On my work van (Ford), at startup the overdrive is on but when you drive in town it tries to shift to overdrive to early and lugs the engine. So every time I startup I immediately turn off the overdrive. That is wrong, it should be off at startup and if you get on the highway you should have to turn it on.


On the XF I keep finding new little hidden ways to turn off/change functions on many things. At startup, the traction control on and light off seems wrong to me. I would rather have it off with the light off and if I push the button on the dash, it turn on and turn the light on. Has anyone ever figured out a way to change the status of the traction control to be off instead of on at startup?

 

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Pressing the dash button once turns the TC OFF which turns the warning light ON.
The light also flashes when the TC is ON and working due to wheel spin etc.
The default is OFF, it comes ON prior to starting the car to show that the bulb is working.

 

I believe the DEFAULT is ON, not OFF. You can turn it OFF by pressing the switch. When it is manually turned OFF, the bulb lights up and stays on until you press the switch again, or turn off the ignition. ( Yes, the bulb does light initially to show it is not blown, just as all the other indicators )
Maybe we are saying the same thing with different words ?

( BTW, traction control is only operative between 24 and 50 MPH, according to the owners manual )

 

OP was asking if the default could be changed to the TC off. If a tuner could do this it would cost you a lot of money for such a simple little change(not having to reach and push the button). Frankly, I believe the TC has saved my a$$ twice when I was over driving on the street, since I've owned the car. I only turn it off when I'm at the track, visiting the twisties, or showing off haha.

 

I'm talking about the bulb.

 

I read it wrong I guess, I got mixed up with the Ons and OFFs. I guess I could not understand why someone would want it set up that way.

I would like to know the many things the OP has changed.

I think that having it off is probably against the law in some jurisdictions, it is a safety feature and if it is not working you will not pass a safety check. I threw the car around a left hand turn too fast onetime and I felt the car go sideways at the rear, before I could correct it the car was back on track. Quite amazing I thought.

 

I was just thinking there may be a way to change from on to off with a setting. Like turning the seat belt chime off by turning on the key and fastening and unfastening the seat belt 3 times or pressing both fob buttons and turning on the key to reinitialize the fob. There are several cars that you program key transponders by pressing gas 4 times and fastening the seat belt twice then pressing the brake twice stuff like that. The XF's are pretty "deep" when it comes to hidden settings and controls. I would rather have the traction control off with the light off and if I turn it on the light would go on instead. If I have to suddenly get out of the way or something I don't want the engine cutting out with the traction control.

 

I hate to burst your bubble, but you're not a better driver than the computer.

ESC exists to keep amateurs out of the hospital when bravado exceeds native skills. If you run NASCAR for a living, then I might be willing to concede the issue.

If the traction control is kicking in, it is because you have exceeded the available grip of the tires, and the computer will modulate the power to get you back into traction as quickly as possible.

If you reformat to "normally off", you will forget that it is in that condition. If you think you will only turn it on "when you need it", then you may as well not have it at all. Like only wearing a seat belt on long trips, or CCW only in 'bad areas'. Most trouble finds you when and where you least expect it, and familiarity has bred contempt. Lots of folks think they can brake better than ABS, 99.999% cannot.

You could probably pull the fuse, but make sure you have your affairs in order, your will up to date, and $1MM in the bank, as an insurance company would likely frown on a payout if you have disabled the system on public roadways.

 

You make it sound like my last two years of driving my coupe have been on borrowed time.. LOL


ABS/ESP error = 0 traction control or ABS function.. bumper to bumper stop and go Arkansas River bridge construction daily and a run to the Dragon..

 

LOL,

I've got a 1964 Chevelle with 4 drum brakes on one line from the master cylinder and no seat belts from the factory.

I"m hyper-vigilant when driving that puppy!

 

I have noticed the squiggly car track light come on (and felt it in the car) right from a standing start when there is wheel slip or is that function called something else? I certainly was not going 24MPH yet.

 

I was thinking the same thing. I guess the wheel sensors saw 24mph when the tires were spinning. Also, I'm pretty certain my car(not just the tires)was going over 50mph when I saw it as well.

 

I am not saying I am better than the computer but I have cars with much more HP than the XF and I am not dead yet.
The fuse, hmm, then the fuse out light will probably come on. Ha Ha.