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Traction control winding noise? A few newbie traction control questions...
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Posted 2/15/2007 3:04 PM
cyntaxx
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Date registered: Aug 2006
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Vehicle(s): 2002 G500
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Traction control winding noise? A few newbie traction control questions...

Just confirming that this is normal since I've never had traction control on any vehicles I've owned before. It's snowed a lot in my area over the past week or so and I've been having a lot of fun in the G - with the traction control on. It's great and I've learned to use it well doing semi-spirited driving in the snow (no cars out on the roads)...

However, the other day I got a bit stuck (in my driveway no less) and initially tried to ease out of the snow. I kept slipping and, with the radio happened to be turned off, heard a winding noise everytime the traction control tried to engage. I eventually threw it in low, locked the center differential (don't know if it really helped or not), and clawed my way out with the engine screaming (neighbors did not appreciate this at 6 AM!) Just out of curiosity, what exact is it doing and am I harming it with such blatant lead footage?

Another time, was showing my girlfriend the wonders of my traction control and attempted a few donuts in the snow but was caught everytime by it. Turned it off and commenced doing donuts (read: fun). My question: any longterm damage to extended engagement of the traction control? ie any ill effects of revving 4-5k rpms with traction control engaged? I'm assuming it's very different from, say, bouncing constantly off a rev limiter, but I want to make sure I'm not doing damage or putting excessive wear on anything.

Also had a chance to use my differential lockers finally and they seem to work great, though I couldn't tell that much in the snow.

Sorry for the amature question!
#63915
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Posted 2/15/2007 3:19 PM
cyntaxx
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Date registered: Aug 2006
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Vehicle(s): 2002 G500
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Re: Traction control winding noise? A few newbie traction control questions...

Also, when I was stuck in my driveway I locked my differentials (all of them) in an initially futile attempt to get out. Once I engaged all of them, I noticed my steering pulled back to straight. I at first attempted turning the wheel again (due to the angle of my driveway) but then realized something I read on this forum about not being able to do so with the lockers engaged. There was a good amount of resistance so it was a split second in my attempt to turn, but after reviewing some threads on here, it seems like this adds a lot of stress to the locked gears and all...

...is this an issue of concern that I attempted to turn everything locked?
#63918 - in reply to #63915
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Posted 2/15/2007 4:03 PM
DUTCH
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Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: US, GA, Atlanta
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Re: Traction control winding noise? A few newbie traction control questions...

cyntaxx - 2/15/2007 3:19 PM


...is this an issue of concern that I attempted to turn everything locked?


No.
#63925 - in reply to #63918
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Posted 2/15/2007 4:04 PM
KERR

Date registered: Dec 1899
Location:
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Re: Traction control winding noise? A few newbie traction control questions...

i think there is something wrong with your G if you can turn the traction off.

The errt errt pulsating noise your hearing is the brakes being applied. the computers on mb products brake the tires that is spinning.

Depending on your tires im not supprices you got stuck in the snow. stock tires suck.

Low range in a G is very low and probably does not help you in the snow like you would think Low is more for slow climbing thant spinning tires. The lower the gears ( ie low range) the quicker it turns the tires, which is what you dont want in the snow.

Over the last 4 years ive learned to ignore the esp ( traction) it has no clue whats going on anyway.

As for the lockers, they dont lock in as soon as you hit the button, they air compressior has to kick on a fill up the line, then it some times a bit for them to engauge. If the Yellow and RED light are not on the dash then you where not locked. In the deep snow you will be ok with them locked and turning. However when they are locked your actulley pushing the front tires wich will make it a lot hard to make the turn..

As for hurting the G its almost impossiable to damage one unless you drive with the diffs locked on dry pavement, 99% of the time it will not break but its not good for them.

Got any pictures of this drive way its got to be a beast.
#63926 - in reply to #63915
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Posted 2/15/2007 5:17 PM
cyntaxx
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Date registered: Aug 2006
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Vehicle(s): 2002 G500
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Re: Traction control winding noise? A few newbie traction control questions...

KERR - 2/15/2007 4:04 PM

i think there is something wrong with your G if you can turn the traction off.



Got any pictures of this drive way its got to be a beast.


Your first comment - that's a joke or a jab at MB's ESP I hope? I did turn it off and the ESP light came on the dash (like it does when it engages while on). Traction control was definitely off and the SOTP difference was noticeable.

I do not have pictures of the driveway but it probably was nowhere near as bad as some of the stuff you pro's have faced down. The snow was thick and I sunk right away....didn't anticipate as much. We received about 12-14 inches total here but due to the wind the drift directly in front of my garage was a bit more (it was up to the running boards). I was unable to gain momentum coming out of the garage too, fearing I'd go too far and not expecting that much snow right away.

I did engage all three lockers (at least both the yellow and red lights were on on all three) at one time (during another excursion) and it did help but my stock tires may have been limiting my ability? I'll definitely look to another tire when I'm ready to replace.

Again, sorry for the dumb questions. I'm still used to my previous vehicle, which boasted a good 410 rwhp and 507 ft-lbs of torque, was RWD, weighed 4,500 lbs and ran mid-12s. The G is a completely different animal!

It did feel great being one of the few on the road during the worst of it. I lined up with a few lifted trucks too!
#63938 - in reply to #63926
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Posted 2/16/2007 10:32 AM
KERR

Date registered: Dec 1899
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Re: Traction control winding noise? A few newbie traction control questions...

even thought the light comes on saying the traction is OFF. once a tires spinns the computer over ride the traction off. Or at least it does on ever mb product i have owned.


The only way to now get traction controll is to lock the diffs. Then you loose your esp, trac, abs etc etc etc..




Edited by KERR 2/16/2007 10:33 AM
#64017 - in reply to #63915
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Posted 2/16/2007 4:55 PM
cyntaxx
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Date registered: Aug 2006
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Vehicle(s): 2002 G500
Posts: 248
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Re: Traction control winding noise? A few newbie traction control questions...

KERR - 2/16/2007 10:32 AM

even thought the light comes on saying the traction is OFF. once a tires spinns the computer over ride the traction off. Or at least it does on ever mb product i have owned.


The only way to now get traction controll is to lock the diffs. Then you loose your esp, trac, abs etc etc etc..




Gotcha. Yeah the ESP light was still flashing even though I "turned it off." Figures.
#64050 - in reply to #64017
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