IGX

OK, I've got an all wheel drive vehicle (Ford Edge). Not built for off road use. But of course I take it off road all the time. So here's the deal: it's got traction control. But if you get stuck in the mud or sand, you turn off the traction control. (So says the manual, which also says it's not an off-road vehicle).

I've found this does work. I now take it out of traction control any time I go off road. And it helps. But why? I figure traction control means power goes to the wheels that aren't spinning. Why wouldn't this work? I'm know nothing about mechanics, as you can see. Why?

As a side note, every time I take it off road --- in contravention of the rules --- and get a jolt or two, I have to take it in and get the wheels balanced. Any way to avoid this?

Traction control systems on newer (cheaper) cars is operated by the ABS...So...the "traction" is controlled by the ABS system clamping the brakes of any wheel that is spinning faster than the others. Off road, wheel spin is the soup of the day and so the ABS system is going apeshit between all four wheels interrupting drive to any wheel which is slipping at all. In marginal traction,it means you get no drive at hot brakes.

Taking the traction control out of the loop, means all 4 wheels get drive to them the same, just like your old hub locked 4x4.

Thanks BD.

You need an Outback.

What Blaid said. Just wanted to add because it uses the ABS, the same reasoning applies to getting stuck in snow. If you get stuck in snow, and want to try rocking back and forth a bit, you should turn off your electronic stability control, or traction control or whatever your car maker calls it, before trying to rock back and forth.

Otherwise, for driving on snowy streets, the stability control usually does a good job of helping you go the direction you intended.

tough old man wrote:You need an Outback.

I want to look at the 2014 Forester when it comes in. The turbo has a claimed 0-60 of 6.2, and will get a manufacturer's estimated milage of 23/28. And for off road it has a better approach angle and minimally better departure angle than the Outback. It's an inch bigger all around. Still about 9 inches shorter than the Outback but it has the same storage capacity.

So, yeah, I'm researching Subies. All that remains is to drive one and see how it feels. Previous Foresters have felt too small and the seating seemed cramped, for me. We'll see if they fixed that.