I was going around 55 MPH on my way home today, and I pressed down on the gas and my traction control came on. I tried it again two more times and it came on both times. Why would it be coming on?

 

Losing traction?

But for real I'm no help sorry

 

 

Was it wet out?? I've only ever known it to come on when the tires slip...

 

It wasn't wet at all. I know my tires weren't losing traction.

 

1) Tire sizes are messed up. You've either got mixed sets (Pirellis in front, Nittos in back or such) or they're worn, or the pressures in the back aren't matching.
Whatever the reason, the difference in overall diameter causes the sensors to go stupid because it thinks the tires are going faster than they should, and the traction control goes off to 'correct' it. The computer won't do this unless you're accelerating, and so there ya go. It would ABS on a stop, but traction on a go, if you will. Differential tire speeds cause the computer to do this, and the different tire diameters can cause this. See below.

2) The sensors are whack. Probably need to test them to verify.
I *want* to say the same ABS sensors are used to deal with the traction control, but...

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I can say the different tire thing happens, because I was involved with a Mark VIII that had this happen. He had Michelins in front, Goodyears in back, and the Goodyears were a teensy bit smaller, even with the same 'size' on the side wall. That car's traction and ABS would go nutz. I was doing computer work at the dealership where he took it, they asked if they could borrow my Mark's wheels and tires (as they were all the same wheels, and newish BFGs). I said "yeah, why not, sounds interesting, and if that fixes it, I'll know something new."

And yep, it did. Problem solved itself when my wheels and tires went on his car. Guy was in the car to see for himself. Told the guy "NO REALLY, go get the same tires all way 'round, and it will go away."

Imagine that. o.0

He was balking at the whole idea, but that's only because he didn't really understand the physics behind it. And really, who woulda thunk it?

In case that helps. Not sure it will, but figured I'd chime in on it given that experience.

 

What Houtex said. The primitive traction control back in the 70's relied on the differential speed of the front tires vs. the rear alone. It's a bit more involved now, but I always replaced all 4 on my Mark VIII and never had the issue.

 

I have Continentals all the way around. Only had the tires for around 1.5/2 months, so the wear isn't off or uneven. The rears are the same size and so are the front. I think the wiring is just messed up, but I didn't do this before I changed wheels so Idk.