Date: Sun, 17 Aug 2003 16:03:22 -0400 From: Rob Levandowski <roblnopsamhiz.com> Subject: Re: TCS query?
In article <oBIXa.52$QG.11nopsam3.inet.fi>, "Alatalo" <m.alatalonopsammbus.fi> wrote: > Hello, > > There¥s been some negative comments about Saab TCS, at least in the first > years. > What kind of problems does it have? > Any positive opinions about the system? > Seems funny that Saab bragged so much about it at the time when they > revealed it if it¥s only a one big bugger. In most circumstances, it does what it does well. It enables the car to be drivable in conditions where it would otherwise be stuck. My '99 9-5 had two caveats to the TCS, one minor and one major. The minor: as with any system that will override your throttle input to reduce engine power, you must remember that you cannot pull out into a small hole in traffic when the road is slippery. If the TCS engages and backs off the throttle when you needed hard acceleration to avoid getting rear-ended... The major: Under certain limited conditions, the TCS may increase the danger to the occupants of the car, because it will try to avoid wheelspin at any cost. I found one such limited condition: my parents' driveway. My 9-5 was equipped with the factory all-season tires. My parents' driveway is a gravel driveway up a steep slope, not very well maintained, and prone to icing. It was winter. The car was fairly well loaded with cargo. The driveway had been plowed, but there was a little bit of fresh snow, plus some packed, slick snow. The steepest part of the driveway is about three-quarters of the way up. The car was in (W)inter mode, and TCS was enabled. It had no problem making it up the first half of the driveway. Then, the wheels began to struggle, and the TCS came on. As the TCS engaged, it reduced the power being sent to the wheels to eliminate the wheelspin. In short order, it had reduced the power so far that the car could not make headway. A small panic ensued as I flailed for the TCS override button, stabbing it to disable the system. I could then spin the tires, which gave me enough traction to make it past the steepest, iciest patch. The TCS helps immensely in city driving, and on most rural roads. It's not perfect, and in extreme situations it may actually be hazardous. It's definitely no substitute for an educated, aware driver. -- Rob Levandowski roblnopsamhiz.com Owner, MacWhiz Technologies http://www.macwhiz.com Mac and UNIX Consulting * Web Design * Graphic Arts Local help. World wide answers. (sm)
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