Grand Am SE "ETS" system

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Just bought my daughter an '01 Grand Am SE. I had her call a Pontiac dealer service department to find out if the ETS button on the dash should be run "ON" (no dashboard light indication) or "OFF" (dashboard light indicates "TRAC OFF"). The mechanic stated he runs his "ON" at all times, that it provides better traction, and that he only turns it off occasionally to make sure it still engages and disengages as it should.

Maybe I'm just remembering my old Jeep 4X4 days but, dry pavement driving with 4wd engaged could damage or wear drive parts.

No owners manual was provided with the car.

Pros/Cons? of driving with ETS on/off? Wear/tear?

Any help would be appreciated, THANKS.

J Patrick
Boise, Idaho
JPat47@msn.com
 
ETS will take the power off the wheel that is spinning and put it to the opposite wheel. It will also cut back the power to the engine until the traction has returned. About two weeks ago we got about 4" of wet snow in VT. My ETS kicked on and the car tracked well, but I my speed was reducing due to the engine being cut back. Normally a reasonable person would want to slow down in bad weather, I am on fire/rescue and was responding to a call. Turned the ETS off and I had to hold on tight to keep the car from drifting side to side. Put the ETS back on and it tracked well. My suggestion would be to leave it on unless you need to keep the engine from cutting back, i.e. stuck in the mud and trying to get out.
 
Correction! It doesnt not transfer the power from one wheel to the other. What it does is detect wheel slippage. When it does this the computer responds with retarding the spark timing and in doing so it reduces power and torque to the drive wheels limiting wheel spin.
 
One thing I noticed with the ETS off is that my mileage is increased. And with ever fluctuating gas prices, that's never a bad thing. But it is a good system to have in bad weather. I live in New Brunswick Canada and last winter I ran on all seasons and never had a problem.
 
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