Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: Baz006 on 26 September 2007, 19:42:42

Title: Traction control.
Post by: Baz006 on 26 September 2007, 19:42:42
Hi everyone....having owned my Elite for 6 months now I must say that I'm very pleased with the reliability, performance and comfort. The novelty will never wear off and I find it a pleasure to drive everyday. However, I've read a few threads on 'getting the rear end out' on roundabouts and the like. It is great fun and I must admit I've had a few heart stopping moments in the rain. The thing is, I find that if things get too extreme, the TC cuts in automatically. I realise that by switching on the TC button offers greater traction and even more when using the winter mode button but why can't the TC be off completely, and only 'ON' when selected manually. I suppose then there would be more of us in the hedge if this were the case...... :D
Title: Re: Traction control.
Post by: Paul M on 26 September 2007, 19:46:26
If you press the button and the light shows in the dash it's completely disabled. Easy as that. I've done some great donuts in mine at the Knockhill car park simply by pressing that button. Easier in a manual though.... and combined with a limited slip diff it's even better! Alas I have the former but not the latter.
Title: Re: Traction control.
Post by: Baz006 on 26 September 2007, 19:51:38
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If you press the button and the light shows in the dash it's completely disabled. Easy as that. I've done some great donuts in mine at the Knockhill car park simply by pressing that button. Easier in a manual though.... and combined with a limited slip diff it's even better! Alas I have the former but not the latter.


So you are sayimg if I press the TC button on the panel, and the TC symbol lights up then it's completely 'OFF'? I have spent all this time thinking the opposite! Pardon me. I might have just made myself look a proper nugget but I will be having some fun in the morning..... ;D, suppose I had better read the hmmmm......handbook then?.............. :-?
Title: Re: Traction control.
Post by: TheBoy on 26 September 2007, 19:52:42
Yes, light solid on means system DISABLED!

Light off means system enabled.

Light flashing means system is actively trying to stabilise the car.
Title: Re: Traction control.
Post by: sounds2k on 26 September 2007, 21:38:51
even when it's supposedly off it isn't ... if you push it round a bend it'll still cut in ... it just raises the threshold that it kicks in at - but enough to have some fun  ;)
Title: Re: Traction control.
Post by: Tony H on 26 September 2007, 21:44:24
I suppose the fact that traction is always on unless you press  the button is an opt out not, an opt in safety feature so you dont forget to switch it on when you next drive the car.
Title: Re: Traction control.
Post by: Baz006 on 27 September 2007, 20:50:38
 :(.....now I'm confused.

Lets get this straight. In the facia panel under the heater controls is a switch marked 'TC', which has an orange LED that lights up when you press it. Amoungst the warning lights in the dash is an orange one with a 'TC' symbol that illuminates when you press the said button. So far so good. Now, when I turn on the ignition the default is switch LED off, and warning light in dash off. If I boot it on a wet day the arse does step out however as said, before it goes tits up the traction cuts in, killing power, and the warning light flashes inthe dash. If I press the TC button I find, to be honest, no difference in the 'fun factor', it seems to still control the traction before it  spins out. I'm not too bothered about this but I'm really curios to whether the traction is off completely as 'The Boy' said, or if it does cut in a certain threshold as sounds2k said. Cant find my bloody hand book at moment so I'm a bit stuck for info.  :'(  
Title: Re: Traction control.
Post by: Paul M on 27 September 2007, 20:55:46
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even when it's supposedly off it isn't ... if you push it round a bend it'll still cut in ... it just raises the threshold that it kicks in at - but enough to have some fun  ;)

Not in mine. I've had it bouncing off the rev limiter in 2nd with the car going nowhere (well just round in circles) and the TCS didn't do a thing. That's the rear wheels spinning at an equivalent of 65 MPH... if it hasn't kicked in by then I'm quite sure it's not going to kick in ;)

Maybe in slushomatics it works differently, I dunno :-?

Even my BMW with stability control can be switched off completely.
Title: Re: Traction control.
Post by: hotel21 on 27 September 2007, 20:56:20
It appears to have slightly different stages....

Button not pressed, light not on means TC all active and not currently needed.
Button not pressed, light flashing on dash coupled with cutting in and out of revs means rear is trying to get out of shape but system is trying to get it back in again.
Button pressed on dash, light permanantly lit on dash (to remind you to take care...  :y  ) and rear not getting the whole way out then there are either dry bits on the road where its getting a grip or, as sounds2k intimates, the system overides whatever you set and cuts in anayway, irrespective of what you are asking it (not) to do.....  

Personally, I've found that when its off, its off.....   :D

HtH

H21
Title: Re: Traction control.
Post by: Paul M on 27 September 2007, 20:57:44
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:(.....now I'm confused.

Lets get this straight. In the facia panel under the heater controls is a switch marked 'TC', which has an orange LED that lights up when you press it. Amoungst the warning lights in the dash is an orange one with a 'TC' symbol that illuminates when you press the said button. So far so good. Now, when I turn on the ignition the default is switch LED off, and warning light in dash off. If I boot it on a wet day the arse does step out however as said, before it goes tits up the traction cuts in, killing power, and the warning light flashes inthe dash. If I press the TC button I find, to be honest, no difference in the 'fun factor', it seems to still control the traction before it  spins out. I'm not too bothered about this but I'm really curios to whether the traction is off completely as 'The Boy' said, or if it does cut in a certain threshold as sounds2k said. Cant find my bloody hand book at moment so I'm a bit stuck for info.  :'(  

On mine if you press the button (light ON) it's definitely completely off. I can do donuts and drift the car at 45 degree angles. When the ignition is switched off, then back on, the traction control will always revert to on (light OFF) so you have to press the button again.
Title: Re: Traction control.
Post by: Baz006 on 27 September 2007, 21:06:56
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even when it's supposedly off it isn't ... if you push it round a bend it'll still cut in ... it just raises the threshold that it kicks in at - but enough to have some fun  ;)

Not in mine. I've had it bouncing off the rev limiter in 2nd with the car going nowhere (well just round in circles) and the TCS didn't do a thing. That's the rear wheels spinning at an equivalent of 65 MPH... if it hasn't kicked in by then I'm quite sure it's not going to kick in ;)

Maybe in slushomatics it works differently, I dunno :-?

Even my BMW with stability control can be switched off completely.

Maybe you are right. Being a slushomatic does have a rather adverse effect on the performance and handling. I reckon by booting it off a roundabout the 'kick-down' you get with an auto (always at the wrong time) upsets the stability anyway, so maybe I just dont notice any difference like I would in a manual.  ::)
Title: Re: Traction control.
Post by: Entwood on 27 September 2007, 21:12:05
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even when it's supposedly off it isn't ... if you push it round a bend it'll still cut in ... it just raises the threshold that it kicks in at - but enough to have some fun  ;)

Not in mine. I've had it bouncing off the rev limiter in 2nd with the car going nowhere (well just round in circles) and the TCS didn't do a thing. That's the rear wheels spinning at an equivalent of 65 MPH... if it hasn't kicked in by then I'm quite sure it's not going to kick in ;)

Maybe in slushomatics it works differently, I dunno :-?

Even my BMW with stability control can be switched off completely.

Maybe you are right. Being a slushomatic does have a rather adverse effect on the performance and handling. I reckon by booting it off a roundabout the 'kick-down' you get with an auto (always at the wrong time) upsets the stability anyway, so maybe I've just been unaware of the fact that the TC is off completely.  ::)


If you want to check that TC turns OFF fully .. try this .. at your own risk !  :)

2nd gear selected, sports mode On, park on some firm, damp but not wet grass, sports field usually works well ( although the groundsman may get upset) ... floor it  :) .... you'll probably get to around 15-20 mph indicated before you move anywhere ... if you move at all !  :) repeat with TC enabled .. you'll then know the difference !  

 :y :y
Title: Re: Traction control.
Post by: Baz006 on 27 September 2007, 21:16:42
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even when it's supposedly off it isn't ... if you push it round a bend it'll still cut in ... it just raises the threshold that it kicks in at - but enough to have some fun  ;)

Not in mine. I've had it bouncing off the rev limiter in 2nd with the car going nowhere (well just round in circles) and the TCS didn't do a thing. That's the rear wheels spinning at an equivalent of 65 MPH... if it hasn't kicked in by then I'm quite sure it's not going to kick in ;)

Maybe in slushomatics it works differently, I dunno :-?

Even my BMW with stability control can be switched off completely.

Maybe you are right. Being a slushomatic does have a rather adverse effect on the performance and handling. I reckon by booting it off a roundabout the 'kick-down' you get with an auto (always at the wrong time) upsets the stability anyway, so maybe I've just been unaware of the fact that the TC is off completely.  ::)


If you want to check that TC turns OFF fully .. try this .. at your own risk !  :)

2nd gear selected, sports mode On, park on some firm, damp but not wet grass, sports field usually works well ( although the groundsman may get upset) ... floor it  :) .... you'll probably get to around 15-20 mph indicated before you move anywhere ... if you move at all !  :) repeat with TC enabled .. you'll then know the difference !  

 :y :y

I will dont worry..... ;D.....many years ago I had a Rover SD1 3500 SE. 3-speed auto, no TC at all and it was awesome. You could sit at a junction, left foot lightly on the brake, floor it with your right and get serious smoke from the rear wheels............those were the days LOL  8-)