Re: Traction Control question

S1500 wrote:
> El Gordo wrote:
>> Hi,
>>
>> I was just wondering what the ASC uses to control the car.  Does it 
>> cut back on the throttle, or does it apply the brakes?
>>
>> With winter driving here in Canada, the ASC kicks in a lot.  If it's 
>> using the brakes then I think I'd want to turn it off on those extra 
>> slippery days.
>>
>> Thanks for any info.
>>
>> '05 Cooper S, if it makes any difference.
>>
> You mean DSC? If slip = reduces throttle.
> 
> It's snowy here in MN, and I turn it off all the time now. Otherwise 
> getting to my destination would take forever.

My '03 has DSC and except in deep snow I leave DSC on. There is one hill 
that I absolutely could not make it up except for DSC keeping the car 
reasonably straight despite my best efforts to divert the car into the 
ditch. If DSC is off the tires spin no matter how little throttle I give 
and how few steering inputs I provide.

It works on both brakes and throttle. But since it is ABS I do not 
understand from the original post why the problem with it using the 
brakes?  Unless you are on sheer ice or deep snow I find ABS to work 
better than I have ever been able to cope with it (and I have been 
driving/racing for years now).