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Flashing Traction Control light

Discuss problems you have had or are having with your Z4
Jaygrainge
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Flashing Traction Control light

Post by Jaygrainge » Mon Aug 21, 2017 11:12 pm

:thumbsdown: Recently purchased e85 Z4 2.0 from 2005:

I have noticed that, under rather spirited driving from a stop, the car sometimes gives a traction control light warning where power cuts and the yellow triangle and ! flashes three times. I can consistently do it at about 5000rpm in first gear... is this the car telling me not to be stupid or is it a fault? I feel there's more acceleration to be had in this gear and the car asks for more of my heavy foot from time to time (possibly because it is the baby engine); has anybody else had experience with this?
(I honestly don't think it is a lack of traction as I've tested this on newly laid tarmac, it feels like a limiter of some kind)
Many thanks, Jay

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Flashing Traction Control light

Post by Marlon » Mon Aug 21, 2017 11:15 pm

thats a lot of revs in first gear for a 2 ltr :cry:
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Flashing Traction Control light

Post by Jaygrainge » Mon Aug 21, 2017 11:18 pm

Aye but still quite a way before the dial runs out;p Just wanted to see what it could do, it's not a regular thing but I've had it at other points too

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Flashing Traction Control light

Post by Jaygrainge » Mon Aug 21, 2017 11:25 pm

+ I essentially wanted to try this:
https://youtu.be/G34WyksCMl0
Apologies for the link to YouTube

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Flashing Traction Control light

Post by Bing » Tue Aug 22, 2017 6:44 am

:rofl: at this post :D

It's the DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) cutting in, and yes it's the car telling you about a loss of traction and correcting for it. The manual will tell you what you need to know... The power reduction can be quite intrusive, you can limit it by pressing the DSC button and turning on Dynamic Traction Control (DTC), designed for very wet or slippery conditions. From memory you will see 'DTC' lit on the dash. Lets the wheel slip a bit more before the system steps in. If you hold the button for 3 secs or so you will get the warning triangle fully lit and pretty much all stability control is off.

Maybe your problem isn't the electronics - are your tyres in decent nick ?

Good luck. And remember to wear your seatbelt :wink:
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Flashing Traction Control light

Post by synthedup » Tue Aug 22, 2017 7:29 am

Marlon wrote: Mon Aug 21, 2017 11:15 pm thats a lot of revs in first gear for a 2 ltr :cry:
Morning Marlon,

Very interested to hear your reasoning for this?

I'd assume 5,000 revs in a 1lt, 2lrt or 3lr was all the same.

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Flashing Traction Control light

Post by synthedup » Tue Aug 22, 2017 7:33 am

Bing wrote: Tue Aug 22, 2017 6:44 am :rofl: at this post :D

It's the DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) cutting in, and yes it's the car telling you about a loss of traction and correcting for it. The manual will tell you what you need to know... The power reduction can be quite intrusive, you can limit it by pressing the DSC button and turning on Dynamic Traction Control (DTC), designed for very wet or slippery conditions. From memory you will see 'DTC' lit on the dash. Lets the wheel slip a bit more before the system steps in. If you hold the button for 3 secs or so you will get the warning triangle fully lit and pretty much all stability control is off.

Maybe your problem isn't the electronics - are your tyres in decent nick ?

Good luck. And remember to wear your seatbelt :wink:
My question too was going to be what tyres are you running :driving:

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Flashing Traction Control light

Post by jamie_z4 » Tue Aug 22, 2017 8:04 am

can a 2.0 even break traction? :poke:
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Daily driver: 480bhp M140i Shadow edition.

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Flashing Traction Control light

Post by Crazy Harry » Tue Aug 22, 2017 8:42 am

One of the first questions I asked viewtopic.php?f=2&t=93865

The simple answer is its doing what its supposed to do :thumbsup: - if its on all the time its broke

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Flashing Traction Control light

Post by craig3.2 » Tue Aug 22, 2017 8:49 am

Crazy Harry wrote: Tue Aug 22, 2017 8:42 am One of the first questions I asked viewtopic.php?f=2&t=93865

The simple answer is its doing what its supposed to do :thumbsup: - if its on all the time its broke
Or,if it's on all the time,you have switched it off,as bing mentioned too,lol.
That's how alot of us have it , quite often :driving: :D
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Flashing Traction Control light

Post by Marlon » Tue Aug 22, 2017 8:52 am

synthedup wrote: Tue Aug 22, 2017 7:29 am
Marlon wrote: Mon Aug 21, 2017 11:15 pm thats a lot of revs in first gear for a 2 ltr :cry:
Morning Marlon,

Very interested to hear your reasoning for this?

I'd assume 5,000 revs in a 1lt, 2lrt or 3lr was all the same.
Maybe it is - Bing's post gives a proper explanation.
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Flashing Traction Control light

Post by Bing » Tue Aug 22, 2017 9:01 am

FWIW, I don't think I get to 5k RPM in 1st in my car, even when I'm flooring it, but I guess as long as it's warmed up properly there's no reason why not to boot it hard...
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Flashing Traction Control light

Post by Buckz » Tue Aug 22, 2017 9:07 am

I don't see how 5k rpm is a lot for 2.0? :D

but it's not really a powerful engine but breaking traction in first is easy. Especially on rubbish rubber and in wet.
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Flashing Traction Control light

Post by Jaygrainge » Tue Aug 22, 2017 11:25 am

Thanks for responses:)
I've got 4mm tread on all 4 corners and they're on continental sportcontact 3s, so apart from the issues with run flats being noisy and tramlining etc they are quite grippy. None are worn unevenly either
I'll give it a go with traction off and see if I like it :thumbsup:

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Flashing Traction Control light

Post by Flyingfifer » Tue Aug 22, 2017 11:43 am

jamie_z4 wrote: Tue Aug 22, 2017 8:04 am can a 2.0 even break traction? :poke:
:rofl: :rofl:
I didnt think they fitted the TC to the 2.0ls? seems like a lot of effort for a useless feature :P :fuelfire:

As explained its the cars traction control which is very intrusive but can be disabled, as Craig said I think the one on my car has effectively retired its turned off every day :driving: :driving:
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