Disable electronic traction control??

[Dave M]

I have a 2011 Ranger 4x4 with the electronic traction control. Is there a way to disable this idiotic device? There is a button on the dash that turns off part of the system but you have to be in low range 4x4 to have it completly turn off.

It is the worst thing I have seen on a truck when driving on icy snow covered roads. It is constantly engaging and shutting down the throttle when there is the least bit of ice.

Dave

 

[InsaneRedRooster]

I guess that keeps you from spinning and hitting a tree. Dunno

 

[Dave M]

No, actually it makes my 4x4 truck worse than my Crown Vic for driving around on icy or snowy roads. I asked Ford about it and the mechanic said he had no idea why they would put electronic traction control on a 4x4.

 

[wildbill23c]

Its so the people who don't know how to drive don't get into a wreck, it completely cuts the throttle, keeps the tires from spinning out and causing the vehicle to slide. Yep its a pretty stupid feature if you know how to drive, all it does is piss people off that know how to handle a vehicle, my toyota tundra has it and its useless guess you don't have to worry about spinning tires and destroying them, the stupid system won't let you spin the tires. Luckily with my tundra I can completely disable the system by holding the button in for 3 seconds, but sounds like ford doesn't offer that at all. Does the owner's manual say anything about disabling the traction control?

 

[Dave M]

It says you hold the disable button down for 5 seconds and it is supposed to entirely disable it. It doesnt though. All the plumbing in the brake system probably costs more than a limited slip diff!

I supose I will just have to live with it as there is no easy way to disable the system.

 

[pcollins]

Its the dumbest shit...I have a 2wd with the traction control and it STILL doesn't help. My house is on a hill with a pretty steep driveway...in the winter I have to turn traction control off before I pull into the driveway, other wise when the tires spin it cuts the engine out and I cant make it to the top, and I have to back all the way down and start over. T.C. helps NOTHING.

 

[adsm08]

Do you mind losing your ABS too?

The way we kill them for running on the lift to diagnose wheel bearings and such is to unplug a wheel speed sensor. It sees the circuit fault and kills the whole system.

The only draw back is that if you have the auto 4x4 (not electronic shift, but the true auto like the Explorers have) it will lock you into 4-hi all the time.

 

[Captain Ledd]

Its the dumbest shit...I have a 2wd with the traction control and it STILL doesn't help. My house is on a hill with a pretty steep driveway...in the winter I have to turn traction control off before I pull into the driveway, other wise when the tires spin it cuts the engine out and I cant make it to the top, and I have to back all the way down and start over. T.C. helps NOTHING.

I had the same thing with my mom's Saturn Vue. Trying to pull it into the garage for a simple oil change I had to back up and get a running start a good 100 ft away because it just cut the throttle just enough to sit and spin on the patch of snow I was on. But I could get moving just fine when I first let the clutch out.

Useless junk.

 

[Dave M]

Do you mind losing your ABS too?

The way we kill them for running on the lift to diagnose wheel bearings and such is to unplug a wheel speed sensor. It sees the circuit fault and kills the whole system.

The only draw back is that if you have the auto 4x4 (not electronic shift, but the true auto like the Explorers have) it will lock you into 4-hi all the time.

Thanks for the reply,

The shift for 4x4 is a dial on the dash. 2 WD, 4x4 high and 4x4 low. I am not really sure if it is the same set up as the Explorer. In 4x4 high the traction control keeps locking the brakes and throttle unless you hit the disable button.

The disable button stops the brakes from locking up but will still kill the throttle in deeper snow. I am not talking really deep snow either...one foot deep or so makes it act up and requires you to use low range.

I might give it a try disconnecting a wheel speed sensor and see how it works.

Thanks

 

[adsm08]

Yeah, you don't have the auto system, that was put in there incase someone with an Explorer runs across that post. The system I am talking about there has the options "4x4 Auto", "4x4 High", and "4x4 Low".

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

If you run around unplugged during the winter find a good way to seal both sides of the connection so you are not constantly coating it in salt water.

Maybe JY connectors?

I have never tried it but someone was saying having the parking brake set one click down will kill it too, never driven anything with traction control that I could try on on though.

 

[Tyler M]

I have a 2011 Ranger 2wd with the AdvanceTrac system, and I will admit it is a bit of a nuisance but it is helpful in certain driving conditions. Myself have had no major issues with the system and I have done as the owners manual says to turn all three functions "off" by pressing and holding the disable button until the dash icon goes off and then comes back on. When I do this I have full engine power I can do power slides, donuts ect although I can hear the ABS pump working and I guess "trying" to stop me. I also have a Detroit Tru-Trac differential in my truck and between that and the AdvanceTrac system I have no issues for traction.

 

[wildbill23c]

I wonder who really thought of this traction control system, I bet the vehicle they own doesn't have any of it, and I bet they've never tried driving a vehicle with the system either. My 84 Ranger 4x2 that I had as my first vehicle in high school I never had a single problem in 18" of snow and didn't use chains or snow tires either. Waiting for a snow storm to find out how my 84 B2 4x4 handles snow.

I know with my toyota tundra the traction control/stability control can be disabled completely, making the truck act as if those systems weren't installed period, however leaving the system engaged and engaging 4WD disables the stability control and limits the intrusiveness of the traction control, then if you engage 4WD low range the whole system is disabled and you are on your own. I've never had an issue with my tundra, but it sounds like the ford rangers with the traction control system makes the vehicle practically useless even by disengaging the system. If you have a 2WD with traction control you'll possibly end up stuck where a conventional non-traction control version of the same truck would have no problem. Anyone else thinking the electronics should be removed from their vehicles now...

 

[Dave M]

I re-read my owners manual last night. To completely disable the system it said to hold the button down for five seconds and wait till the light goes out and re-apears.

I had never seen the light go out before so I tried it again. It takes about 45 seconds for the light to go out and about 10 seconds for it to come on again but now it works! It is like driving a completely different [normal] truck when on snow and ice.

I am wondering if -20 weather slows down the computer and causes such a delay setting the traction control? Anyway thanks for all the replies.