Anyone know if I should leave the TCS on or off at regular driving conditions. I know this is a dumb question but I got the car used w/o the owners manual. Help is appreciated.

 

Even if you turn it off, doesn't it reset itself next time you start the car? You may as well leave it on. Normally it won't do anything; if it detects wheel slip it will temporarily cut the engine power and/or upshift the transmission.

d/l .zip of owner's manual from here:
http://www.nissan-techinfo.com/nissa...p?dept%5Fid=37

(or if you have problems with that go to http://www.nissan-techinfo.com and follow the link that says "view owner's manuals")

 

Do all Maximas have TCS? And how do you turn it on and off?

 

Optional on 00-03 SE and GLE auto. It's just a switch with an on/off position.

 

Hmmm...I guess I don't have it on mine.

 

It does nothing with ignition timing or spark advance/retard. It just upshifts the transmission until the vehicle speed sensor matches the front wheel speed sensor. Rudimentary at best. If you want to leave it on, then fine, or you can turn it off. The only time you will notice it is there is when you attempt to burn out or drive too fast in the rain. Basically, dont even bother with it, unless it bothers you.

 

Doesn't it also reduce engine power by suspending fuel to some cylinders? I'm going by what the FSM says since it's not on my car so I have no first-hand knowledge.

 

where is it in the FSM??

 

My cousins 2000 max has TCS and let me tell you the cars power bogs down on hard accel from dead stop. It bogs down at wide open throttle from a dead stop. It can be very dangerous entering a highway from a dead stop . If it aint raining or snowing leave it off. Your tires will also make a big difference in how it will react with it on. My cousins craptenzas probably have something to do with losing grip on dry pavement. But the difference with it off cant be denied as far as perfromance goes anyway.

 

To E55AMG: from the '02 FSM: File: br.pdf Page BR-87.
Bookmark: tcs|description|tcs (traction control system) operation
excerpt:
There is more that I didn't quote but at any rate you can see from this that on models with drive-by-wire throttle the TCS can reduce power by cutting off fuel or by closing the throttle.
On 2k0/1 models with a cable throttle the latter would not be possible of course but cutting fuel would be. But I don't have a FSM for those models.

 

According to the owners manual on the 00 Maxima (should be the same for 2001 models), TCS basically cuts fuel to one or more cylinders and upshifts the transmission accordingly. In winter, try to find a parking lot packed full of snow. From a dead stop, hit WOT and you'll see the SLIP light blink at you while the car slowly moves foward with the rpms staying steady around 2,000rpms.

My take, this feature is WORTHLESS. A brake-based system would be far more effective as well as being smoother. If Nissan really wanted to be serious about foul weather driving, they should have programed a 2nd gear start feature in the TCM. If you accelerate around cornings at a moderate pace, the power is cut abruptly, to a point where your car is bucking back and forth. I pulled the fuse on mine so I didn't have to bother pressing the TCS botton everytime I started the car.

Only GLE and SE models have TCS, even then its optional. You know if your car has TCS by having a TCS rocket switch located to the right of the steering wheel near the guage cluster.

On MY00-01 GLE built after 12/99, TCS was a seperate option ONLY if you get the MERIDIAN package. In order to get the MERIDIAN package, you must select the SUNROOF package.

On MY00-01 SE's built after 12/99, the TSC was a seperate option ONLY if you get the MERIDIAN package. In order to get the MERIDIAN package, you must select the LEATHER SEATING package. In order to get the LEATHER SEATING package, you must select the BOSE option. In order to get the BOSE option, you must select the SUNROOF package but in order to get the SUNROOF package, you must select the COMFORT and CONVENIENT package.

In order words, in order for you to have the TCS feature, your car is fully loaded. *NOTE* MY00 built before 12/99 replaces the COMFORT and CONVENIENT with COMFORT and SECURITY package.

 

I have both ESMs and was just curious, thanks.

I agree with screaming VQ, TCS is worthless....

 

So when you remove the fuse for traction control, does the traction control light stay lit on the dash? It is annoying to turn it on everytime you sit in the car so getting rid of this would be great.

 

to bring this thread back...

it's probably not a good idea to have TCS when i go WOT?

Cuz I have been doing it sometimes when I tested out the car when I bought it :-x

 

are you sure it does not use the brakes as well??? i have seen my gf drive away in the car in the snow and it was slippery and the front and back wheels were locking up and letting go....

 

Yes

 

its fine if you are going WOT from a roll in dry condition but from a stop or low roll in wet weather, you are likely to break traction and a large portion of your power is lost.

 

so i should just leave it on then? :-)

 

i always turn mine off. not that i make a habit of it but if i have to pull out in front of someone, i do not need the engine cutting power if i slip a little. there really are not any conditions that ive encountered (snow or rain) where i felt comfortable leaving it on. i actually wiped down the button the other day and could not believe how white the letters were since i turn it off everytime i drive.

 

On a dry day, I leave mine off; accerleration feels better than with it on.

just my .02

 

So it doesn't use the brakes...I always thought it did. I agree that its a useless feature, I'm going to start turning mine off when I start it...and see if it makes any difference in acceleration (probably not, but its an easy try).

Ok, I got the sunroof but no leather or Bose...with TCS. So otherwise my car is fully loaded? I forgot what package it was when I bought it.

 

i do the same thing.