Stability control and/or Traction control

[White Knight23]

Hello Legacy lovers,

I just got a 96 gt-b wagon jdm, and it is greaaaaaat!
My first concern, and I'm hoping it will be a quick fuse removal, is the the stability control and/or traction control system preventing me from having fun in the rain and gravel.

I'm sure I didn't just buy the only Suby with a 'NO FUN' rule in effect.

Please help!

Thank you

[Wiscon_Mark]

There's not TCM/ESP/TCS type button to switch it off? That's a pretty common feature in cars with a traction control system.

I'm sure there's a way to bypass it, but I'm not sure if this will effect the ABS system or not. My understanding is that the systems share sensors. That may not be a concern for you though.

I don't think we had TCS in Subarus here (or it was a rare option) in the US in the BD/BK/BG generation.

[White Knight23]

No buttons that I can find. Unless they we're super sneaky about it.
Im not too worried about losing abs if it means i can have a bit of un-regulated fun.
I wonder if it would be possible to wire in a switch?

Anyhow, i guess Ill keep searching.

Thanks!!

-Georg
96 Legacy Gt-B JDM 18K kms

[Yamazaki]

If there isn't a 'TCS' switch on the left of the steering column, then you don't have it. The GT-B didn't have it though....

[Wiscon_Mark]

Do you have a TCS light? Or are you experiencing something like the traction control engaging?

Perhaps its the ABS freaking out?

[Yamazaki]

There are separate ABS and TCS lights though.

[White Knight23]

Hmmm,
I havent noticed any lights on the dash. Would it light up when I turn the ignition the first click?
I entered a shakang-like turn on an onramp in the rain the other day, and just tried whipping her into the corner, and just as she broke loose, the brakes and possibly the engine did their thing to bring me back to traction.

Ill try again i suppose, and look for a light.

A similar thing happened when I tried a quick donut in a gravel lot. She just wouldn't brake loose.

Sad face

[Wiscon_Mark]

Do you know what it sounds like when the ABS engages? The traction control noise sounds very similar when you're accelerating and it's kicking in to prevent wheelspin.

[Yamazaki]

I just checked, only the 2WD models had TCS.

[Garrison]

I entered a shakang-like turn on an onramp in the rain the other day

I don't have anything to contribute, but that gave me a hearty laugh. Thanks

[White Knight23]

Well at least something positive came out of this.
Thanks anyway gents.
Still a big mystery.

[camroncamera]

I entered a shakang-like turn on an onramp in the rain the other day

I don't have anything to contribute, but that gave me a hearty laugh. Thanks

OP probably means "chicane"?

[Wiscon_Mark]

Well at least something positive came out of this.
Thanks anyway gents.
Still a big mystery.

You didn't answer my question. I'm still trying to figure out your exact problem.

[White Knight23]

Ah yes.
So when i try to spin the wheels on gravel, there is kind of a shutter as it gets traction. much slower than that of abs.
although i don't recall it shuttering like that when i broke her loose on pavement in the rain that day. she just slowed down, like the brakes were coming on for me.

I should add that in the little cluster of lights that come on just below the speedo and tach, i can see "abs", "tcs", and a little snowflake with "hold" written beside it.

But like i say, there is no tcs button, and i didn't notice the tcs light up when i was attempting to lose traction.

Thank you Mark for your interest and concern!
:smile:

[White Knight23]

I entered a shakang-like turn on an onramp in the rain the other day

I don't have anything to contribute, but that gave me a hearty laugh. Thanks

OP probably means "chicane"?



Lol, yes, I did mean chicane. :oops:

[Wiscon_Mark]

The first part is definitely TCS. The second...not so sure.

I would look for something that says ABS or TCS, pull the fuse and try it out! If it works with no adverse effects, I'd wire up a switch to it :grin:

[Huffer]

I don't think the 96 GTB has TCS. Email your VIN# to Subaru and see if they can give you the factory build sheet, options etc.

[Yamazaki]

I just checked, only the 2WD models had TCS.

Since my previous post seems to have been missed, I'm reposting with my source. Granted, the info is for the '97, but as far as those systems go it's the same as the '96.

I only scanned enough to show what does/doesn't have TCS. I'm not going to scan every model. I also apologize for the pages not lining up perfectly.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/07/th_scan18-1.jpg (http://i426.photobucket.com/albums/pp350/yamazakisubaru/car%20parts%20accessories/Info%20pages/scan18.jpg) https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/07/th_scan19-1.jpg (http://i426.photobucket.com/albums/pp350/yamazakisubaru/car%20parts%20accessories/Info%20pages/scan19.jpg)

[Wiscon_Mark]

I didn't miss what you said - but he didn't say whether his was AWD or not.

Unless I should be assuming that all GT-B models were AWD?

[Yamazaki]

I apologize, I just assumed that the GT-B being AWD was common knowledge. As far as I know, all turbo model Subarus have been AWD.
If they turbo the BRZ then that'll be a milestone for Subaru.

[mike-tracy]

I apologize, I just assumed that the GT-B being AWD was common knowledge. As far as I know, all turbo model Subarus have been AWD.
If they turbo the BRZ then that'll be a milestone for Subaru.

"Milestone" already passed by subaru in the 80s :)
"85-87 XT Turbos were available as either front-wheel drive or part-time four-wheel drive"
I'm thinking some gl-10 turbos were offered the same way, but all I've seen in the j/y were pt-4wd.

[White Knight23]

I appreciate everyones input on the matter.
Yes it is awd. And as far as all info from you guys, as well as the lack of a tcs fuse, suggests that it does not have traction control.
So my question remains;
How and/or why would the car slow itself down while sliding on wet pavement?
I was a little tipsy the other night while doing some research, and seem to recall something about vdc?
Is this the same thing?
Ofcourse now we have nothing but sun here in Vancouver, (highly unusual) so I can't try it again.

;)

[White Knight23]

I don't think the 96 GTB has TCS. Email your VIN# to Subaru and see if they can give you the factory build sheet, options etc.


Will do!
Thank you

[Yamazaki]

I was a little tipsy the other night while doing some research, and seem to recall something about vdc?
Is this the same thing?

;)You don't have VDC. That didn't come out until the BH.


I apologize, I just assumed that the GT-B being AWD was common knowledge. As far as I know, all turbo model Subarus have been AWD.
If they turbo the BRZ then that'll be a milestone for Subaru.

"Milestone" already passed by subaru in the 80s :)
"85-87 XT Turbos were available as either front-wheel drive or part-time four-wheel drive"
I'm thinking some gl-10 turbos were offered the same way, but all I've seen in the j/y were pt-4wd.

Damn! I'm foiled by pre-'90s facts again! :smt019

[Wiscon_Mark]

Your statement still holds true for EJ series Subarus though.

[mike-tracy]

Your statement still holds true for EJ series Subarus though.
But he used a possibly forthcoming "turbo BRZ" (http://jalopnik.com/5865228/subaru-confirms-turbocharged-brz-engine-doesnt-confirm-turbocharged-brz?tag=subarubrz) as an example so I was compelled to poke fun. :grin:




Not exactly the same thing, but there's a discussion about older VTD trannies on the sister site:
http://bbs.legacycentral.org/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=49559
and an explanation of it:
http://legacygt.com/forums/showthread.p ... ml?t=48112 (http://legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php/explanation-continuous-active-and-vtd-awd-systems-honest-attempt-48112.html?t=48112)

It's possible your tranny's vtd setup is fubar'd