2006 Saab 9-3 Owner's Manual - Page 183
2006 Saab 9-3 Manual
Page 183 highlights
Starting and driving 183 Hill Start Assist (HSA) 3 Traction Control System (TCS) (Hillstarting assistance) This function facilitates starting on a hill. When the parking brake has been released and the foot is moved off the brake pedal it can take approx. 1.5 s before the brakes release. The brakes release as soon as the accelerator pedal is depressed within this time. Anti-spin system that one or both of the wheels would lose their grip were the car not equipped with the TCS, e.g.: • When the car is pulling away or accelerating with the front wheels on different surfaces (e.g. one slippery and one dry), the TCS functions like an electronic differential lock, making sure that both wheels rotate at the same speed. The system also functions when the car is reversing. • When cornering, if the inside front wheel rotates faster than the other wheels. WARNING When driving normally, the TCS system helps to improve the car's directional stability. The TCS must not be regarded as a system to enable the driver to maintain higher speeds. The same precautions must be adopted as normal for safe cornering and driving on slippery roads. TCS OFF lights up under the speedometer if: • a fault has been detected and the system has therefore been switched off • there is a fault in the ABS system • the system has been switched off manually. How the system works The Traction Control System (TCS) is designed to prevent wheelspin. This enables the car to achieve the best possible grip and, hence, maximum tractive effort, together with greater stability. The TCS uses information from the ABS wheel sensors to detect when the front (driving) wheels are rotating faster then the rear wheels. If the two front wheels are rotating faster than the rear wheels, the torque from the engine is reduced to eliminate the difference. The process continues until all the wheels are rotating at the same speed. The advantages of the TCS become most apparent when the cohesion between the front wheels and the road surface is so low