Traction control EMBARRASED me today. Twice.

[S4NJ]

True story. I was stopped at a light, some car wanted to toy with me in the right lane (after you read the story, this could have been ANY car.) Light turns green, I floor it, I go for 1 second, then I feel like my stomach hit the steering wheel...car loses power....I'm jamming the gas pedal, but nothing. Meanwhile, this car on the right just takes off and I feel small. What the hell?!!? Then it happened again later in the day.

I'm afraid to turn off traction control because the 1 time I did that it was raining and I went to turn left from a stop sign and spun out nicely almost 90 degrees. Thank goodness there were no cars, but still. In a straight line, is it ok to turn off TC??!

ridiculous.

[Rocket Tech]

Yes

[DGVR6]

In a straight line.. Just turn off the first one, don't hold it down for 3 seconds so you'll keep the esp on

[moose_head]

It happens, but can also be wrong tires for the season, or tires just starting to be worn out. Maybe that?

[pfft]

I've never heard of traction control doing that. You shouldn't lose power completely. Then it happened again later in the day...hmm, I'd get that looked at.

[jokingjimmy]

I've never heard of traction control doing that. You shouldn't lose power completely. Then it happened again later in the day...hmm, I'd get that looked at.

This.

[StealthBlackA4]

I've had traction control totally take away all of my power, that's why whenever I do straight line pulls...I turn off the first stage of traction control.

[pdqgp]

I've never heard of traction control doing that. You shouldn't lose power completely. Then it happened again later in the day...hmm, I'd get that looked at.

It will if your modded and go balls out on less than warm dry roads. I've had the exact thing happen to me. Car will bog down like it's being strangled. LOL though.

[Wusty]

What tires are you running? I hope the story doesn't include "There was snow on the ground, and I'm running summers."

[MrFunk]

What tires are you running?

It's very salty here also (which can be slippery) and I can get the wheels to spin on hard launches (which I don't typically do) with snow tires. That being said, they never spin to the degree that TC fully intervenes - typically it will reduce power just slightly... If you have reduced traction (summer tires in winter or crap/worn all seasons) and you're really spinning the wheels then yes you will get the full lock down of TC...

As everyone else mentioned, you can always just hit the ESP button and disable the 1st level which will allow your wheels to spin... good for launches... or you can just adjust the amount of throttle you are giving for the conditions... you know, the throttle has more than 2 settings

Finally some words of wisdom - A good drive knows what the limits of his/her tires are given the road conditions of the road and weather - it shouldn't be a surprise to you when TC kicks in, rather you should actually be able to anticipate it...

[The Fat Kid]

Twice in one day? Are you on summers, UHP all-seasons, or bald tires? Otherwise you could have an issue with your traction control if you are on winter/snow tires.

I have had the back end come out twice in turns but TC never intervened, and I was still on the gas.

[vwblackb5]

maybe its your supercharger getting confused upon WOT ...

[TomPaul10]

maybe its your supercharger getting confused upon WOT ...

This.

[Rocket Tech]

Twice in one day? Are you on summers, UHP all-seasons, or bald tires? Otherwise you could have an issue with your traction control if you are on winter/snow tires.

I have had the back end come out twice in turns but TC never intervened, and I was still on the gas.

TC won't intervene like this in a turn unless there's zero grip, just esp and sport diff if you have it.

I can trip my TC pretty hard in a straight line. I'm running factory pirellis in sunny SoCal with dry pavement. When TC engages, it does so very hard. Happens more frequently in the cooler morning air and I'm running a CW but it would happen from time to time when I was stock. I imagine stage 2 guys have to disable their TC every time they play stop light warrior.

[S4NJ]

Thanks for all the replies. Yes, I should have clarified a few things.

When I lost power, I mean the car was still moving forward but slowly...I wasn't completely stopped. A few seconds later I was able to keep going. The weather was dry but CAF (cold as F...) as the NY/NJ area had the worst freezing temperatures in like 50 years. Anyhow, I'm not that crazy lol...I am on dedicated tires (got them 1 week after TG, but you remember the crazy warm months we had in the beginning of winter here.) I have DUN Winter Maxx (http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....Premium%20Plus) I think they were like the mid-point on the price range IIRC.

Lesson learned - EASE into the Pedal next time AND start turning off that 1st stage of the ESP (and remembering to reactivate it when done!)

[The Fat Kid]

maybe its your supercharger getting confused upon WOT ...

Winner!

TC won't intervene like this in a turn unless there's zero grip, just esp and sport diff if you have it.

I can trip my TC pretty hard in a straight line. I'm running factory pirellis in sunny SoCal with dry pavement. When TC engages, it does so very hard. Happens more frequently in the cooler morning air and I'm running a CW but it would happen from time to time when I was stock. I imagine stage 2 guys have to disable their TC every time they play stop light warrior.

Once was on black ice with Blizzak WS80s and all four wheels lost traction in the turn. Still no intervention from any nanny devices.

Edit to add: Yes, I do have the sports diff

Your scenario is exactly why I asked about tires. Summers, and even some UHP all-season tires, get hard and lose traction as temps drop. The OP is in NY and could be on the wrong tires.

[treejs4]

Or just turn tc off when it's not raining or bad conditions

[S4NJ]

maybe its your supercharger getting confused upon WOT ...

LOL....good one :)

[Whitee]

Traction control with absolutely do this if u break the tires loose. To those saying to get the car checked out you dont know what you're talking about.


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[The Fat Kid]

Traction control with absolutely do this if u break the tires loose. To those saying to get the car checked out you dont know what you're talking about.


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He made it seem that the car was almost coming to a complete stop in the original post - "I feel like my stomach hit the steering wheel"

[Pared]

He made it seem that the car was almost coming to a complete stop in the original post - "I feel like my stomach hit the steering wheel"

Probably just his nuts receding inward from the embarassment. :)

[S4NJ]

Probably just his nuts receding inward from the embarassment. :)

It was embarrassing alright :(


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[jimrobbington]

Compared to my B7 A4, the traction control on the S4 is completely non-invasive. The A4 would yank all power from the wheels under pretty much any scenario. I am very impressed in how much more fun the S4 will allow you to have with traction control on. You can get a pretty decent drift going add long add your wheels are turned in the proper direction of movement. That being said, I still drive with TC completely off quite a bit of the time. OP should probably do the same to get to know your car a little better. You'll never know the car's true limit of you don't actually test it.

[roadawg]

Interesting, I absolutely hammered the gas today from a stop up a hill and the car shimmied a little in the rear and took off.

It's 14 degrees outside, salt covered roads and I am on really shitty half worn all seasons.

I've never experienced like what you are describing, it almost sounds like something other than traction control. <shrug>

[S4NJ]

Interesting, I absolutely hammered the gas today from a stop up a hill and the car shimmied a little in the rear and took off.

It's 14 degrees outside, salt covered roads and I am on really shitty half worn all seasons.

I've never experienced like what you are describing, it almost sounds like something other than traction control. <shrug>

Interesting. Thanks for sharing.


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[pdqgp]

Interesting, I absolutely hammered the gas today from a stop up a hill and the car shimmied a little in the rear and took off.

It's 14 degrees outside, salt covered roads and I am on really shitty half worn all seasons.

I've never experienced like what you are describing, it almost sounds like something other than traction control.

Sounds like you're stock. Stage 2 would spin hard and bog with the TC light flashing repeatedly .

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[AudiTFSI3o3]

True story. I was stopped at a light, some car wanted to toy with me in the right lane (after you read the story, this could have been ANY car.) Light turns green, I floor it, I go for 1 second, then I feel like my stomach hit the steering wheel...car loses power....I'm jamming the gas pedal, but nothing. Meanwhile, this car on the right just takes off and I feel small. What the hell?!!? Then it happened again later in the day.

I'm afraid to turn off traction control because the 1 time I did that it was raining and I went to turn left from a stop sign and spun out nicely almost 90 degrees. Thank goodness there were no cars, but still. In a straight line, is it ok to turn off TC??!

ridiculous.

Do you have ADS? if so did you put it in dynamic AND tc off? sounds like you had a bad launch that ended up canceling out.

[S4NJ]

Do you have ADS? if so did you put it in dynamic AND tc off? sounds like you had a bad launch that ended up canceling out.

I think that's what happened; I was in dynamic mode with TC on. From now on, I'm going to turn off TC (not all the way of course.)


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[Whitee]

He made it seem that the car was almost coming to a complete stop in the original post - "I feel like my stomach hit the steering wheel"

That's exactly what it feels like, the car takes off like a rocket for a second and than basically feels like you hit the brakes


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[ZChicagoS4]

Odd. 10 degrees here and in a straight line my Stage 2 + DSG tune + Intake has no problem hooking and enjoying the cold air. (All-season peelers)

[pdqgp]

Odd. 10 degrees here and in a straight line my Stage 2 + DSG tune + Intake has no problem hooking and enjoying the cold air. (All-season peelers)

If you have full nanny controls ON and can do that without TC Bogging you then I would be more concerned about your situation due to what would be a lack of power.

[eurotic]

Compared to my B7 A4, the traction control on the S4 is completely non-invasive. The A4 would yank all power from the wheels under pretty much any scenario. I am very impressed in how much more fun the S4 will allow you to have with traction control on. You can get a pretty decent drift going add long add your wheels are turned in the proper direction of movement. That being said, I still drive with TC completely off quite a bit of the time. OP should probably do the same to get to know your car a little better. You'll never know the car's true limit of you don't actually test it.

My B6 S4 was like this too. If the tires started to slip but you dipped even more into the throttle it would cut even harder to the pint that it felt like you were just at idle. My B8 S4 is not nearly as bad, sure it could be a little more forgiving but generally it's fine. I usually hit the stage 1 deactivate if I want a little more wiggle room (pun intended).

[MrFunk]

Compared to my B7 A4, the traction control on the S4 is completely non-invasive. The A4 would yank all power from the wheels under pretty much any scenario. I am very impressed in how much more fun the S4 will allow you to have with traction control on. You can get a pretty decent drift going add long add your wheels are turned in the proper direction of movement. That being said, I still drive with TC completely off quite a bit of the time. OP should probably do the same to get to know your car a little better. You'll never know the car's true limit of you don't actually test it.

+1... My B6 was really bad also.

[jimrobbington]

+1... My B6 was really bad also.

It was to the point I never left TC on. I would always turn it off. Nothing like trying to merge and losing all power because of a little sand or something. I've found that as long as you power through in the S4 and maintain 100% control, TC will mostly leave you alone. However, give the car even a sense that you can't handle it, a slightly wrong steering angle, touch the brakes or let off the gas, and it will "save" you. ..

[Fociracr]

It's completely normal, mine does this too, especially if there's a little salt on the road or anything that might break it loose. I can easily spin all 4 wheels when I hammer it with the TC off. Next time just turn it off and away you go. I've found a lot of VAG cars have the same type of TC where it cuts power completely and this is my 7th VAG vehicle.