Here's the deal. The pavement was wet, and I gunned it to get out into traffic. One tire starts spinning, and I'm grinning ear to ear. All of a sudden, the engine cuts out, tire stops spinning, and then the engine resumes. Is this the so-called traction control, or a governor?

 

Traction control....

 

yep just the trac. cont. i got happy/scarred too when that happend with me. gunned it cus all the cars at the 4 way stop were looking at each other like.....do i go? who's next? did that car just cut in? oh geez it was like 20 questions..i said the hell with it and next thing i knew...i had busted out a FRED FLINSTONE..YABBA DABBA DOOOO!!!!!

 

On my other cars, traction-assist can be manually turned OFF. :twothumbs

sometimes life calls for a smoke show

 

I think it can be defeated by pulling up *slightly* on the e-brake handle, just enough to turn on the dash light, but not enough to engage the brakes.

 

On a 2007 if you put it in low gear (L), it will turn the traction control off for first and second gear.

 

Thanks for the replies! I'll try those suggestions next time.

 

Traction control works by applying the brakes. This is what I found on the Impala I used to own "It's called differential score protection. GM figured we'd turn TC off and try burnouts and such, so they put this in place to make sure we didn't grenade the transmission and driveshafts.

It's especially easy to replicate when turning with TC off. As soon as the inner tire comes off the ground and spins, DSP kicks in to make sure that when it catches it doesn't shatter into pieces.

However, you can make it happen going straight on dry pavement too by applying enough throttle to get the tires to spin with TC off, then letting off the throttle some as they begin to grip...once it senses grip...if it gets GOOD grip...it will engage and make you hit your face on the steering wheel"

I wasn't sure if HHR has it, but sounds like it from the description. It was especially embarrassing on the 303HP beast Impala I got to go fast, that when you nail it from stop, the engine cuts out , can leave you in some seriosly dangerous situations.

 

Traction Control on the HHR just decreases throttle and ignition timing when wheelspin is sensed.

 

TC in the HHR sux...
Going to work fri. morning nice & slick out. Big hill down then up the other side. No one in front of me. Get a run going down then started up the other side, got about 2/3 up the hill then the TC kicks in. Wasn't sure I was going to make it - by the time I got to the crest, it was down to about 3mph and couldn't get it off idle. Did I say TC sux? Oh yeah, stil got the OEM Firestone Firehawks. Boy do they blow too.