2011 Expedition and advance trac questions

[alsager512]

Hi All,

My 2011 expedition made me crazy and dis-motive when I do off-road driving in desert sand in both 2wd and 4wd modes.

Before a week ago, I went to desert for off road trip. At beginning, I turned off traction manually by pressing TC on dashboard. Then I started in 2wd of road driving for a while, so in some how I got stuck in non-deep sand, and I tried to get out without engaging 4x4for less than 10 minutes. Suddenly I MIL (malfunction indicator lamb) for ABS ,Parking break and traction are activated (see attached photo).
So in this condition I found only one rear wheel was rotating in airborne, while no rotation in other wheels.
Same thing I found in 4 WD MODE...., BUT WITH 4X4 WERNCH TOOL LIGHT.

So, I reported that to dealer and after he checked my vehicle , he told me that, there is no problem in it and all MILs have appeared are normal due to one/two of wheel speed sensors gives reading while no reading from other wheel speed sensors. and ask me to stop turning off the traction manually.

Okay, but If I stop turn the traction off, I will not be able to drive in sand. and I do not understand when should I turned off traction, what is the best way to deal with traction control in expedition.

Thank

 

[alsager512]

Hi, all

No feedback???????

 

[alsager512]

Please give me some information to help to understand the disadvantage of traction control system in sand off road.

 

[01yellerCobra]

You posted when most of us are in bed. You have to give us some time to respond.

 

[jglopic]

Personally, I think your dealer is right. I would leave traction control on even when going off-road.

As for the warnings, again the dealer is correct. The initial warnings you were getting were because the truck was confused why one wheel was turning when the others weren't. The Check 4x4 light was because with one wheel off the ground, the 4x4 system couldn't fully engage. Getting the clutches and hubs to lock into 4x4 mode requires the entire drivetrain to move.

Personally, I would engage 4x4 before going off-road and leave the TC on.

 

[alsager512]

what I want to know that, in my case, the TC was off, so there is no overload TC, and wheels should spin without contorl for less the 25 mph. so it should no probelm with TC even one wheel spin free and no rotation in other.

so, any one know, why did I get MIL...?

 

[mindgame]

Not sure of Gen 3, but for Gen 2, When i see both ABS and AdvanceTRAC indicator on, I have trashed another Speed sensor..

The PIA is, I dont know which is the bad one, so I have to change them one by one until all is good again.

 

[Dib52]

When you turned TC off, did you just quickly push the TC icon on the center stack? Doing that, the sliding car icon goes solid in the info cluster. If you press and hold the center stack button, the sliding car icon in the message center will blink and then go solid. The quick push only disables certain parameters of the system. The press and hold disables all parameters. Only problem...when wheel speed is determined to be greater than 25 mph, all systems go "active" again regardless icon on message center.
Play around with turning TC off both ways, quick push vs. press and hold and see if you have a difference and warning messages in the info center.

 

[spotdog14]

When you turned TC off, did you just quickly push the TC icon on the center stack? Doing that, the sliding car icon goes solid in the info cluster. If you press and hold the center stack button, the sliding car icon in the message center will blink and then go solid. The quick push only disables certain parameters of the system. The press and hold disables all parameters. Only problem...when wheel speed is determined to be greater than 25 mph, all systems go "active" again regardless icon on message center.
Play around with turning TC off both ways, quick push vs. press and hold and see if you have a difference and warning messages in the info center.

I never knew that!

I don't have much reason to turn TC off unless I want to do some donuts. I do have to say getting a vehicle that size sliding sideways is kinda scary.