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[judge_dredd65]

Hi,

I am in need of some advice, I have had two front tyres fitted today and on my way home the TC light started flashing and the car went into limp mode. When I turned the traction control on the car then drove normally. Any advice on what it may be would be great fully received. The car is a 2002 3.2 omega estate

[Andy H]

1. check that they haven't fitted the wrong size tyres (or more significantly that all 4 tyres are the same size)

2. inspect for damage to one of the wheel sensors or its wiring

[hotel21]

Light always lit is TC switched off.

Light out is TC on/available.

Light flashing is TC in operation, perhaps giving impression of limp mode as it does its stuff....

[05omegav6]

Crap tyres and greasy/salty roads is all less beans in the corners/pulling out of junctions...

[kevinp58]

Can't see that it is tyres as they were fitted to front and as the mig is real wheel drive it shouldn't make any difference. 

[05omegav6]

Mine has become a bit more 'responsive' to throttle inputs since they started gritting the roads... the Runway 926 Performances being alot less grippy than the 916 Enduros, (still far better than Autonogrips)

...besides, I said nowt about the front tyres specifically

[Andy B]

Can't see that it is tyres as they were fitted to front and as the mig is real wheel drive it shouldn't make any difference. 

driven wheels makes no difference if an axle has significantly different tyres ....... ABS/TC looks at all four wheels

[kevinp58]

No not you Al but Andy H did.  thought TC only worked on driven wheels  Yes ABS works all round

[05omegav6]

 

No not you Al but Andy H did.  thought TC only worked on driven wheels  Yes ABS works all round

Mismatched tyres would put the ABS light on permanently. ABS does indeed apply to all four brakes. TC uses the ABS system to control wheel slip, and also manages fuel/throttle to reduce torque from the engine, hence the feeling of limp mode. To manage slippage, the TC applies whichever remedy it feels is appropriate

As H21 has suggested flashing light means normal operation, so the system obviously detected some slip and dealt with it. Easy enough to get crap tyres to slip on the roads at this time of year... wet leaves, salt, damp greasy patches etc etc

[Andy B]

No not you Al but Andy H did.  thought TC only worked on driven wheels  Yes ABS works all round

Of course TC uses all four wheels as reference

[Phil]

Of course TC uses all four wheels as reference

Which is proven when you put a Vxl on a rolling road that has TC/ESP fitted but no way of manually turning it off (Vactra C / Signum) and as 2 wheels turn on the RR the TC goes mental, light flashes all over the place, then gives up and turns off, allowing a proper run!

But once ignition is turned off and on again after a quick drive along the road it resets itself and all is happy in the sability control world again

[Entwood]

Of course TC uses all four wheels as reference

Which is proven when you put a Vxl on a rolling road that has TC/ESP fitted but no way of manually turning it off (Vactra C / Signum) and as 2 wheels turn on the RR the TC goes mental, light flashes all over the place, then gives up and turns off, allowing a proper run!

But once ignition is turned off and on again after a quick drive along the road it resets itself and all is happy in the sability control world again

Same thing happens when towing the 'van out of a muddy field with any amount of wheel spin !  If the back wheels go significantly faster than the front ones for any length of time the system seems to get a tad upset !! 200 yards of "normal" driving seems to sort it all out however ..

[Andy H]

No not you Al but Andy H did.  thought TC only worked on driven wheels  Yes ABS works all round

Sorry - I didn't consider the most likely scenario in a 3.2 with new front tyres
3. you have no tread on your rear tyres 

[Andy B]

No not you Al but Andy H did.  thought TC only worked on driven wheels  Yes ABS works all round

Sorry - I didn't consider the most likely scenario in a 3.2 with new front tyres
3. you have no tread on your rear tyres 

I've recently put two tyres on the back of my Omega & Merc (£££££'s  ) without TC/ESP problems. I'd say it was something more pronounced than new vs old tyres front & back (even if the bald tyres were down to the canvas 

[TheBoy]

Flashing implies the system was active, doing its stuff to prevent wheelspin.

Whether a fault or shite tyres, anyone's guess at the moment.


However, your manual describes a procedure if you've changed tyres, to teach the ABS ECU (which controls TC) the new rolling diameters. Basically gently accelerate to 50mph, let it slow down to 30mph, and repeat.