE. My instructor came back with "If the PSM is coming on alot you are not driving smooth enough". He had a point and the comment made me think about the inputs the driver (me) was putting on the car.

Thaks for your replys. The tyres are new, spiked winter tyres. I would like it to allow more slippage on the tyres. No problems on summer... But when driving on snow and ice the system is way too agressive. And no PSM only TC and 40% locking diff. With the TC off the car is fast, but you must be on top of it all the time. So in normal commuting it would be nice to have the TC on.

ok....you win. Never had spikes on my tires. But it would make your tires 'sticky'. Same as sticky Summer tires but I think more so with spikes in the Winter. Your car might be sensing all in the inputs in a hyper sensitive way. Ever walk on snow or ice with spikes on your shoes? I think I would break an ankle. Really don't know what you could do.

my traction control = 2 feet, 2 hands 3 pedals, a steering wheel and a stick pretty basic - too bad you cant turn it off somehow. As Pete suggests smoothness should reduce Mother's involvement... but if you are looking for a little "fun" and tail wagging....Mother may not allow that

I can turn it off. But I would like to make the factory TC system better. This car is my dailydriver. I have driven it TC on and off, when its off i can accelerate much harder with out wheelspin. So some how the system "senses" spin before it really happens. I think that sneaky pete might be right that its the tyres, these are not Porsche spec tyres. And have soft lamels that do bent when acelerated. Well I just got to keep my eyes open if sombody find's a way to adjust the stock system. My tyres aren't like those in rallycars, these are road legal and spikes or studs are only about 0,5mm out of tyre. This will give more grip, but not too much.

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Studded tires are good for an icy or packed snow surface but have very little traction on a hard surface, your TC is operating PERFECTLY. On a HARD surface the tread rubber never FIRMLY contacts the road surface. You are riding mostly on ONLY the tips of those steel(?) studs, not much contact surface area and what you do have isn't "tractive". Basically you should limit your acceleration levels, especially low speed levels, as if you had tire chains on the rear. Otherwise TC, if on, will step in and do that for you.

Well, I have been driving on these conditions for 22 years (since I was 12). I know that there is nothing wrong in the TC, just that it's overprotective. The system that Porsche used in this car is the worst that I have driven. This is the reason why I asked this. But thanks for all the replys

I also believe that "smooottthhesss" is the key and will help.

Ok, so I tryed this smoothness this morning, and it did help a litle. I think that I might get along with the factory TC. Infact I realissed that I have had all my last sportcars on summer use only (300zx TT 670hp, FD3S RX7 350hp) And that I was comparing this system to my S60 Volvo Well anyways, thank you for your inputs.

You comparing Porsche with Volvo!!

Glad to help......so in Finland is it ice for 8 months? Show some pics of the ride.

C4CRNA: Yep, thats just odd that my old familycar had better tractioncontrol Pete I have pics in this thread My "intro" Winter usually lasts here about 4 months. (4 too many IMO)

"...old family car had better traction control.." No, what "it" had was one hell of a lot LESS startup torque than the Porsche. Even with my '78 with only 180HP on the slippery stuff I often had to use 2nd gear and smooooth gas application to prevent rear wheelspin. But again, unless those studs are riding on a surface wherein they can "dig in" you will have really poor traction.

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Cool! Someone has a 996 older than me! Sorry I missed your intro. Welcome to RL!

I'm running dedicated winter tires on my 996, but not studded tires. It is surprising to me how fast the PSM kicks in. Much faster than it does in my Cayenne. When I'm just driving around town and not going too fast, I tend to turn PSM off.

wwest: The 2,4l 5cyl Volvo engine has 10nm more torgue at 2500rpm than Porsche 3.6l... (and my car is 3,4l) Allso the tyres are the same in both. I think that I have give yuo wrong idea what I'm talking. I know that you understand how the tractioncontrol works. On the Volvo, tractioncontrol system allows about 10% speed differece between front and rear tyres. In my 996, the difference seems to 0%. I don't know if this is due the fact that my car has no e-gas, and newer models would have better system.

Funny I find TC and PSM to slow to react and when it does it's very intrusive. Some situations like winter driving in bad conditions where you want no tail wagging I would like it quicker to react, then while at the track with a bit of grip loss I would like it slower to react and less intrusive. It's to bad you they couldn't have put in a chip that allows you to multiple programs to select or just give us a computer program to change the values ourselves and upload it the car. Would be a cool iphone app.

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It's possible that rather than "actual" traction control activation you are encountering activation of the "virtual" LSD functionality, the use of differential braking to simulate an actual LSD... I do find myself surprised that a FWD car, your Volvo, reacts less quickly to front wheelspin/slip vs the Porsche. Owners of modern FWD and/or F/awd vehicles are all over the 'net complaining about the "dead in the water" effect resulting from these newer hyper-active TDC, Traction-Directional Control, systems. Many manufacturers of F/awd systems now include a TDC "off" function switch as a result of all this widespread public outcry.

My car has the 40% locking diff option. Would there still be this virtual gismo asside? I have tryed difrent types of driving styles, if just "feather" the throtle, car will pick up speed nicely. If the throtle is pressed too much, acceleration stops and the tractioncontrol light will flash. Other than this minor issue, this car is a blast to drive on snow (TC off) I just have to live with it