Traction control

[Nodnerb]

Anyone else in in winter climates notice kind of a grinding sound when spinning on ice? I notice it only when accelerating on total glare ice and the traction control light flashes. I get this brief grinding sound.

 

[swooshusn]

That's your ABS controlling wheel spin.

 

[Nodnerb]

I didn't realize they relied on the same system. That would make sense though. Thanks.

 

[swooshusn]

Its all based on the individual wheel speed sensors. If one starts spinning faster than the others, brakes are applied.

 

[Nodnerb]

I wouldn't have expected it to pulse the the brake though, which is what I assume creates the sound when abs goes off.

 

[lcann25]

Yeah it takes some getting used to. I don't really like the sound it makes, but it is what it is.

 

[swooshusn]

pulsing the brake prevents lock up, and also minimizes any drastic conditions that may make the driver fight the system. the sound is just the ABS controller doing its job.

 

[phoned]

If it's really icy, you can pop it into 2nd when you are starting off to make life a little easier. Should give less torque and thus less slip.

 

[V8toilet]

That sound is not unique to Mazda. I've had other vehicles that did the same thing.