Has anyone had any dealings with the traction control on the 2013 with the Aisin yet. My son is finding at 60/65mph on mud/gravel that the truck is very unstable and drops power when it gets a little sideways in ruts especially when towing, also when towing if the wheels spin on start up like entering a main hiway, it drops power. He wants to turn it completely off as in 4 low but still be able to drive at 60/65mph so as not to get driven over by tractor trailers on the ice roads. The dealer says it can't be done but is looking into it as in this instance it's a safety issue, any input is appreciated.

 

First, why is he towing at 60/65 through muddy ruts/gravel/snow and ice? Seems like a recipe for disaster for both vehicle and occupants if something were to happen.

Anyways, I have no experience with this in particular subject, but I do know for a fact that some vehicles that have e-lockers they will only lock in 4lo. You can take a jumper wire to jump 2 circuits tricking the vehicle into thinking its in 4lo all the time thus allowing you to lock the diffs at your desire. I'm sure something similar can be done with the traction control and the issue your having.

Sidenote: This will void any and all warranties and force the truck to perform a way it was never intended so keep in mind it may cause other issues (but with what, I don't know).

 

The ECM is also a factor because you can completely turn off the traction control in 2 and 4 hi by stopping and holding the switch for 5 sec but the ecm turns it back on to 70% off above 40mph, but even that is too twitchy, all this coupled with the reduced power especially when you might need it. What may seem a dangerous speed to be going is offset by the fact the other traffic coming up behind is also doing that speed on the ice roads and not expecting anyone on these roads to be crawling along, even though you have to always call out the mile markers on the VHF com radio, in poor visibility a heavily loaded tractor trailer would probably rear end him. As for warranty if he can't get around this problem the truck will probably have to go, it's too bad really when probably all that's needed is an update to the ECM, perhaps H&S will develop something, I'll give them a call tomorrow.

 

Yeah, someone has to have some kind of software to cancel that out.. I hate traction control myself and always turn it off if I drive a vehicle with it but never had any issues as severe as you mention so was always ok with it turned off.

 

There will likely be some teething problems with this new combo. If enough people call Chrysler to complain (& Transport Canada in the case of a safety issue) it will eventually get fixed. In the meantime hopefully somebody will find a work-around.

Does the the traction control use the brakes to control slip? Got to be a way to defeat that.

 

I have only seen the truck once the night it was picked up from the dealer and have been away since so I haven't driven it yet. I'm going by what my son is saying, I asked him about the brakes helping to control the slippage but he wasn't sure, it's mostly had about 8000lbs tagged to the rear as the goose hitch was only installed the other day but I guess that was frightening enough. He's going to take it out on gravel without a trailer and see what it is actually doing. Meanwhile I contacted H&S and waiting for a reply, my son went to a different dealer and a totally different response, they got what the problem is and have already gone further with it. I'll update as news comes in.

 

I heard back from H&S and they say they currently have no tuning for the 2013 Cummins but are working on it and to check back in a couple of months.

 

That's life in the country,Its more of a disaster spinning out 3/4 of the way up a muddy hill. Or not having enough speed to break threw a snow drift.
Sometimes you have to just floor it, and keep a finger on the Trailer brake controller. (just incase you start to go a little sideways)

 

I must admit that life in the outback is different from normal city dwelling. back to the traction control issue.. the other dealer says they can't do anything either so it's back to H&S. My son says they should make 2 types of truck one for the masses and one for the "other guys".

 

Now why wouldn't they put a button on the dash to disable the traction control like every other vehicle? That's just stupid.

 

There is a way to turn it completely off but it reengages automatically over 40mph. Just to update and give a warning to all.. Son was towing a 7000-8000lb tag at 90kph 55mph on gravel and went over a bump, traction control kicks in and slams on the brakes down to 60kph 40 mph, on ice this would have been a disaster with the tag trailer. He's talked with H&S they now say 6 months before they will have anything at all for the 2013/14's

 

I wonder what happens if you unplug a wheel speed sensor at one wheel to set off a fault code, if that would shutt off traction control,, but then also ABS brakes would be off,, im sure that would answer a question or two, but maybe a little unsafe without ABS.

 

We do something similar on the chargers - there is a yaw/ g-meter in the console of the cars, and putting a switch in it's power supply is useful for track days. Another option that works on my 08 charger is to get it rolling around 20 mph, then reach up and turn the key to "start" for a few seconds. The starter will read the RPM and not engage, but it will still disrupt power to the stability/traction control systems and disable them until the vehicle is re-started. These may be options on your new truck too.

 

We'll give that a try and report back, thanks.

 

Busboy,
This post has me a little concerned, just when I thought I had my mind made up on a Aisin set up. I live on a mtn pass and drive in snow all the time, this sounds like a recipe for disaster! I wonder how this is when running the truck empty, has your son experienced this braking and downshifting with the truck empty?