System Description - Acura 3.5 RL Manual

System Description

Outline
Role of System
The traction control is a variable system designed to enhance traction during acceleration and cornering. It does so by
determining the optimum amount of wheel spin for any given driving situation, then suppressing surplus engine power
accordingly.
Construction and Function
The TCS control unit gets signals about the vehicle's speed, direction, and road conditions from sensors at the wheels and
the steering column. Based on these signals, the control unit will determine the optimum amount of wheel spin. Because
the system is variable, the control unit may determine, depending on the driving conditions, that some wheel spin is bene-
ficial (thus enhancing straight-line acceleration), or that no wheel spin is beneficial (thus enhancing cornering). For any
given driving situation, the control unit will determine the amount of wheel spin best suited to the driver's needs and, if
necessary, will then signal the TCS control valve actuator and Powertrain Control Module (PCM) to reduce engine power.
The system is automatically "ready" whenever the engine is started, but can be manually canceled with the TCS switch.
However, once activated, the system cannot be canceled until it is once again in the ready state.
Components:
Wheel sensors: The TCS "shares" the wheel sensors with the ABS. The wheel sensors transmit wheel speed signals to
the TCS through the ABS control unit.
Steering angle sensor: The steering angle sensor signals the TCS control unit about the amount of steering angle.
TCS control valve sensor: The TCS control valve sensor signals the TCS control unit about the amount of TCS control
valve angle.
TCS control valve actuator: The actuator gets signals from the TCS control unit and closes the TCS control valve
accordingly.
TCS control unit: The TCS control unit detects the driving condition signals from the sensors and, if necessary, signals
the Powertrain Control Module (PCM).