traction overheat?

Hi guys, occasionally get this message on the dash. can't find much info about it although Rave comments that if the traction control is overworked it may occasionally overheat and shut itself off. But I'm getting it on flat tarmac, no question of wheelspin or anything. It usually happens after 15 or so minutes in stop-go traffic. What should I be looking at?

ps. also as some of you may recall, i've the "three amigos", (ABS/TCS/Brake lights) flash everytime I press the pedal. they just come on and go off in a second or so. might this be related? i was guessing that this was due to reduced pressure in the system because i can hear the abs pump come on too and i'm about to replace the accumulator. d'you spose the two are linked? is one causing the other?

I would expect to get that message after some realy serious off roading in very slippery conditions. It sounds to me as if your accumulator is on its way out.

actually relieved to hear that as a new accumulator is on its way now.

cheers!

rasheed said:

Hi guys, occasionally get this message on the dash. can't find much info about it although Rave comments that if the traction control is overworked it may occasionally overheat and shut itself off. But I'm getting it on flat tarmac, no question of wheelspin or anything. It usually happens after 15 or so minutes in stop-go traffic. What should I be looking at?

ps. also as some of you may recall, i've the "three amigos", (ABS/TCS/Brake lights) flash everytime I press the pedal. they just come on and go off in a second or so. might this be related? i was guessing that this was due to reduced pressure in the system because i can hear the abs pump come on too and i'm about to replace the accumulator. d'you spose the two are linked? is one causing the other?

Click to expand...

Rasheed,

I have a very similar problem to yours. I too get the traction overheat when I am in normal traffic and also "the three amigos" as you call them (ABS?TCS/Brake lights) that flash momentarily when i hit the brakes.

Having read a little about my issues I suspect the accumulator but could it also be the pump?

When I brake the pedal feels hard and lumpy. Tried an emergency stop and it did not react positively and caused my wheels to lock and skid.

When braking normally it feels more or less OK but sudden/hard braking feels odd and not normal.

Should the wheels lock up if ABS is working?

You said you ordered an accumulaor? did it fix the "three amigos" if so, I will do the same.

Please let me know how you fixed your problem

Paul

You certainly shouldn't be locking up with ABS! The key to seeing how all your traction control/ABS problems are interelated is to understand that they are effectively one in the same. If you have a fault in one you have a fault in the other! The traction control uses the ABS on individual spinning wheels to lock them up and allow drive to be transfered to the opposite wheel.

If your pump is working overtime even in normal road conditions it may be an ABS sensor fault telling the ECU a wheel isn't rotating at the same speed as the others.

Makes sense kernow, guess I'll have to get the codes read for any sensor related faults. Damn. Those things are expensive!

Paul, when the problem with the lights first started, there was a definite twang when I pressed the brakes. I've a thread here titled just that, "twang", where you'll get a full description, including a change in pedal feel and a very scary alternative prognosis. The problem then disappeared and only recently has reappeared as just the lights flashing. Pedal feel is normal, there's no clickyness and ABS in my case works. In your case your stiff pedal and lack of ABS suggest there's hardly any pressure left in the system. The brakes are designed with a fail-safe which means they'll still work unassisted (ie unpressurised) but you really have to stick your boot in and of course no more ABS.

The reason I suspect only the accumulator at this point is because as I said, the pump cycles on and off at every pedal press which it should not do. This does not specifically indicate a weak pump, merely a system that does not achieve and retain enough pressure. Does your pump run a lot?

I'm in a hurry now to get the new accumulator in as I've learned from experience that overworking compressors and pumps in the RR leads to complex and costly problems. They are woefully underspecified given the intended nature of these vehicles (EAS compressor comes to mind). Or perhaps not given the original price point of the RRs. I guess they figured if you could buy the car you could afford the spares!

Anyway, will certainly update on any progress. Being in Bangladesh means getting parts is a bit of a chore so don't hold your breath. In fact you might get it done before me. Its a sensible thing to replace the accumulator regardless as I've heard its intended life was around 7 years to start with. My car is 12 years old so can't really grudge it on this one.