I have a 2011 GT Convert with traction control. A couple of months ago I was on a trip in central Oregon and hit a freak ice storm that I thought was just rain. By the time I figured out what it was my back end starting fishtailing at about 60mph. Luckily, there was no other traffic and I just let the car slow down on it's own and did not hit the brakes. As I slowed the car finally regained traction, I had thought I would need to stop and check my pants.
Anyway, I was convinced if I had touched the brakes at all I would have done a 360. So I was proud of my driving. But the more I think back on it, I wonder was it really my good driving or did the "traction control" kick in and save my ***?
What do you guys think? If it was the traction control, then it's worth it's weight in gold.

 

Most likely...plus the fact you did nothing stupid or in a panic.

 

Depends, did you notice anything flashing on your dash? I know this past winter when I went driving in the snow, my traction control flashed like a pro quite often, although to be honest I felt like it was doing quite a good job actually. I was on one really quiet and empty road trying to get a feel for how the car would react in bad conditions, and actually was unable to get the car to completely lose control because of the traction control, even swerving back and forth i couldn't get the car to slide all that easily.

Ironically, when I was taking it easy and trying to drive normally, I felt more out of control than i did when i was intentionally driving like a fool xD.

 

No way of really telling unless you saw the TC alert come up on your gauge.
But I'll tell you this... traction control is NOTHING you should depend on.
The laws of physics still rule.

Point being... don't think the TC means you should not be REALLY careful under weather conditions.
ALWAYS depend on your safe driving to do that. Not the TC. Otherwise you are bound for a disappointing result if you do.

Not preaching or anything lol. Just saying TC is not some super invention that will allow you to drive without REAL care in weather situations.

 

It may or may not have kicked in, but since you did end up doing some fishtailing you now know that the system has its limits either way. It either didn't kick in at all, or it did and tried to do its job but could not do enough about the situation to prevent the tailhappiness entirely.

One of the things TC does is apply the rear brakes, which isn't always a good thing when the going is really slippery and you're moving but looking to slow down. As long as any rear braking is working equal and opposite to the engine trying to maintain speed or accelerate the car, the situation is relatively stable. But once you let off the throttle, if the TC does not also let go of the rear brakes immediately (and there will be a little bit of lag in its overall response time), it could momentarily make you slightly more apt to have the tail get loose on you.


As far as I'm concerned, TC does at least as much harm as good. It makes it easier to get going from a stop, which tends to put you off your guard as to how slippery the going actually is. Mine gets switched off every time. Regardless of weather conditions.


Norm

 

When we start to lose control or feel like we're about to, the last thing most people are doing is looking at their dash for icons flashing. I suspect that TCS engaged and disengaged pretty quickly and often enough to keep you from spinning out (or just fishtailing worse) and that you never saw those brief icon flashes.

 

Standard start-up procedure; key on, start, gauge check, traction control OFF, headlights & foglights on, fasten seatbelt, put in gear, release E-brake and procede in direction of safe travel

 

From what OP described, I'd say no, the car simply did what cars have been doing for 100 years. Getting off the gas and brakes allows the car to slow gradually/naturally (as he pointed out), which, provided you're not totally crossed-up, will allow the tires to regain traction.
The traction control is there to control wheel SPIN, not skids. If the rear tires start spinning faster than the fronts, the computer applies the brakes (in some cases, cuts the ignition) to slow the tire to the vehicle speed. This is to prevent doing donuts in intersections (to exaggerate a bit). Some use 'stability control', which helps a little in high-speed turns to prevent radical oversteer (spinning out), but even with those, physics will trump, and you absolutely can spin a car so equipped.
My '11 will allow me to get pretty sideways under power even with the TC on, so it really doesn't bother me. It's much less intrusive, too, than my BMW M Coupe's was.

 

You should also have stability control that will actively try to control a skid.
" Electronic stability control (ESC) may enhance your vehicle’s directional
stability during adverse maneuvers, for example when cornering severely
or avoiding objects in the roadway. ESC operates by applying brakes to
one or more of the wheels individually and, if necessary, reducing engine
power if the system detects that the vehicle is about to skid or slide
laterally.
During ESC events, the stability control light in the instrument cluster
will flash.
Certain adverse driving maneuvers may activate the ESC system, which
include but are not limited to:
• Taking a turn too fast
• Maneuvering quickly to avoid an accident, pedestrian or obstacle
• Driving over a patch of ice or other slippery surfaces
• Changing lanes on a snow-rutted road
• Entering a snow-free road from a snow-covered side street, or vice
versa
• Entering a paved road from a gravel road, or vice versa"

Here is a video that shows how to turn it off and go into the sport mode if you have it... mine does not have the sport mode.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rCRVROGCiA


I agree with the other posts, I do not like to rely on the car to get me out of a jam. Here is the fine print "may enhance your vehicle’s directional stability" ! I turn off the traction control every time I start the car. btw, this also puts the steering into sport mode. I will be testing all modes of stability control this winter in the snow just to get to know how they work. Nice to hear you did not crash!

 

Also, remember the traction control moderates the power applied, not the brakes. That's a whole other department.