Drivers door lock and traction light

Just recently you may remember i stated that the drivers interior door handle stopped operating after the window was lowered all the way down then up.Well we came home today and just out of curiosity Pulled handle once then twice then it pushed open tried a couple off times and it opened from the inside every time. possibly one less job to do. On the way home we stuck slightly in the mud the passenger wheel spun slightly and the traction light came on for a brief second, Does this mean there is some traction on drivers side if you get stuck??

If the TC light comes on, it means the ABS module applied the brakes on the spinning wheel to provide more drive to the wheel that wasn't spinning.

Nodge68 said:

If the TC light comes on, it means the ABS module applied the brakes on the spinning wheel to provide more drive to the wheel that wasn't spinning.

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So I do have some traction even without a propshaft fitted?

GerryN said:

So I do have some traction even without a propshaft fitted?

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You have traction control. The TC algorithm is simply looking for a wheel to be spinning faster than the average of the other 3, and then brakes that wheel to slow it down. The computer doesn't know or care if the propshaft is fitted or not, only that it doesn't need to apply brakes to wheels turning within the average rotational speed.

Nodge68 said:

You have traction control. The TC algorithm is simply looking for a wheel to be spinning faster than the average of the other 3, and then brakes that wheel to slow it down. The computer doesn't know or care if the propshaft is fitted or not, only that it doesn't need to apply brakes to wheels turning within the average rotational speed.

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I wouldn't mind betting that the TC algorythm compares wheels on the same axle - cos it is quite likely that 2 will spin, 1 on the front and 1 on the back.

If both 'spin' on an axle, the VCU will immediately ensure that at least 1 on the other axle also spins - if both spin on the other axle, then nothing will kick in and you'll just sit there spinning all 4 wheels (assuming they are spinning at roughly the same speed) but if only 1 spins, then the algorythm kicks in and you get drive the the wheel that isn't.

Nodge68 said:

You have traction control. The TC algorithm is simply looking for a wheel to be spinning faster than the average of the other 3, and then brakes that wheel to slow it down. The computer doesn't know or care if the propshaft is fitted or not, only that it doesn't need to apply brakes to wheels turning within the average rotational speed.

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thanks Nodge

GrumpyGel said:

I wouldn't mind betting that the TC algorythm compares wheels on the same axle - cos it is quite likely that 2 will spin, 1 on the front and 1 on the back.

If both 'spin' on an axle, the VCU will immediately ensure that at least 1 on the other axle also spins - if both spin on the other axle, then nothing will kick in and you'll just sit there spinning all 4 wheels (assuming they are spinning at roughly the same speed) but if only 1 spins, then the algorythm kicks in and you get drive the the wheel that isn't.

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Glad mines not fitted yet then (vcu &props)

GerryN said:

Glad mines not fitted yet then (vcu &props)

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Not sure why that is.

You'll just spin the 2 fronts and get nowhere, I can tell you that from experience...



This is why I think the TC only works on 1 axle, cos each front wheels were spinning at a greater speed than the average of the other 3 and no TC cut it (it would be mad to brake both wheels on an axle!)

With the props and vcu installed, it would have had help from the back.

GrumpyGel said:

I wouldn't mind betting that the TC algorythm compares wheels on the same axle - cos it is quite likely that 2 will spin, 1 on the front and 1 on the back.

If both 'spin' on an axle, the VCU will immediately ensure that at least 1 on the other axle also spins - if both spin on the other axle, then nothing will kick in and you'll just sit there spinning all 4 wheels (assuming they are spinning at roughly the same speed) but if only 1 spins, then the algorythm kicks in and you get drive the the wheel that isn't.

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The TC is capable of braking a wheel on each axle, I've had mine putting the TC on both axles, it gets quite noisy with the brakes grabbing at both ends simultaneously. I expect the algorythm is extremely complicated, but it's obviously effective.

The FL2 system is very similar, just instead of pulsing the brakes on the spinning wheels, it buzzes them instead, which seems more effective then the FL1 system.

GrumpyGel said:

Not sure why that is.

You'll just spin the 2 fronts and get nowhere, I can tell you that from experience...



This is why I think the TC only works on 1 axle, cos each front wheels were spinning at a greater speed than the average of the other 3 and no TC cut it (it would be mad to brake both wheels on an axle!)

With the props and vcu installed, it would have had help from the back.

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Surely it's about time you sorted that AWD GG?

Nodge68 said:

Surely it's about time you sorted that AWD GG?

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Its 24 years old. Always starts. Never stops till I turn the key off. Needs negligible maintenance and always flies through WOFs. I don't want to upset the Apple cart!