Question about traction control

[CarolinaGladiator]

So while I was trying to climb a ledge at Windrock Park on Friday the JT acted like the traction control was still on. I was in 4L and had the front wheels up on top of the ledge. I tried to just power my way up with the rear but as the RPMs came up the power just died off. Each time I tried it the same thing would happen. I would get almost to the top of the ledge with the rears and then the RPMs and power would just drop off. The TC was off (at least the light said it was) so I don't understand why I couldn't get the RPMs up and hold them there. I had the transmission in drive. Could it have been the transmission trying to change to 2nd? I didn't notice because I was trying not to tear up anything important. Any ideas?

I've never wheeled an automatic so I have no experience with how they act trying to climb rocks.

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[hjdca]

So while I was trying to climb a ledge at Windrock Park on Friday the JT acted like the traction control was still on. I was in 4L and had the front wheels up on top of the ledge. I tried to just power my way up with the rear but as the RPMs came up the power just died off. Each time I tried it the same thing would happen. I would get almost to the top of the ledge with the rears and then the RPMs and power would just drop off. The TC was off (at least the light said it was) so I don't under stand why I couldn't get the RPMs up and hold them there. I had the transmission in drive. Could it have been the transmission trying to change to 2nd? I didn't notice because I was trying not to tear up anything important. Any ideas?

I've never wheeled an automatic so I have no experience with how they act trying to climb rocks.

My guess would be that you were in the wrong gear at the top of the hill, even though you were in 4WL... Could it be that you started in a lower gear at the bottom of the hill and the truck shifted up to a higher gear, then, it bogged down at the top ? When it bogs down in drive and you give it more gas, ie. floor it, it should downshift to a lower gear and take off at the top of the ledge. This did not happen with you, so, that is perplexing... Try shifting it manually next time. You can start the hill in a higher gear, then, downshift as the hill gets tougher to see what is going on.

 

[CarolinaGladiator]

My guess would be that you were in the wrong gear at the top of the hill, even though you were in 4WL... Could it be that you started in a lower gear at the bottom of the hill and the truck shifted up to a higher gear, then, it bogged down at the top ? When it bogs down in drive and you give it more gas, ie. floor it, it should downshift to a lower gear and take off at the top of the ledge. This did not happen with you, so, that is perplexing... Try shifting it manually next time. You can start the hill in a higher gear, then, downshift as the hill gets tougher to see what is going on.

I was stopped with the front tires already on the ledge. Starting in 1st from a stand still trying to bump the rear over the ledge, when the rear would come up to the top just before clearing the ledge it loose RPMs. Same thing every time.

 

[MarineHawk]

I was stopped with the front tires already on the ledge. Starting in 1st from a stand still trying to bump the rear over the ledge, when the rear would come up to the top just before clearing the ledge it loose RPMs. Same thing every time.

I'd really like to know what the resolution of this is.

I used to have an H2 and wheeled with a bunch of others, and on the really rocky stuff, we would do what's called brake-throttle-modulation (BTM), which completely disabled the traction control and worked well getting over rocks. You just keep the throttle at around 1,700 RPM in 4WL, and vary the brake with your left foot. E.g., when going up a steep rock, let off the brake a bit and it would just ride up it slowly in a non-lurching manner.

 

[CarolinaGladiator]

Yeah me too. I was researching the BLD feature Jeep has but I'm not sure if my JT has it or exactly how it works. It was very frustrating though when my spotter kept saying "Man you almost had it until you let off of it." and I kept telling him I hadn't. The damn thing just did it by itself. Not to mention that I was still not over the ledge.

 

[Renegade]

Yeah me too. I was researching the BLD feature Jeep has but I'm not sure if my JT has it or exactly how it works. It was very frustrating though when my spotter kept saying "Man you almost had it until you let off of it." and I kept telling him I hadn't. The damn thing just did it by itself. Not to mention that I was still not over the ledge.

All JTs/JLs have the BLD feature, and I have also experienced what you describe. I believe using the "Off Road +" setting should allow more wheelspin before the system engages the brakes (if it does at all) in effort to transfer power to the wheel with more traction.

 

[CarolinaGladiator]

All JTs/JLs have the BLD feature, and I have also experienced what you describe. I believe using the "Off Road +" setting should allow more wheelspin before the system engages the brakes (if it does at all) in effort to transfer power to the wheel with more traction.

Awesome. Mine is not a Rubicon so no Off Road+ for me.

It is good to know however that the BLD is there. I'm unfamiliar with it so I'm unsure if that was what I was experiencing but from what I've read it's not. Still though, I'm unsure. My understanding of it is that if I apply steady even pressure to the fuel the system will do it's thing without any extra input from me. Would this cause the RPMs to die off?

It didn't feel like brakes being applied. The RPMs went down in relation to the wheels, not just the reduction in wheel speed that I feel like BLD should bring about. This really felt like the TC kicking in and killing the power to the wheels. The JT automatically turns off the TC and stability control when the transfer case goes into 4L and the light was on confirming the TC was off. Is there something I'm over looking?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

This is what one site says -

The BLD feature is an automatic process and is active when in 4H or 4L modes. It is part of the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) / Traction Control systems.
To effectively use the BLD system the driver should slowly and gradually apply more throttle when they enter a situation where a wheel is slipping. This will allow the sensors to determine the need to apply the brake to the slipping wheels while at the same time generating the necessary power and torque to send to the wheels with traction.

 

[CarolinaGladiator]

Then that definitely wasn't the issue. I lost almost all power to the wheels just like when TC kicks in.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Then that definitely wasn't the issue. I lost almost all power to the wheels just like when TC kicks in.

So let me see if I can get this right - I'll compare to when I tried hard to show off a bit with my Silverado, smack the throttle hard and swing around a corner - and instead of spinning tires and making some noise - it felt like the gas was being shut off - the engine actually slowed and stopped responding to me............. I couldn't burn rubber with that truck for nuttin' - even though I had the HP and torque in that LS engine to really go.
On the other hand, on my slick up-hill driveway, I felt at times like the truck was walking up the drive without a care - likely the BLD effect.

Anyway, what you describe it did on the rocks doesn't sound right....... abnormal. More like what my Chevy did when I tried to show-off a bit with it.

 

[MarineHawk]

This is what one site says -

The BLD feature is an automatic process and is active when in 4H or 4L modes. It is part of the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) / Traction Control systems.
To effectively use the BLD system the driver should slowly and gradually apply more throttle when they enter a situation where a wheel is slipping. This will allow the sensors to determine the need to apply the brake to the slipping wheels while at the same time generating the necessary power and torque to send to the wheels with traction.

Rubicons don't have BLD, do they?

If not, I'm happy. Sorry for the brief fit of narcissistic self interest.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Rubicons don't have BLD, do they?

If not, I'm happy. Sorry for the brief fit of narcissistic self interest.

This is from the WRANGLER people - I'd assume Gladiator is the same but that's an ASSUMPTION only..........
(I don't know why they would not - it's actually a GOOD feature - the OP's issue isn't related to BSD IMO)

Which models have it?

All Jeep Wranglers (JKs) have BLD. This includes: Sport, Sport S, Willys, Sahara, and Rubicon.

 

[361Sean]

I didn't think the rubicons had it because they have lockers.

Also, I dont have my JT yet so that could be a dumb statement.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

They do. They actually work together, compliment each other.

https://blog.fcanorthamerica.com/2008/02/11/jeep-brake-traction-control-explained/

 

[CarolinaGladiator]

So let me see if I can get this right - I'll compare to when I tried hard to show off a bit with my Silverado, smack the throttle hard and swing around a corner - and instead of spinning tires and making some noise - it felt like the gas was being shut off - the engine actually slowed and stopped responding to me............. I couldn't burn rubber with that truck for nuttin' - even though I had the HP and torque in that LS engine to really go.
On the other hand, on my slick up-hill driveway, I felt at times like the truck was walking up the drive without a care - likely the BLD effect.

Anyway, what you describe it did on the rocks doesn't sound right....... abnormal. More like what my Chevy did when I tried to show-off a bit with it.

You got it. Just like trying to spin the tires and the fuel shutting off, and it was doing it with the TC off and T-case in 4L.

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