Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control
System Operation
The vehicle has a Traction Control System (TCS) and StabiliTrak/Electronic Stability Control (ESC). These systems help limit wheel spin and assist the driver in maintaining control, especially on slippery road conditions. TCS activates if it senses that any of the drive wheels are spinning or beginning to lose traction. When this happens, TCS applies the brakes to the spinning wheels and reduces engine power to limit wheel spin. TCS also applies torque to the non-spinning wheel to increase traction and acceleration. StabiliTrak/ESC activates when the vehicle senses a difference between the intended path and the direction the vehicle is actually
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traveling. StabiliTrak/ESC selectively applies braking pressure to any one of the vehicle wheel brakes to assist the driver in keeping the vehicle on the intended path. If cruise control is being used and TCS or StabiliTrak/ESC begins to limit wheel spin, cruise control will disengage. Cruise control may be turned back on when road conditions allow. TCS and StabiliTrak/ESC will automatically turn on when cruise control is set. Both systems come on automatically when the vehicle is started and begins to move. The systems may be heard or felt while they are operating or while performing diagnostic checks. This is normal and does not mean there is a problem with the vehicle. It is recommended to leave both systems on for normal driving conditions, but it may be necessary to turn TCS off if the vehicle gets stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow. See If the Vehicle Is Stuck 0 188 and “Turning the Systems Off and On” later in this section.
The indicator light for both systems is in the instrument cluster. This light will: . Flash when TCS is limiting wheel spin . Flash when StabiliTrak/ESC is activated . Turn on and stay on when either system
is not working If either system fails to turn on or to activate, a message may display in the Driver Information Center (DIC), and d comes on and stays on to indicate that the system is inactive and is not assisting the driver in maintaining control. The vehicle is safe to drive, but driving should be adjusted accordingly. If d comes on and stays on: 1. Stop the vehicle. 2. Turn the engine off and wait 15 seconds. 3. Start the engine. 4. Drive the vehicle.
If d comes on and stays on, the vehicle may need more time to diagnose the problem. If the condition persists, see your dealer.
Turning the Systems Off and On
Caution
Do not repeatedly brake or accelerate heavily when TCS is off. The vehicle driveline could be damaged.
To turn off only TCS, press and release g. The Traction Off light i displays in the instrument cluster and a DIC message may display.
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To turn TCS on again, press and release g. The Traction Off light i displayed in the instrument cluster will turn off. If TCS is limiting wheel spin when g is pressed, the system will not turn off until the wheels stop spinning. To turn off both TCS and StabiliTrak/ESC, press and hold g until the Traction Off light i and StabiliTrak/ESC OFF light g come on and stay on in the instrument cluster. A DIC message may display. To turn TCS and StabiliTrak/ESC on again, press and release g. The Traction Off light i and StabiliTrak/ESC OFF light g in the instrument cluster turn off. StabiliTrak/ESC will automatically turn on if the vehicle exceeds 56 km/h (35 mph). Traction control will remain off. Adding accessories can affect the vehicle performance. See Accessories and Modifications 0 247.
Driver Mode Control
If equipped, the Driver Mode Control has the following Modes: Tour (FWD), Sport, All-Wheel Drive (AWD), Snow, Tow/Haul, and Off-Road. Rotate the Driver Mode Control knob on the center console to make a mode selection. Continue turning the knob through the available modes. The selected mode’s icon will light up on the knob. If the vehicle is in Tour (FWD) or AWD, it will stay in that mode through future ON/ OFF cycles. If the vehicle is in any other mode, it will revert back to Tour (FWD) when the vehicle is restarted.
Driver Mode Control Knob
5 orq Tour : Vehicle is in Tour (FWD) mode. Use this mode during normal driving conditions. See Driving for Better Fuel Economy 0 179. Tour (FWD) mode operates in Front-Wheel Drive to improve fuel economy. 8
Sport : Sport mode improves vehicle handling and acceleration on dry pavement. When active, Sport mode modifies steering efforts, transmission shifting, AWD torque, suspension tuning (when equipped), and StabiliTrak/Electronic Stability Control (ESC) settings. For vehicles equipped with AWD, choosing Sport mode also engages AWD. 4
AWD (AWD Only) : AWD mode provides drive torque to all four wheels. Select AWD to improve traction and control on slippery road surfaces, such as gravel, sand, wet pavement, snow, and ice. When in AWD mode, the AWD mode indicator will be on. AWD is active in AWD, Sport, and Off-Road modes. 6
Snow (FWD Only) : Snow mode improves vehicle acceleration on snow and ice covered roads by changing accelerator pedal response.
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Tow/Haul : This feature can assist when towing a heavy load. Use this mode to assist in maintaining desired vehicle speeds when driving on downhill grades by using the engine and transmission. When active, Tow/Haul mode modifies transmission shifting, suspension tuning, steering effort, and Trailer Sway Control. For AWD vehicles, choosing Tow/Haul mode also engages AWD. See Driving Characteristics and Towing Tips 0 235.
Automatic Engine Grade Braking
Automatic Engine Grade Braking assists when driving downhill. It maintains vehicle speed by automatically implementing a shift pattern that uses the engine and the transmission to slow the vehicle. The system will automatically command downshifts to reduce vehicle speed. The normal shift pattern will return once the vehicle is on a low grade or when the accelerator pedal is pressed. While in the Electronic Range Select (ERS) mode, grade braking is deactivated, allowing the driver to select a range and limiting the highest gear available. Grade braking is available for normal driving and in Tow/ Haul mode.
See Automatic Transmission 0 199. 7
Off-Road (AWD Only) : Use this mode for off-road recreational driving. When active, Off-Road mode modifies accelerator pedal response, ABS, TCS, and the StabiliTrak/ESC system. Choosing Off-Road mode also engages AWD. For more information on Off-Road mode, see Off-Road Driving 0 182.
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