I have searched the forum and not found an answer to my problem so please have patience. I'm a new owner (one month) of a 2007 Enthusiast with 40,000 miles. I noticed when driving in the rain I have to be careful not to break the rear tires loose when accelerating. I thought the traction control system was supposed to prevent this. I have turned the TCS on and off to see if there is any difference but I can't detect any changes. I see the slippage light come on but my thinking is its to late at that point. Does the 350Z TCS system not really limit wheelspin?
BTW, the previous owner mounted 245's on both the front and rear wheels. Could this prevent the TCS system from working properly? I guess new "rain friendly" tires are next.

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

Instead of rain friendly tires, consider getting some driver training. It's really basic stuff....if you don't want the tires to spin, don't mash the accelerator (that's the one on the right) so hard.

Are you having problems with the tires skidding when you apply the brakes, too?

Oh, and welcome to the forum.

 

My z has no tcs and i have no problems in the rain with summer tires

 

the tcs will retard the throttle and slightly apply the brakes.... turn it off and when making a turn pop the clutch in second gear..... then turn it on and do the same thing.. you will definately see what it does

 

^^ Are you certain that TCS will “slightly apply the brakes.”

I don’t think that is true.

--Spike

 

Just don't mash the gas. You can't let the car's computer hold your hand and help you be a good driver.

 

pretty sure you're pissing the tcs system off by running a squared set up, too. .. but, disregarding that, it's not a system that allows you to just mash the gas 100% without wheel spin. you have to modulate the gas pedal yourself, TCS just saves you from yourself when you go too stupid.

since you mentioned 'rain friendly' tires, and you live in texas.. keep in mind, Summer tires can still out perform all season tires in the rain. it's highly unlikely you'd want all season tires on your Z.

 

i read that somewhere, so i am not 100% about it.... but then i dont usually have mine on, unless it is raining or snowing (which never happens in texas)

 

Hi John, Can you tell use the exact tire sizes you have on your car.

Note: 245 does not provide enough information. We need to know the width and the series, and the wheel size (front and rear).

We can provide better help if we have this information.

Thanks... --Spike

 

found this, my 08 has the vdc, not the tcs. i would think that the 07 would be the same

"VDC enhanced vehicle stability and improved performance in emergency avoidance maneuvers regardless of the road surface or weather conditions. Working with the antilock and traction-control systems, VDC could reduce engine torque or apply individual brakes as necessary to stabilize the car under severe cornering situations."

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/nissan-350z-design3.htm

 

That might be with VDC, someone correct me if I'm wrong because my car doesn't have VDC. TCS definitely does not do this though.

 

TCS detects a differential rotation speed between front and rear tires, and kills power if the rears begin spinning, but it doesn’t apply the brakes.

VDC incorporates TCS to kill power if the rear tires begin spinning, and additionally VDC will apply braking to the appropriate corner(s) to keep the car moving in a straight line.

Nissan’s TCS and VDC are very reliable.

--Spike

 

^^ It sounds as though your car has VDC. VDC will apply brakes in a fashion that keeps your car going straight (in the same path that the front tires are pointing).
_______________________________________
You said: “found this, my 08 has the vdc, not the tcs.”

RE> That is not true. A 350z with VDC has TCS in addition. TCS controls acceleration by killing power in the event of a rear wheel slip during acceleration, and VDC applies braking at the appropriate corners(s) to maintain straight line direction.

--Spike

 

so i was wrong about the tcs, but right on the vdc which my car has... wouldnt the 07 be the same?

edit: okay so i just learned something.... thank you spike, thought it was one or the other, not both

 

Only if the '07 had VDC.

The VDC feature was Model specific, but not Year specific. In other words certain Models had VDC or TCS, or only ABS, but only all years had ABS.

--Spike

NOTE: Newer cars from all manufacturers are trending towards electronic stability controls.

 

gotcha, mine is the touring....

thanks again for the info

 

Thanks for the clarification. I understand now.

I’m amazed how well VDC functions. I’m in Minnesota and drive year around. Even with 4 studless snow tires I’ve managed to put myself into a bad spot a couple of times, and Nissan’s VDC has definitely saved me.

After experiencing Nissan’s great stability control system, I made certain the Jeep I purchased had comparable features.

--Spike

 

minneSNOWta.... my ex lives up there, kinda glad it didnt work out, too dang cold up there for me

 

anyway, very informative post for me....

 

^^ I’m certain you will get this.

Minnesota has terrible weather. We are starting winter now, and it’s already sub-zero wind chill this week (in November…). Summer brings high humidity and uncomfortably high temperatures. Minnesotans battle with tick bites (and the consequential diseases, i.e., Lyme’s Disease).

You wonder why anyone lives here. I guess that we live here because we were born here.

--Spike