when traction control is invoked , do you get a warning light on the dash.

[jygesq]

I have never played around with traction control. I leave it on at all times. Since Nov 2014 when I bought the s4 no warning lights have gone on showing traction control being invoked. Not surprised , it is my first quattro and AWD and most likely no reason for traction control to be invoked.

[4RCFED]

Yes it blinks if you manage to break them loose.

[jimrobbington]

You've gotta actually get wheel spin I believe to get the light flashing. Traction control will still intervene a little before there light goes off in my experience.

[Ray Khan]

Surprised you haven't seen the light come on in the winter when it's really easy to get some wheelspin.

[BaumerS4]

If you've never seen the TC light, you're not driving your car hard enough. Should have bought an A4 instead...

[jygesq]

very funny!!!

[superswiss]

OP, since you have a B8.5 with S-tronic, hence the self-locking grown gear center differential, you'll rarely experience traction control stepping in. Most of the time the quattro system can sort out traction issues mechanically with the center differential locking itself w/o the need for traction control to reduce engine power or braking individual wheels and you have the sport differential that sorts out traction issues by actively shifting torque left to right. Traction control will step in much sooner on a car with the old torsen center differential, because that differential doesn't have the ability to lock itself. I regularly have fun in the rain, peeling off like a bat out of hell with all 4 wheels slipping at different times and the car sliding around a little bit and as long as I countersteer and keep the car under control there is not a peep from traction control or ESP for that matter.

[whiped]

If you've never seen the TC light, you're not driving your car hard enough. Should have bought an A4 instead...

My thought too,

If the ground is wet it almost always comes on for me when I pull out of my street.

I regularly have fun in the rain, peeling off like a bat out of hell with all 4 wheels slipping at different times and the car sliding around a little bit and as long as I countersteer and keep the car under control there is not a peep from traction control or ESP for that matter.

Hmm, this is pretty much what I do and it comes on most of the time...

[superswiss]

Hmm, this is pretty much what I do and it comes on most of the time...

I should have said that I do this in my RS5 and as far as I know the thresholds are higher in the RS before the nannies step in, so that's probably the difference.

[jygesq]

OP, since you have a B8.5 with S-tronic, hence the self-locking grown gear center differential, you'll rarely experience traction control stepping in. Most of the time the quattro system can sort out traction issues mechanically with the center differential locking itself w/o the need for traction control to reduce engine power or braking individual wheels and you have the sport differential that sorts out traction issues by actively shifting torque left to right. Traction control will step in much sooner on a car with the old torsen center differential, because that differential doesn't have the ability to lock itself. I regularly have fun in the rain, peeling off like a bat out of hell with all 4 wheels slipping at different times and the car sliding around a little bit and as long as I countersteer and keep the car under control there is not a peep from traction control or ESP for that matter.

yes that makes sense. thanks

[whiped]

I should have said that I do this in my RS5 and as far as I know the thresholds are higher in the RS before the nannies step in, so that's probably the difference.

I would complain but, since you can turn it off I don't see the point.

As long as I am still in charge I don't mind a nanny every once in awhile.

Hell, saves me from becoming the next Corvette/Mustang when I am feeling a bit too insane

[superswiss]

I would complain but, since you can turn it off I don't see the point.

As long as I am still in charge I don't mind a nanny every once in awhile.

Hell, saves me from becoming the next Corvette/Mustang when I am feeling a bit too insane

The least useful nannies are those that you end up turning off, because they are getting in your way and then chances are high that when you really truly need them, they are inactive. Plenty of Corvette, Mustang, BMW YouTube videos out there proving the point.

[Arn560]

My TC never steps in, even on wet asphalt during a rapid take off. I have only had it come on in the snow. The traction on this car in dry or wet is night & day compared to my Mercedes C230Kompressor!

[pdqgp]

Get tuned and you'll see it on all the time

[chaos2984]

I see it if I take a hard left or right turn starting from a stop and I punch it to get out in traffic. I just see if for like a sec or so. Im 8.5 with DSG and sport diff

[DBL R]

That's why I turn my TC off 1 click. I've had it kick on several times in traffic while trying to merge or accelerate, the power cut is just awkward.