What went wrong....

[Phoenix12]

Out at Stockton beach on Sunday arvo and having an awesome time until I tried a few steeper dunes. (2011 Puma)
Hopped into low w/ difflock and then gunned it....didnt make it the first time, but made it the second !
Then tried a steeper section, but no go....everything else was making it up, just not me.....Looked like a bit of a tosser (or so I felt anyway !)

It just seemed like I was bogging down, couldnt get a run up to keep the revs up, and found I was dying in the ass big time. Then started to smell that lovely "I am working this vehicle to hard" smell. So,........tail between the legs.....I am outta there, shaking my head in disbelief at how all the jappys could do me in........

Stock standard tyres (A/T) run at around 14 -16 psi (dependant on what gauge I read it with !!)

Clutch dying ? (smell ?)

What was I doing wrong ?

I cant have this happen again, fellow deefers you must help !!!!!!!

[ugu80]

Stock standard tyres (A/T) run at around 14 -16 psi (dependant on what gauge I read it with !!)

Try 8-10 psi.

[87County]

if the mates you are doing it with are used to doing it, and if you haven't had much experience at it ....

lower pressures may help but there is a downside....

not very helpful I know, but some training in technique might assist - you'd reckon they would have helped with advice

also - did they have bigger tyres ?

[Allan]

What gear low range did you use. I've found most times I have only needed high range on most dunes, the first two or three ratio's in low range are not really the best choice for dune climbing IMO.

Allan

[Hoges]

when traversing sand, the idea is to try and maintain momentum and "float" over the top in the highest gear practicable, not dig yourself in.. hence the low tyre pressure to maximise footprint and spread the "point load" ...it is possible that you may have been in too lower gear so instead of floating you started to dig in with too much torque. Were you in high or low range? Did you try it for example in a low (2nd) gear in high range?

It's a different technique for example in mud and snow where, with slightly thinner tyres and aggressive tread you maintain the tyre pressure with a view to increasing the pressure of the tyres' footprint and force surface compaction to get a grip...sand will not let you do this...

Regarding tyre pressure: let the tyres down just a tad more, but too much as you might damage the side walls and roll one off the rim.

As 87County says... technique is important and with practice you start to get a "feel" for the conditions... Maybe with your set up for those particular conditions, the laws of physics were not on your side..

Choose your battles carefully

[Loubrey]

We had a long thread/discussion on the 2011 Puma's Traction Control recently where I described the exact same thing.

Decent run up, nice low pressures, but the moment the wheels "kick" on the way up the dune the TC engages to stop the spin, systematically ending up doing it to all 4 wheels and the car stalling. This is not an "urban legend" regarding Pumas, but a unique occurence on steep dunes. As I also own one, I'm allowed to mention it!

Like the guys mentioned:

Tires as low as you dare.
Higher gear for more speed/momentum
If you really, really want do race up dunes - remove the ABS fuse (but it will record an error on the ECU)

The main thing is that your car still outclasses them in every other environment and if you want to race around dunes, get a VW Baja Bug...

[Hoges]

or a camel

[PAT303]

I've never found low range any good in sand,stockton has the softest sand I've ever driven on and needs low tyre pressure and high range with lots of rev's. Pat

[lambrover]

Laubry is correct it's the traction control kicking in mate, the smell is not clutch it's brake pads. Not sure if there is a mod for it ie some one has a switch and harness made to turn the TC off. Removing the fuse will disable the TC, remember to refit once off the beach. You could look into wiring up your own switch to disable.

[Allan]

We had a long thread/discussion on the 2011 Puma's Traction Control recently where I described the exact same thing.

Decent run up, nice low pressures, but the moment the wheels "kick" on the way up the dune the TC engages to stop the spin, systematically ending up doing it to all 4 wheels and the car stalling. This is not an "urban legend" regarding Pumas, but a unique occurence on steep dunes. As I also own one, I'm allowed to mention it!

Like the guys mentioned:

Tires as low as you dare.
Higher gear for more speed/momentum
If you really, really want do race up dunes - remove the ABS fuse (but it will record an error on the ECU)

The main thing is that your car still outclasses them in every other environment and if you want to race around dunes, get a VW Baja Bug...

In regards to the code on the e.c.u. Does it record it as a single fault or multiple i.e. switch of the traction control ten times ten recorded faults or does one override the other.

Allan