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Re: Hm... TCS dilemma Posted by Ari [Email]  (#2847) [Profile/Gallery]
(more from Ari) on Fri, 30 Nov 2001 16:45:35
In Reply to: Hm... TCS dilemma, Tim B., Fri, 30 Nov 2001 15:16:26 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
Step back and take a deep breath - -
It's not like all TCS-equipped cars spend 90% of the time stuck on the side of the road, with the owners looking for rocks to bash the engine. The great majority of TCS-equipped cars work just fine. On occasion, the TCS acts up on some cars, and most of those problems can be easily addressed by cleaning the connector contacts or replacing an inexpensive vacuum valve. If TCS-equipped cars were that bad, they would have been scrapped long ago. It's not like folks have let all of them sit in the garage for the past 8 years, waiting for you to come along.
In a small number of cars, the TCS is a real problem where nobody seems to be able to get it to work right. Maybe they've never found the right mechanic, and maybe the car is just possessed by demons. The technical term for those cars is a 'lemon.' It's very reasonable that those folks are very upset at having their car not work, and having it not work at the most inopportune time. If my car were like that, I'd scream too. But because a few people have real problems with their cars, don't assume ALL the cars will have the problems.
You know when the TCS acts up, because (1) the TCS light will come on in non-slippery situations, and (2) the system drops into Limp-home mode, where the engine power is severely cut back. You WILL know when there is a TCS problem.
Since the TCS is essentially a drive-by-wire system, it has LOTS of safeguards in it. And that's the problem. If it thinks anything is wrong, it assumes the worst and cuts back on power big-time. You still have the capability to limp-home, just very slowly. You don't want to drive a car in limp-home mode for long. But if you find out what's causing the problem, you fix it. Usually this is because of a dirty connection at the pedal sensor or the like.
As mentioned, most cars don't have TCS problems, and most of those that do are fixable. What you want to avoid is the car with a chronic problem. So look at the service records of the car. Have they brought the car in for TCS problems? If they've brought it in a couple of times over the past 8 years, that's no biggie. If it's been in the shop 8 times in the last year for TCS-related problems, find another car. Heck, if it's been in the shop 8 times for the same problem, no matter what that problem is, find another car.
So - drive the car. You can't miss a TCS problem when it happens. Check the records. If they've had it serviced at a dealership, you should be able to go to the dealership with the VIN and get a printout of every service ever done on the car - not just Service Recalls, but the little stuff, like replacing light bulbs. Look for "serviced TCS" or "CUstomer complained of lack of power with TCS light", and other clues.
If the car drives well, and the records show the car isn't a TCS lemon, complain bitterly to the seller that TCS is a bomb waiting to go off, and bargain the price down another grand. Then buy the car and drive happy.
Good luck!
posted by 140.157....
, Fri, 30 Nov 2001 16:45:35 <-- Viewing This Message
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