Re: Traction Control

[Len Sabatine <sabatine@epix.net>]

At 09:11 PM 9/23/00 -0400, you wrote:
> I'm interested in improving traction on snow and ice more than reducing 
> wheel spin on a hard launch.  Would a custom torque converter help 
> here?  Can you tell me more about it?  I'm not real familiar with how a 
> torque converter works.
>
> I'm considering some firmware techniques to reduce power for winter 
> driving.  Maybe retarding spark a little or missing an ignition pulse.  Is 
> anyone doing this kind of stuff?
> This will be my first winter in the Z,  and I'm a little concerned about 
> getting stuck in the snow.
>
> Bill
>
>  It's easier and less expensive to change the torque converter;  The 
> production torque converter in F car A4 is very " tight ,low stall "  2x
>  torque multiplier. which is no help in slick operating conditions, Touch 
> the throttle , tires spin easily.
>  We normally replace it with a custom built unit  , which has (looser) 
> "higher stall / slip ratio , Engine RPMs up before tires spin .
> The combination , combined with appropriate "All Weather" tires ,greatly 
> improves control and traction , without compromising
   overall driveability or fuel economy.   As  default,  "hard launch" on 
dry pavement is improved , as well.
   The basic idea here is to reduce tire spin , in Snow ,Or the Green 
Light Gran Prix. This approach applies to nearly any vehicle which
has a off idle responsive engine / power train profile.   Glare Ice is 
trouble in ANY case , unless equipped with studded tires, if legal in
your locale.  A full Fuel tank and a 50lb bag of rock salt in F car hatch 
cavern won't hurt winter traction in any case. We are straying from
EFI content here , Torque converters are a subject all to themselves , and 
a complex one at that.
Len






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