Traction Control on / off

When we used to use our Freelander on beachs with softish sand, we had a problem where the TC was on all the time which meant the brakes were on all the time which meant that we overheated and nearly had to get towed off the beach by a Subaru of all things. We also found that the TC hindered our uphill attempts in sandy types of tracks with the brakes coming on when we did not want them. Funny though that ours was a V6 and the TD4's and 1.8's did not have the same problem.

LR reladed software a few times and one was to improve the TC which it did but it was still never perfect.

We never pulled the ABS fuse as that stopped the HDC as well which is needed on the Freealnder for offroading. Hopefully it is now sold.

We have not seen the TC light come on in our Rangie, even when we got stuck in soft sand but have seen a newer Rangie on the beach with heaps of smoke from the brakes becuase of the TC - once again, softish sand and the same beach the Freelander had the same problem on.

Hi Dobbo

I have a manual '99 D2 which had the CDL in the car from factory but no way of activating it - LR decided they would rely on the TC system with the new D2 - so, I fitted an AMV electronic activation switch and when switched, the CDL light comes on on the dash. If I were then to switch the engine off and back on, the TC & ABS would switch off and their respective lights appear on the dash. To get them back on again I had to switch off the CDL (sometimes rolling back and forward a few times to totally dissengage the CDL) then switch car off again and back on, regaining all TC and ABS function again and no lights left on dash. I have since had a toggle switch fitted which allows me to have the CDl engaged, switch the toggle switch which turns out the CDl light on the dash - fooling the computer basically - then if I switch the engine off and back on again I still have ABS and TC - good if you stall in a tight spot and cant roll enough to dissenage CDL. Sounds kind of complicated but it works for me.

As for a switch to dissable TC, i am no electrician but can't see why not, call Rick's 4x4 in Nerang, Qld and he will set you straight.

As for the TC on sand, I prefer to drive with no TC as I have more control over what the wheels are doing - I have also heard that if you do a lot of deep sand driving then the TC can easily burn itself out working so hard -although I haven't come across this first hand. With my limited understanding of different systems and driving I would venture to say that the TC might work better on sand with an auto box, but for the manual I like to have the wheels moving at the speed my right foot sets them at depending on which gear I am in - often the wrong one!!! Autos i beleive are generally better on sand anyway I would say.

That's my input and only an opinion. I think if you can get a switch to trun off TC, then you should fit it as the more options you have at your disposal when driving the better i say!!

Good luck, mick

Hi

I don't see why you would want to disable the TC. On my RR Classic the TC has only activated when it was useful. The TC was magic for me and made it much easier to ascend severely potholed sand hills. I could actually ascend more slowly and still maintain good traction.

On one small sand dune the TC got me over without even having to think about it. In my previous 89 RR I would have have to renegotiate the dune as even the CDL would not have made it the way I drove over.

IMHO leave it operational.

HTH

Dobbo leave the TC as is, i would get your CDL checked though, because if the light on the dash isn't coming on then i think your CDL isn't engaging, the light on the dash is connected to the transfer case, so it should come on when your engage your CDL.

I'm assuming your CDL is activated manually when you engage low range.

CDL range for the D2 is, build date, not registration date
MID 99 to MID 2001 No activator but has CDL in transfer case
MID 2001 to MID 2003 nothing at all, although some late 2001 models have been reported to have the CDL in the transfer case.
MID 2003 to end of model range they reintroduced CDL and activator.

Baz.

Did you let the tyres down on the Freelander?
TC is not magic. It is only reverse ABS, so it does not remove the need to lower pressures.
Anything you can do to reduce tyre slip would help the TC,and the TD4 etc would probably use TC less because they have less torque to wheelspin.
I know Land Rover instruct you to floor it in mud etc and let the TC sort it out, but I think in sand that would be counterproductive.
Regards Philip A

We had a problem on the Freleander with lowering tyre pressure. We have the 17" wheels with low profile tyres (HT tyres as there are no AT or MT in that size for the Freelander and also no tubes.

Lowering tyre pressures mean the tyres roll off the rims, even at 25psi!!!! THe tryes were the weak point when offroading as they were too fragile and it cost us a fortune for tyres that we wrecked through low pressures, rocks, etc.

I'm on the beach fairly regularly in my 99 td5 - Moreton and Fraser mainly... I find that TC comes on frequently on the inland tracks/soft sand and the buzz drives you crazy! I switch it off by starting up in low and then pulling back into high. I don't notice any difference in soft sand handling when it's off... I have heard of a switch that can be put up on the dash to make the process simpler... I think it was in an exploroz forum?

I think TC does great job in most cases. Had experience to test TC (on/off) on sand. Went in the middle of soft sand with TC "off" and tried to get out. No luck. CDL doesn't help to much. Opposite weels were digging holes. After TC "on" slowly got out of the boggy spot. Pressure 16 psi.

On the picture reversing with TC. There are nice artistic ruts :)

http://www.gday.ru/4wd/TCtest.jpg

Also have a negative experience with TC on mud, but this is a different story...

Regards,
Ruslan

Quote:

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Originally Posted by LandyAndy

Hi Dobbo
Try it the way it works with our ealier Disco2s.
Engage the CDL with engine running,ensure its engaged by rocking back and forward.Now turn the engine off(key totally off).Now re-start if your ABS and T/C warning lights remain on the systems are disabled.To re-enable ABS and T/C unlock the CDL and do a re-start.
Goodluck
Andrew

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Dobbo,

I have fitted the CDL kit to my D2 and tried the technique you have described here to enable/ disable the TC and ABS. However this technique does not seem to work with my D2. I cannot seen to ge the TC and ABS to disable when the CDL is engaged. What am I doing wrong ???? Please help.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dobbo

Yes I have a CDL but no indication light to see if it is activated or not. I just select low range and CDL activates.(special order from dealer) I read in one of the older threads of the TC being a hinderence on sand even with the CDL activated thus why I was thinking a switch could rectify the problem

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dobbo remember our trip to the beach with the big green trailer behind big red?

Remember the hassles the big wheeled rangie had with it?

I also had hassles but I got it out of the vally once where we had to daisy chain it when it was behind the rangie to get out of the same track...

MY tc light was on nearly constantly.. and im pretty sure the v8 rangie didnt have TC.

you be the judge...