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YACT: What does TRAC do?

H

hjo3

Diamond Member
I just bought a new (used) car; a 1999 Grand Prix GT. It's got this button on the dash to enable "TRAC" and another button for (IIRC) "heavy TRAC." What's it do? Should I have it turned on or off when I'm driving normally? TIA
 
Okay, I'll prepare to get mocked and hazard another guess:
Is it related to anti-lock braking?
 
Originally posted by: hjo3
Okay, I'll prepare to get mocked and hazard another guess:
Is it related to anti-lock braking?
Click to expand...

No

When the car senses that you're skidding, it will help you out.

Whenever it rains or snows, turn it on and go to some empty place
 
Originally posted by: AgaBoogaBooWhen the car senses that you're skidding, it will help you out.

Whenever it rains or snows, turn it on and go to some empty place
Click to expand...
Ah, okay, thanks.
 
Originally posted by: AgaBoogaBoo
Originally posted by: hjo3
Okay, I'll prepare to get mocked and hazard another guess:
Is it related to anti-lock braking?
Click to expand...

No

When the car senses that you're skidding, it will help you out.

Whenever it rains or snows, turn it on and go to some empty place
Click to expand...

No, it senses wheel spin on the driven wheels which in your case would be the front wheels and compensates with less throttle or brakes depending on the system.

Edit-Traction control is to keep the wheels from spinning on acceleration.
 
Yeah, your car is FWD. What traction control does is, a computer monitors wheel spin and what not, quite rapidly and adjusts engine output and brakes to make sure traction is kept.
 
Traction control. If the wheel speed sensors indicate that the drive wheels are rotating faster than the rear wheels, the computer will retard power to regain traction. More advanced systems can retard power to certain wheels, if they are spinning. The button simply turns the system oon or off.
 
The original owner lost the manual.
But thanks to everyone who actually provided useful information.
 
Originally posted by: Spencer278
It is one of the features that takes all the fun out of driving in snow.
Click to expand...

Well, his car is FWD and it does have an off switch. Don't know if it works in reverse or not but that's how to have the most fun with a FWD in snow! 😀
 
Originally posted by: AgaBoogaBoo
Originally posted by: hjo3
Okay, I'll prepare to get mocked and hazard another guess:
Is it related to anti-lock braking?
Click to expand...

No

When the car senses that you're skidding, it will help you out.

Whenever it rains or snows, turn it on and go to some empty place
Click to expand...

to be fair, it's very DISTANTLY related to ABS...
 
It cuts the power to the wheels so that the wheels stop spinning and you regain "TRACTION"
It doesn't apply the brakes, on my car atleast "IS300"

It does cut the power so much that I can't accelerate at all.
I just leave it off cuz I find it dangerous when you're wheels are slipping a bit and it just cuts it.
If that happens in a middle of an intersection or something, it'll be an accident waiting to happen.
If you can handle your car, I honestly don't think you need it.
 
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