TCS Switch

[Nitro23]

I have a '97 Montana.

I just fixed my ABS/TCS dash lights after about 5 years. Wow it's nice to not have any dash lights. Had bad wiring on the drivers side front hub. Found it when I changed out the hub.

Anyway, my question is how does the TCS switch work. Mine acts like a push button. It only clicks down. Is it suppose to act like a switch where it is either in the up position or the down position?

[fritcr]

Yes it works like a push button and you have to push it each time you start your vehicle if you want to TURN IT OFF. Otherwise it is always on by default when you start up. The TCS off light should come on when you disable it by pushing the button.
Rob

[Nitro23]

Okay, Great.

I don't get the TCS off light on the dash when I hit the switch.

Not sure where to start on tracking that down. Can anyone help?

[fritcr]

Gosh, I'm not sure how to help you with that. Does your TCS work ok? Got some loose gravel or dirt you can goose it and make the TCS kick in and see if it works ok?
Rob

[merc81]

I don't have a 'TCS off' light in my dashboard. Mine is a light inside the push button that disables the TCS that comes on. The only dash light about TCS is the one that comes on and warns of 'low traction' when the system kicks in--oh, & the one that whines at you when the system is borked.

By accident, I found a good way to test the TCS. I was working on the axles and had both wheels on jack stands. Started the van and put it in gear only to have the tcs system kick in and make me think I'd ruined the tranny! Makes quite a noise when both wheels are able to free wheel in drive at idle speed.
John

[Nitro23]

Thanks MERC. That's exactly how mine behaves.

I get the low traction light when I spin the tires in gravel.

Another weird thing is when I switch it off, I can not switch it back on.

Oh well, no more dash lights!

[merc81]

I know from experience that if you get into a low/no traction event, you can't turn it off either. This winter I was climbing a long steep grade in ice over conditions when a car coming down the hill spun out and lost control. My line of traffic which had been moving well had to stop. After we got going again, my tires just spun.
It was one of those almost, not quite enough traction to get started. The traction control kept the tires from spinning by switching the brakes from side to side. I wanted to turn that off because I knew if I could just spin the tires a bit I would dig down to the road and get a good start. It just would not allow it. I even put the car in park and tried to use the switch, but there seems to have been some sort of timer running.
15 minutes later, after I got to the top of the hill, I was able to switch of the traction control, but not until I'd been moving without spinning for a few hundred feet.
Not too sure the traction control was helpful in that situation.
John