My TL wagon had problems with the TCL solenoid before and I replaced it with a secondhand one and the problems went away. Well, it seems the dreaded 'TLC off' and check engine light come on intermittently again now.

I'm thinking rather than find another used solenoid (which may fail also), perhaps I could disable the TCL so I don't get the warning lights anymore? I know its probably illegal or something, but I am the only driver of this car and other models of the same car don't have this feature. I find the TCL a PITA anyway as it cuts in too early and too much, it has caught me out on intersections where its cut the throttle just as I needed it.

*UPDATE*

I thought it would be ok to leave the TCL intermittently not working properly with the 'TCL off' light coming on sometimes, as I can drive the car without traction control. But, today whilst giving it a bootful to turn right into traffic the TCL actually kicked in then stayed on! (ie. total loss of power). Lucky I had enough momentum to carry the car across the intersection but otherwise the engine was stuck just above idle and I had no control.

Limped home at about 10kmh.

The problem I had is with the vacuum solenoid and I believe it would intermittently be stuck causing the error light. Usually it would be stuck 'off' so with no TCL that was ok, but it seems that it can also be stuck 'on' meaning it cuts power permanently.

I've fixed it now by unplugging the top vacuum hose to the TCL vacuum solenoid, and now it all works and I don't even get any error lights. I've probably created a vacuum leak now but everything seems to run ok.

So moral of the story.... If you have TCL and its playing up, do something about it! Either fix it or disable it otherwise it can lead to a potentially dangerous situation.

*UPDATE*

I've read in other member's threads that they've found it can be due to a faulty alternator, I'd consider trying that before removing traction control from your car.
I also had the dreaded TCL light pop up on my GTV when I first bought it at 120k, I replaced the solenoid however it has shown up once since randomly on a really warm night.
My opinion, just buy a whole bunch of solenoids from ebay, gumtree and the wreckers, they're cheap and easy to replace.

My opinion, just buy a whole bunch of solenoids from ebay, gumtree and the wreckers, they're cheap and easy to replace.

pfft...


or find someone who can reprogram your ecu to disable the TCL...easy

pfft...


or find someone who can reprogram your ecu to disable the TCL...easy

Something about removing traction control in a V6 FWD car seems a bit scary to me.

pfft...


or find someone who can reprogram your ecu to disable the TCL...easy


Something about removing traction control in a V6 FWD car seems a bit scary to me.

omg...seriously.....learn to drive properly then

omg...seriously.....learn to drive properly then

Agreed! I'd rather have a decent chirp on takeoff than have the car bog down because the TCL doesn't want you to torture those precious tyres - never mind that traffic bearing down on you!

omg...seriously.....learn to drive properly then

I'm a RWD fanboy honestly, love the feeling of sliding out the back but torque steering isn't my forte.

Agreed! I'd rather have a decent chirp on takeoff than have the car bog down because the TCL doesn't want you to torture those precious tyres - never mind that traffic bearing down on you!

Agree totally. The TCL on these are way too intrusive. So reprogram ecu the only way? No way to fool the ecu to thinking the TCL is still there on startup? I find it's only when first starting occasionally the 'TCL off' light is on and stays on for that drive. At all other times it's ok, ie. Never comes on during a drive.

I'm a RWD fanboy honestly, love the feeling of sliding out the back but torque steering isn't my forte.

I have two TL Magnas, one is my work wagon and the other is an AWD, the wagon loses traction in the blink of an eye from takeoff. I can give the AWD some stick and have no wheel spin at all and gets up to speed quicker than the wagon at takeoff.

*UPDATE*

I thought it would be ok to leave the TCL intermittently not working properly with the 'TCL off' light coming on sometimes, as I can drive the car without traction control. But, today whilst giving it a bootful to turn right into traffic the TCL actually kicked in then stayed on! (ie. total loss of power). Lucky I had enough momentum to carry the car across the intersection but otherwise the engine was stuck just above idle and I had no control.

Limped home at about 10kmh.

The problem I had is with the vacuum solenoid and I believe it would intermittently be stuck causing the error light. Usually it would be stuck 'off' so with no TCL that was ok, but it seems that it can also be stuck 'on' meaning it cuts power permanently.

I've fixed it now by unplugging the top vacuum hose to the TCL vacuum solenoid, and now it all works and I don't even get any error lights. I've probably created a vacuum leak now but everything seems to run ok.

So moral of the story.... If you have TCL and its playing up, do something about it! Either fix it or disable it otherwise it can lead to a potentially dangerous situation.

*UPDATE*

Something about removing traction control in a V6 FWD car seems a bit scary to me.

LOL what? And what about the cars that don't have TCL from factory. And all the cars that existed in past history


I have two TL Magnas, one is my work wagon and the other is an AWD, the wagon loses traction in the blink of an eye from takeoff. I can give the AWD some stick and have no wheel spin at all and gets up to speed quicker than the wagon at takeoff.

I'd say thats a tyre or suspension problem. I've had others drive my KF and the conclusion is that power is right up there with what it should be making. And I can prove it with acceleration and top speed tests (but lets leave that out of the discussion)
I can jam my foot to the floor at the lights and i'll get tyre spin but if its dry its not uncontrollable, if I lift off slightly then back on its fine. I can typically launch the car quickly no problem, once i'm moving the foot can pretty much go right down. I can make it break traction in corners but again its not unwieldy, easy enough to get good acceleration and maintain it