Deactivating Traction Control on Gen 3.5

[Offroadmuch]

This came up in another thread. We were talking about how the traction control is taxing for the ABS and other undesirable results due to Traction Control and Stability Control. So I was wondering if anyone running a Gen 3.5 (specifically for me the 3.8L Limited just so we are clear on motor and transmission etc...) has disabled their TCS or Stability Control. See one suggestion below that may work?

"An ever-present option is installing a signal interrupt switch to one of the wheel speed sensors. This tricks most vehicles into disabling ABS/TCS/Stability, as their processor views it as a failed sender. Flip the switch, presto! No electro nannies.
To re-enable wheel speed dependent features, turn the car off completely, flip the switch to restore the signal, start, and enjoy your factory goodies. This was the method used at the Bridgestone Winter Driving School for most student vehicles. The 4Runner's simply needed to have the center diff locked in order to disable ABS, though they still had defeat switches, as the locked diffs required a pretty deliberate hand on the ice."

Any thoughts for or against?

Or any idea if the above override would work? Or some other way to do it?

And I suppose it is related, what if I run a locker in the rear and leave all of the other controls in place? Anyone doing this?

Thanks for any thoughts or advice-

 

[offthepath]

It would be cool if it could be turned on and off while still running/in motion like the stability control switch.

 

[KyleT]

What's a gen 3.5? Just say NP that's the chassis code.

But I digress. Why are you wanting to limit the traction control? IMO it works excellent and paired with a limited slip or rear locker you will be unstoppable. Except for the huge body of these things in the way hitting stuff.

Stability control can render you stopped though, but if you plan your acceleration into traffic you won't have any issues. I took both my 03 and 06 out in a parking lot in the rain to see what they would do with it on and off: on was much more controlled, although less fun. In 4wd unlocked though it was nearly unobtrusive. Very little would break the tires free. And both trucks have crappy tires.

I generally leave both trucks in 4hi and have noticed negligible mpg loss but bad weather surety is much better.

Or am I misinterpreting the idea?



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[Offroadmuch]

What's a gen 3.5? Just say NP that's the chassis code.

But I digress. Why are you wanting to limit the traction control? IMO it works excellent and paired with a limited slip or rear locker you will be unstoppable. Except for the huge body of these things in the way hitting stuff.

Stability control can render you stopped though, but if you plan your acceleration into traffic you won't have any issues. I took both my 03 and 06 out in a parking lot in the rain to see what they would do with it on and off: on was much more controlled, although less fun. In 4wd unlocked though it was nearly unobtrusive. Very little would break the tires free. And both trucks have crappy tires.

I generally leave both trucks in 4hi and have noticed negligible mpg loss but bad weather surety is much better.

Or am I misinterpreting the idea?



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Gen 3 = 2001-2002 with 3.5L and different trans and traction control
Gen 3.5 = 2003-2006 with 3.8L and traction and stability control (I forget the abreviation from Mitsubishi)

My main concern is not overheating my brakes due to ABS functioning when it thinks I need it and the computer cutting power to my wheels when it thinks the truck is unstable. I had a Toyota Sequioa that would kill all power when it detected the truck was unstable. For example, if I hit the gas going around a corner and the wheels broke loose it would kill power. To have that happen off road when I am trying to drive over obstacles or sand or something would suck and maybe cause me to bog down when all I needed was a little ongoing momentum. Now I have to admit that I have not had any problems as a result of traction or stability control but I just wanted to see if it was an issue and if anyone had worked around it.

 

[MoabRefugee]

Gen 3 = 2001-2002 with 3.5L and different trans and traction control
Gen 3.5 = 2003-2006 with 3.8L and traction and stability control (I forget the abreviation from Mitsubishi)

My main concern is not overheating my brakes due to ABS functioning when it thinks I need it and the computer cutting power to my wheels when it thinks the truck is unstable. I had a Toyota Sequioa that would kill all power when it detected the truck was unstable. For example, if I hit the gas going around a corner and the wheels broke loose it would kill power. To have that happen off road when I am trying to drive over obstacles or sand or something would suck and maybe cause me to bog down when all I needed was a little ongoing momentum. Now I have to admit that I have not had any problems as a result of traction or stability control but I just wanted to see if it was an issue and if anyone had worked around it.

I really think that the programmers of the Mitsu systems did a stellar job with the Montero's TCS.

My primary reason for disabling the ABS on vehicles has to do with my left foot braking. Newer vehicles, particularly those with stepper motor controlled throttle butterflys, can chop throttle with "overlapping controls". When playing around in the dirt or snow, losing throttle, and the change in weight distribution that comes with it, could easily put me in the ditch. Stability control, which generally tries to "straighten" vehicles into understeer and minimize yaw/slip angles, actively fights against my "driving techniques".

However, some systems are so good though, that they are like a skilled gymnast's spotter, right there if needed, and they never touch if you don't. Some of the newer systems allow for even "looser" parameters with modes/individual adjustment. They can be a blast, as you can just "throw the car against the stability system". It's that sort of driving that nukes brakes.

In an offroad situation, an interruptor would likely allow "on the fly" disabling, but I suspect the system would require "rebooting" before functioning again. I don't know the the NP(3.5) systems at all. Often TCS/SCS factory disable switches, actually re-enable automatically above a certain speed, level of wheelpsin, or g's of accel in whatever direction, for both liability and safety reasons.

Do you know if the TCS continues to function on the remaining "unlocked" wheels? If so, it may be a dynamic system, in that it has models for locked, unlocked, and possibly even individual sensor failure/wheel immobilization. You could always disconnect one of the wheel sensors with the vehicle running in Neutral to confirm (all cautions implied). Maybe one of the engineering types can chime in.

I certainly wouldn't lose any sleep over it, but I am VERY curious to see if the TCS continues to function with a locker engaged. Guess I could google it, but why ruin the mystery?

 

[KyleT]

Yes it continues to function.

And fwiw I heard that the algorithms eventually turned into the Land Rover terrain Response system, and I would believe it. It acts much like my newer Range Rover did. But that's not confirmed just a LR engineer talking about how the Paj/Monty is.


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[MoabRefugee]

Actively looking for another NM for my brother, I can now include the NP.