Traction control - how do I know when it is turned on

[aslsw]

I have pushed the traction control button a few times just to see what happens (yes, I know I always tell the kids not to do that). But now I have absolutely no idea whether it is on or off.

I have read the relevant section in the manual twice, and still seem to be none the wiser. Short of actually holding the manual as I'm driving I'm not sure I will ever figure it out.

Last night and this morning, I noticed that when pushing hard through roundabouts (especially now that it's wet out there), the traction control light flashes quickly. Does that mean it is doing its job? Or that it's turned off and really should be on?

[K1W1]

I have a feeling that it's always turned on when you start the car. Turn it off and it restarts automatically.
The light flashing on the dash indicates that it's actually in operation. Mine came on last night when I accelerated on a bit of diesel spilt on the road.

[woofy]

I'm pretty sure mine lights up on the button itself or on the dash when its turned off. And from memory there are two modes of off, the quick button press which disables some things and then the hold it in for a while version.

It defaults back to on when the car is turned off and on though.

[brad]

The default on a fresh engine start is Traction Control = ON. If th eengine is going & you press the button then the skidding car light inside the RH dial (the tacho?) will permanently illuminate (possibly with the words "OFF" illuminated underneath but that may be the wife's Commodore???).

Flashing quickly when hammering through roundabouts means that TCA is enabled & doing the job.

[whitelion]

The default on a fresh engine start is Traction Control = ON. If th eengine is going & you press the button then the skidding car light inside the RH dial (the tacho?) will permanently illuminate (possibly with the words "OFF" illuminated underneath but that may be the wife's Commodore???).

Flashing quickly when hammering through roundabouts means that TCA is enabled & doing the job.

Yes, when the light is flashing, this will indicate that the stability control system is operating (which uses traction control as one of its components).
In my C'dore (V-eight), there is no doubt when T/C is off!!

[K1W1]

TIf th eengine is going & you press the button then the skidding car light inside the RH dial (the tacho?) will permanently illuminate (possibly with the words "OFF" illuminated underneath but that may be the wife's Commodore???).

Just downloaded the manual at work and had a read.
When this system is turned off manually the light comes on on the dash and stays lit. There is no off symbol as such.

[brad]

Just downloaded the manual at work and had a read.
When this system is turned off manually the light comes on on the dash and stays lit. There is no off symbol as such.

must be the Commodore/calais thing..... although i'm sure the Commodore says "Would you prefer oversteer or understeer?"

[aslsw]

OK, thanks everyone I will test this when I go home tonight. I don't think I ever noticed the symbol/light coming on and staying on when I pushed the button, which is why I could never tell whether or not I had turned it off or on.

I'm still not really used to that feeling when the car "jumps" around a little bit as the traction control kicked in - but probably better than that feeling of going sideways etc without it!

[gerhard]

Just stomp on the throttle - if traction control is on, the banging and thumping and dash light flashing will confirm it

[bobski]

Pressing the button to turn TC off leaves the traction control light slowly flashing in mine. I haven't tried holding the button down for more than a few sections though.

[aslsw]

Correct. I tested this, and it is definitely a slow flash. I guess I never looked long enough to time the flashes and realise that it was a slow regular flash, rather than the intermittent flash when the TC is doing it's business.