traction control question

[reek]

Curious about how "invasive" the traction control should be.

Recently (finally) we got some rain in northern cal. I was at a stop sign and there was some standing water with leaves near at the intersection. I hit the gas to go straight and the rear wheels break loose and the rear end kicks out and keeps going until I let off the gas. I wasn't interested in doing donuts so it was only about a second or two before I let off the gas but I would think traction control would mitigate this. or maybe it would have kicked in if I kept my foot in it.

Is this about normal? I have a 2014 1500 4x4 5.7 Express 6 speed.

 

[Ricks Ram]

My 2014 Express 4X4 8 speed is the same way. It's the slowest activating traction control I have ever had. If you were in a real traction situation you would probably be way to far gone to save it before it kicked in. Our other cars activate almost instantly.

 

[CF_Smith]

Are you confusing traction control with stability control?

Traction control would be the truck doing what it needs to so that you can have more grip (uses the brakes to make sure both wheel spin in a open diff, applies resistance to stop wheels from spinning). The fact that these trucks are RWD and you now have both wheels spinning, the truck is going to go sideways.

Stability control is the truck utilizing the braking system (in most vehicles through ABS if I'm not mistaken) to keep the vehicle "straight".

I'm not sure why yours feels delayed, I haven't had an opportunity to try it in my 16 yet, but in my 14 it would NOT let me go sideways (donuts in the back 40). Except for one time when all four tires were on black ice at an intersection, press gas, truck literally just turned 90 degrees, I don't think any ESC system would have prevented that though.

 

[KahneFan]

You may want to check out this thread (not that it helps a lot, but same issue)...

http://www.ramforum.com/f38/traction_control_used_truck-75630/

 

[xrsman]

Mine works pretty well. It takes a second to kick in though. I've been on cruise control, tires slips, cruise control is shut down (by the truck) and traction control flashes.

 

[CF_Smith]

Mine works pretty well. It takes a second to kick in though. I've been on cruise control, tires slips, cruise control is shut down (by the truck) and traction control flashes.

I've had the same happen a lot

 

[adrianp89]

I always turn on 4x4 Auto in the rain. Night and day difference. Forgot to do this a few weeks ago and almost ended up in a ditch.

 

[CF_Smith]

I would never have thought to use 4WD in the rain, I've only ever used it in snow or off-road.

 

[Andy578]

in my 14 it would NOT let me go sideways.

yep mine won't either

 

[KahneFan]

I always turn on 4x4 Auto in the rain. Night and day difference. Forgot to do this a few weeks ago and almost ended up in a ditch.

I would never have thought to use 4WD in the rain, I've only ever used it in snow or off-road.

I agree with Adrian. Especially when it's fresh rain and there is a layer of oil coming up off the road. Most of the roads I travel are less than 55 (most are 35 - 45), so I don't mind 4WD Auto. If I end up hitting a road which is higher, I will shift back into 2WD.

 

[CF_Smith]

I agree with Adrian. Especially when it's fresh rain and there is a layer of oil coming up off the road. Most of the roads I travel are less than 55 (most are 35 - 45), so I don't mind 4WD Auto. If I end up hitting a road which is higher, I will shift back into 2WD.

To each their own! I would just hope that if you are using 4WD in the rain, or any condition really, it only helps you move forward, and does not stop you front sliding sideways. As my parents used to put it when I was a kid "4WD will only get you more stuck," as in stuck in deeper snow.

Personally I don't see the advantage to using 4WD in the rain, but I'm also not going to sit here and say you should't or can't!

 

[Sportram1500]

Romped on mine the other day tires spun truck immediately bogged down tires quit spinning truck took off.

 

[HammerHead]

My 2013 6speed 2x4 it kicks on immediately and kills power to the motor same with the stability control.

 

[R.L.K.]

My 14 4x4 5.7 6 speed works like a champ , immediately when the rear tires break it boggs down .
One day I tried to power brake at a stop light and as soon as the tires broke = instant bogg down of RPM s I pushed the pedal to the floor and nothing , I was a bit disappointed so I turned off the traction control button and at the next stop light WOW ! what a difference! Hell I felt like a stupid kid again ...

 

[Raist11]

To each their own! I would just hope that if you are using 4WD in the rain, or any condition really, it only helps you move forward, and does not stop you front sliding sideways. As my parents used to put it when I was a kid "4WD will only get you more stuck," as in stuck in deeper snow.

Personally I don't see the advantage to using 4WD in the rain, but I'm also not going to sit here and say you should't or can't!

Yep, I can completely agree on this. Thing is you also have to look at different regions. I don't know why, but for example in the prairies of Canada, when it rains.. it's not a big deal. But for the 10 yrs I lived in central Kentucky.. it was amazing how slick that pavement got when it rained. I don't know if it's the temperature difference of the asphalt or what. There was one stretch of road that when it rained, guaranteed there'd be an accident. It reminded me of the first snow here in Saskatchewan.

So I can see how for some people in the southern States that 4wd in rain can be helpful sometimes. I personally never did it, but was definitely easy on the gas pedal.

 

[Andy578]

Yep, I can completely agree on this. Thing is you also have to look at different regions. I don't know why, but for example in the prairies of Canada, when it rains.. it's not a big deal. But for the 10 yrs I lived in central Kentucky.. it was amazing how slick that pavement got when it rained. I don't know if it's the temperature difference of the asphalt or what. There was one stretch of road that when it rained, guaranteed there'd be an accident. It reminded me of the first snow here in Saskatchewan.

So I can see how for some people in the southern States that 4wd in rain can be helpful sometimes. I personally never did it, but was definitely easy on the gas pedal.

i don't think i've ever used 4wd in the rain but i know heavy traffic roads get a lot of oil build up which can cause things to get slick when it rains. i could definitely see areas that don't see much rain get so much built up between rains that it'd get pretty bad and maybe need 4wd

 

[Ratket]

Pulled off on the shoulder- way soft sand- jumped on it, tires were spinning basterd cut throttle and started dropping power... " I was like don't u ******* dare" when I get a tuner that crap Is being fully disabled, I fully understand this is to "protect the consumer" but I need my truck to do what I am telling it to do when I tell it to do it, not what the Pcm tells it to do. Would of been extremely embarrassing had I needed to engage 4x4.

 

[R.L.K.]

Pulled off on the shoulder- way soft sand- jumped on it, tires were spinning basterd cut throttle and started dropping power... " I was like don't u ******* dare" when I get a tuner that crap Is being fully disabled, I fully understand this is to "protect the consumer" but I need my truck to do what I am telling it to do when I tell it to do it, not what the Pcm tells it to do. Would of been extremely embarrassing had I needed to engage 4x4.

I believe in 4wd lock the traction control is disabled ; however, in 4wd auto I think it's still active until you turn it off via the push button on the lower portion of the center stack.

 

[Grown in Tx.]

Yesterday leaving work, a coworker that also has a 14 ram pulled up next to me at a light in downtown Houston so i reached down and and hit the T/C and Tow buttons. We ended taking of normally and i let him get over in front of me, the next light we were gonna turn left, (i forgot about pushing the buttons) the light turned he nailed it and roasted 1 tire, i nailed it and both tires lit up and i got BIG sideways, i let off the gas for a quick second while i turned the wheel and nailed it again to straighten it up just in time to stop at the light. Embarrassed the hell out of me but I'm sure it looked cool.
Lesson learned? Yup, don't turn from a stop and floor it with T/C turned off.
I do miss the all wheel drive vehicles I've owned in this aspect.

 

[adrianp89]

I have no idea why it works so well it rain. It could be as other have stated the oils in the road, I live in one of the worst areas in the country for traffic so that might have a play in it. All I know is with it on in the rain I can drive normal speeds and not worry about getting sideways. Usually once I get onto an on-ramp I switch back to 2WD. It probably won't be that much of an issue once I get rid of the crap Goodyears, but for now it keeps me safe. And just to clarify I have no issues with the front sliding, only the rear.