Traction Control active?

[Brawny]

Howdy folks,
Just wondering if anyone can clear up my understanding of the TC system on my 04 TD5 defender. I've been crossaxled several times recently on wet grass/greasy surfaces with the CDL engaged and no hint of the TC activating. The times i have seen the TC dash light illuminate has been under higher engine rev situations when not on particularly slippery or difficult terrain. After reading several other threads some have eluded to the fact that the system requires a reasonable amount of differential wheel revolution speed to activate.
I don't expect to climb mountains on the old General grabbers that adourn the girl at the moment, however i feel that if TC is going to play a part in all this it should activate under low rev situations whenever wheel spin is present. But that is where i need help i guess.
Sorry about the long winded question, its been making me think alot lately.

[stig0000]

tc WILL activate at idle in 1st low,, i no cos mine dose, the idear about the revs is its got more power to send to the griping wheel,(in theory),

how dose your abs work ok?, and if possible,, is there any faults codes in the abs,

im sure there is no way of changing the 'sensitivity' of the tc,

[LandyAndy]

Im new to Defender,only had the Xtreme for 3 weeks.
Yet to test it.
On my D2 the TC light activates on the dash when the system is operating.Find some real loose gravel and cain it to see if the TC light blings.
Will be doing so sooner or later in our Deefer.
Andrew

[isuzurover]

As mentioned, it works fine at low speeds. Could it be that you were spinning all 4 wheels in your tests?

If you want to be 100% sure it works, jack up one front and one rear on trolley jacks and (very cautiously) try to drive.

[101RRS]

As said by others above - however if you are genuinely crossed up you may just need to use a few more revs to pin the free wheel and make the computer realise the wheel is spinning and apply the break. I need to do this with my Freelander but is the first generation 4 channel TC so does need a few revs.

On a recent club training day we had landies from my freelander to late model D3 doing wombat holes - generally the older systems required much more revs to lock the wheels and the D3 did not need additional revs at all. The one defender - about 03 model needed much more revs than the D3 for the TC to kick in but much less than my FL1.

So maybe you need to practice a little more increasing revs in the crossed up situation until the TC kicks in - noting as mentioned that if both wheels have the same level of traction then TC will not kick in as the computer needs to detect different wheel RPM to work.

Garry

[Tusker]

Mine's an 03, & this sounds about right. It needs a bit of throttle before it works.

Can you describe more accurately the situation where you think it should work? I can't imagine getting cross axled on wet grass. Nor can I forsee a low rev / wheelspin situation where it would cut in.

It's not subtle, to work it needs some revs to get the differing wheel speeds.

REgards
Max P

[LandyAndy]

Does gentle left foot braking invoke the TC????
Its a technique I have always used in non TC equipped 4x4s,never thought to try it in the D2.Defer hasnt been off the road as yet.
Andrew

[NQExplorers]

2007 Puma - TC comes in both low and high range at very low speeds. I find that if the TC senses the smallest bit of wheel slip the light illuminates accompanied by the usual grunting (TC pump I guess). Really gets a workout on gravelly slopes either ascending or decending, but appears to be very sensitive. Warren.

[Brawny]

Mine's an 03, & this sounds about right. It needs a bit of throttle before it works.

Can you describe more accurately the situation where you think it should work? I can't imagine getting cross axled on wet grass. Nor can I forsee a low rev / wheelspin situation where it would cut in.

It's not subtle, to work it needs some revs to get the differing wheel speeds.

REgards
Max P

Sorry my way of describing two diagonally opposite wheels spinning is not truely correct in that they were not off the ground only spinning free in the goo.
After more wet grassy hill tests today with more throttle (and deliberate wheel spin) this seems to have evoked more action from the TC, although still no response in the lower rev range. I am beginning to think, that from all of your helpful responses, this could be a situation where the newer technology may have been made more accurate and sensitive to conditions, as my TC will defenitly not kick in in low rev situations.
I guess i have been fooled by the instinct of using less throttle in slippery conditions (genrally), but these things are very rewarding to drive when you do figure it out and i'm having a ball doing just that.
Thanks again, look forward to learning more.

[4wheeler]

2007 Puma - TC comes in both low and high range at very low speeds. I find that if the TC senses the smallest bit of wheel slip the light illuminates accompanied by the usual grunting (TC pump I guess). Really gets a workout on gravelly slopes either ascending or decending, but appears to be very sensitive. Warren.

My 07 Puma is similar. Very sensitive to wheel slip at very slow speeds. Crawling over erosion mounds, especially in "up hill" situations in the Vic. high country has the TC working any time there is the slightest wheel slip. It does still have the standard tyres fitted though. I am soon to fit BFG mud tyres. It will be interesting to see if this reduces the TC operation. Mind, I'm not complaining. It works really well!