Is traction control suppose to be on at all times?

[2010T4RTRAIL]

My mother just bought a 2011 Camry SE and when she went to pick it uop and the sales person was going through it with her he told her that Traction Control should only be used when its raining, snowing or shes stuck in the snow or mud. Is this true? Should the traction control only be on when in these sort of condtions and be off when driving on a dry surface?

 

[Carl_G]

My mother just bought a 2011 Camry SE and when she went to pick it uop and the sales person was going through it with her he told her that Traction Control should only be used when its raining, snowing or shes stuck in the snow or mud. Is this true? Should the traction control only be on when in these sort of condtions and be off when driving on a dry surface?

Leave it on. That's why an orange warning light appears if you turn it off. Who told her this? It's totally irresponsible.

Do not turn it off.

 

[BradleyB]

Someone is confused

My mother just bought a 2011 Camry SE and when she went to pick it uop and the sales person was going through it with her he told her that Traction Control should only be used when its raining, snowing or shes stuck in the snow or mud. Is this true? Should the traction control only be on when in these sort of condtions and be off when driving on a dry surface?

I think you'll find (in the manual, for example) that Traction Control is always ON by default. The salesman's point should have been to turn it OFF, to take the computer's decision to apply the brakes when it detects slipping out of the mix, which should give more consistent power to the tires when they are liable to slipping in mud and snow. Best to leave it ON by default. Override the computer and turn it off when starting in/driving though mud and snow. I'd leave it on in the rain--don't know what that was about. Every time you/she starts the car, Traction Control will be on. Holding down the button overrides it, turns it off, and the light should be giving you some status that it is off. Next time you start the car, it'll be on again.

Does this help?
Brad

 

[2010T4RTRAIL]

I think you'll find (in the manual, for example) that Traction Control is always ON by default. The salesman's point should have been to turn it OFF, to take the computer's decision to apply the brakes when it detects slipping out of the mix, which should give more consistent power to the tires when they are liable to slipping in mud and snow. Best to leave it ON by default. Override the computer and turn it off when starting in/driving though mud and snow. I'd leave it on in the rain--don't know what that was about. Every time you/she starts the car, Traction Control will be on. Holding down the button overrides it, turns it off, and the light should be giving you some status that it is off. Next time you start the car, it'll be on again.

Does this help?
Brad

Brad,
Thats exactly as I thought but my father is arguing with me saying that mine should not be on and that it should only be used when needed. Is the traction control system different on the camry then the 4runner. Like on the 4runner its always on but camry its always off and you have to turn it on if you need it?

 

[scanny]

Brad,
Thats exactly as I thought but my father is arguing with me saying that mine should not be on and that it should only be used when needed. Is the traction control system different on the camry then the 4runner. Like on the 4runner its always on but camry its always off and you have to turn it on if you need it?

You never know when you need to use it, that why it should be ON all the time. Computer activates it only if necessary. I think it's true for any vehicle having traction contol.
The only situation when traction control should be off - if you are going through lots of snow or mud. In this case you want to keep your momentum even if you have poor traction, traction control might apply brakes when you don't want it. By the way I'm not sure about Camry, but in 4Runner if you turn off traction control it goes back on at 50 km/h (around 30mph I think).

 

[BradleyB]

Brad,
Thats exactly as I thought but my father is arguing with me saying that mine should not be on and that it should only be used when needed. Is the traction control system different on the camry then the 4runner. Like on the 4runner its always on but camry its always off and you have to turn it on if you need it?

I won't contemplate the possible futility of arguing with your dad, and I do not have first-hand knowledge of the current Camry. It looks as though the 2011 Camry is equipped with Toyota's VSC and TRAC, and I would be beyond surprised if the Camry worked like your dad insists, rather than the way you and I imagine it should. There's always the fascinating manual. If it were my dad, I'd try to find out what page number in the manual he needs to read.

Brad

 

[adio3x]

Does your mom like to race? lol jk.