I'm wondering how the TCS works because whenever it becomes active, the car really goes herky jerky. I rarely get it loose, but sometimes pulling out into traffic, I hit some gravel and the TCS comes on. It feels like the brakes are pulsating and the car acts accordingly. It's like the brakes are on then off then on then off. I even tried turning the TCS off and it does the same thing. I assume the traction control is by means of the brakes and not engine mangement?

Thanks.

 

It drops your engine speed so your wheels don't spin. I'm not so sure it does any actual braking, if it does it's only in the rear.

 

It pulses the brakes using part of the ABS system on the wheel that's spinning. What you're feeling is what it's actually doing.

If it's jerking with the TCS off, it may be your limited slip differential shuddering somewhat

 

That's what I figured. Thanks, Paul. It's weird though, because once I get going straight it keeps on doing that until I get off the gas (it's been a while, so I don't remember if I had to depress the clutch or not). Either way, it freaked me out, as I've never driven a car with traction control or a limited slip.

 

I think if you're slipping the clutch it won't engage traction control.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Enfynet @ March 9, 2006, 12:11 AM) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'>
I think if you're slipping the clutch it won't engage traction control.
[/b][/quote]

Well what I did - if I remember correctly - I slipped the clutch (I've never dropped it) and must've skidded on some gravel, and the thing went beserk. I had to shift for it to stop. Then I was in a wet parking lot and I just wanted to do a quick 180, so I started off rolling then hit the gas, and it did the same thing. I've never dropped the clutch yet and really don't plan on beating the car up. This isn't a huge concern of mine because, like I said, I really don't whip it, but I was just wondering if it was the TCS why it wasn't smoother. I hope it wasn't the clutch slipping in and out....

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Torch_Vert @ March 8, 2006, 11:02 PM) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'>
It pulses the brakes using part of the ABS system on the wheel that's spinning. What you're feeling is what it's actually doing.

If it's jerking with the TCS off, it may be your limited slip differential shuddering somewhat
[/b][/quote]

That's not entirely correct. Here's a direct cut and paste from a PDF of the owner's manual:

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>Wheel-speed sensors allow excess rear wheel spin to be detected by the
Traction Control portion of the ABS computer. Any excessive wheel
spin is controlled by automatically applying and releasing the rear brakes
in conjunction with engine torque reductions.[/b][/quote]

As some stated earlier, it also feathers the throttle back to reduce the engine speed. The herky jerky feeling is also caused by the engine RPMs being reduced.