Traction Control vs Stability control

4009 Views 18 Replies 11 Participants Last post by Red 3-7, Apr 19, 2012

xjason11x

Discussion Starter · Apr 17, 2012

So I've got a 2012 V6 mustang and I've been looking to learn how to burnout/do doughnuts.

As I was looking up some stuff on the subject when I came across how traction control and stability control will affect how easily I can break the back wheels free.

As of now I drive on the "Sport" mode and I've never hit the traction control button in my mustang lol. On these threads people said it helps to completely turn the traction control off by hitting the break, and then hold the traction control button. Is that correct? Should i do anything about stability control?

I'm still generally unclear on this, so if someone could educate me a little that would be awesome

Thanks!

1 - 19 of 19 Posts

Blackpenguin69

· #2 · Apr 17, 2012

xjason11x said:
So I've got a 2012 V6 mustang and I've been looking to learn how to burnout/do doughnuts.

As I was looking up some stuff on the subject when I came across how traction control and stability control will affect how easily I can break the back wheels free.

As of now I drive on the "Sport" mode and I've never hit the traction control button in my mustang lol. On these threads people said it helps to completely turn the traction control off by hitting the break, and then hold the traction control button. Is that correct? Should i do anything about stability control?

I'm still generally unclear on this, so if someone could educate me a little that would be awesome

Thanks!

i have a 2011, i can hit the TC button anytime the car is on. no brake needed just hit the button and floor it and the wheels spin like crazy.. i thought the sport mode your talking about is only for the steering response

Nick F

· #3 · Apr 17, 2012

For the most part, traction control prevents wheelspin, and stability control prevents you from getting sideways.

Red 3-7

· #4 · Apr 17, 2012

When you hold the button, you must be stopped, and have your foot on the brake. It completely turns off TCS and ESC. I wouldn't drive in normal traffic in this mode, especially if you have a lead foot. Great for shredding some premium Pirelli rubber though.

FutureSound

· #5 · Apr 17, 2012

Press the button down to disable traction control if you want to break the tires lose, do a burnout or slide around.

Hold the brake down while stopped and hold the trac control button down to disable stability control if you want to lose control of your car while doing a burnout or run into a telephone pole while drag racing.

Red 3-7

· #6 · Apr 17, 2012

FutureSound said:
Press the button down to disable traction control if you want to break the tires lose, do a burnout or slide around.

Hold the brake down while stopped and hold the trac control button down to disable stability control if you want to lose control of your car while doing a burnout or run into a telephone pole while drag racing.

Normal, Sport, and "Crash" mode. :laugh:

Strange Mud

· #7 · Apr 17, 2012

I still haven't messed with this yet, but the stability control did kick in on me once and I had to learn about it, Yes, it will apply the brake to one wheel to keep you in line (or at least where it thinks you want to go) I was doing a hard 90 deg turn at a good clip and it applied the inside rear brake for me...it was most interesting and I didn't have a clue that it would do that.

I also had to laugh at Red's "crash mode" remember that the two words most likely to follow "Watch this" are "Oh ship".

Recreate.Me

· #8 · Apr 17, 2012

I am not sure what you mean by sport mode then. The only Sport mode these cars have is when you hold the break and the TC button until it says that advancetrac is disabled.

Are you perhaps meaning that you drive with the 'Sport' steering wheel setting ? If you are selecting Sport by using the buttons to the left of the steering wheel then you are are only changing the feel of the steering wheel and nothing else.

sj90

· #9 · Apr 17, 2012

Recreate.Me said:
I am not sure what you mean by sport mode then. The only Sport mode these cars have is when you hold the break and the TC button until it says that advancetrac is disabled.

Are you perhaps meaning that you drive with the 'Sport' steering wheel setting ? If you are selecting Sport by using the buttons to the left of the steering wheel then you are are only changing the feel of the steering wheel and nothing else.

Performance package V6's have a sport setting. It loosens off the stability and traction control to allow more slip before intervening. To use it press the TC button on the center console twice in rapid succession. I'm not sure if you have to be stopped or not to activate.

OAC_Sparky

· #10 · Apr 17, 2012

I can activate Sport mode moving. You do have to have your foot on the brake though.

graBlue

· #11 · Apr 18, 2012

Ive noticed better mpgs with Stability control off....is this real or am I just imagining things?

xjason11x

Discussion Starter · #12 · Apr 18, 2012

Yeah by Sport mode I was talking about the steering setting.

Thanks for all the info, it really helped!

Is there every I time where I would want to turn off stability control as well? Except for running into poles lol

Red 3-7

· #13 · Apr 18, 2012

xjason11x said:
Yeah by Sport mode I was talking about the steering setting.

Thanks for all the info, it really helped!

Is there every I time where I would want to turn off stability control as well? Except for running into poles lol

There is a "Sport" setting for steering feel on all V6 Mustangs with EPAS. There is also a "Advancetrac Sport Mode" on cars with the Performance Package.

Maybe turn off ESC if you are racing and want to be like Randy Pobst? :laughlitt

shodanjr

· #14 · Apr 18, 2012

If i hit the TCS button my V6 while moving, I just get the "traction control off" message on the trip computer screen. Hitting it again makes it say "AdvanceTrac ON".

Red 3-7

· #15 · Apr 18, 2012

shodanjr said:
If i hit the TCS button my V6 while moving, I just get the "traction control off" message on the trip computer screen. Hitting it again makes it say "AdvanceTrac ON".

Advancetrac Sport Mode was introduced in the 2011 V6 Performance Package. AFAIK, it does not exist in any other V6.

shodanjr

· #16 · Apr 18, 2012

Red 3-7 said:
Advancetrac Sport Mode was introduced in the 2011 V6 Performance Package. AFAIK, it does not exist in any other V6.

I should have elaborated, I have a 2012 V6 PP. How do you turn on Sports Mode on yours?

e: Page 218 of the owners manual actually states how do this (gotta hit the button twice with the brakes applied). I'll try it out on mine then proceed to put it back to normal because i am a big baby.

Red 3-7

· #17 · Apr 18, 2012

shodanjr said:
I should have elaborated, I have a 2012 V6 PP. How do you turn on Sports Mode on yours?

Yeah, that would help, but I could have asked too. :winks

Press the brake pedal, and then press the AdvanceTrac button twice in rapid succession. You should see "AdvanceTrac Sport Mode" on the console. It resets by pressing the button again, or when you turn the ignition off.

I am not trying to be one, but it's all here, page 213 on:

http://www.motorcraftservice.com/pubs/content/~WOCMUS/~MUS~LEN/42/12musog3e.pdf

Page 217 has a chart with all the modes and how they work. :bigthumbsup

Edit: Hah! Beat me to it!

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Recreate.Me

· #18 · Apr 19, 2012

Sometimes i like to hit the TC button for going around corners to get that little wheel chirp, and back end slide for some fun.

I like to turn off Advancetrac when i take off on the 401 on ramps lol Turn it all off roll up to the on ramp, and just put the pedal down. Its basically the only place i will have a nice straight line, and legally be able to go from 0-120km/hr without getting a ticket haha
Someone has said you get better throttle response when its all off so thats why i use that setting ( I dont actually know if you do, but i like to think so)

Red 3-7

· #19 · Apr 19, 2012

Recreate.Me said:
Sometimes i like to hit the TC button for going around corners to get that little wheel chirp, and back end slide for some fun.

Mine steps out even with TCS on, especially on a low speed 2nd gear corner where you can really lay down the power on exit. It's not a lot mind you, but I kind of like that the car is smarter than me. Plus, I am a software/hardware engineer by day, and I do enjoy the computer-controlled magic of TCS and ESC.

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