Traction Control System (TCS) (Mondeo 1)

Vehicles equipped with engines with a displacement of over 2.0 liters are equipped with the TCS (Traction-Control-System) anti-skid system.

The TCS system is a logical continuation of the ABS anti-lock system, which prevents the wheels from locking during braking, ensuring controllability and stability during braking.

TCS prevents wheel spin when starting off, during sudden acceleration and in adverse driving conditions, such as a slippery road on one side, when turning, or when changing lanes unexpectedly, ensuring optimum driving stability with increased traction.

TCS operates at two different levels. If one or both drive wheels begin to slip, the corresponding wheel/wheels are braked. In addition, the drive torque at the wheels is also automatically reduced (the throttle valve is closed).

ABS components such as wheel sensors and hydraulic system are also used by the traction control system. In addition, only two additional control valves are required to open or close both diagonal circuits as needed.

Based on the signals from the wheel sensors, the speed of all four wheels is determined and processed in the common ABS and TCS control unit.

When one of the drive wheels starts to slip, the pressure in the corresponding wheel brake increases and the wheel is automatically braked. If the pressure increases to such a value that there is no further increase in the number of wheel revolutions, it is maintained constant. When the wheel starts to rotate with optimum slip, the pressure in the system is released. In this way, the wheel always remains in the area of optimum traction. The braking action is the same as a locked differential. Simultaneous slip of both wheels is regulated in the same way.

At speeds below 50 km/h, TCS operates as a combination of brake action and throttle control. At speeds above 50 km/h, the system operates purely on throttle control. When TCS is activated, a control lamp on the instrument panel lights up, signaling to the driver that the car is near the physical limit of the wheels' adhesion to the road.

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