Powerboost Electronic Stability Controls (ESC) +Traction Control (TC) Help

[JIMFOUNTAIN]

Ok. I have looked through the forum and not found any helpful details... There are some threads on this but it isn't clear to me if/how they apply to the 2021 MY Powerboost......

I need help understanding the nuances of the F-150 electronic nannies. Ford newbie here (since March 2021 unless you count the surplus 1972 Ford 500 police interceptor). I am very familiar with traction control management in other makes. Specifically GM (2007 Corvette) and Toyota (2008 Tundra).

What I am looking for specifically:

1. A good understanding of the (at least 3) traction/stability settings?
2. What changes, if any, occur when selecting something other than 2WD. Like 4WD. 4A. 4L?
3. Finally, how do the drive modes interact with all these settings (Sport, Eco, Normal, Slippery, Mud, etc.)?

What I have found so far... Pages 284-288 of the owners manual are pathetic. The manual implies - but does not state - that AdvanceTrac (AT) is the umbrella name for the Electronic Stability Controls (ESC), Roll Stability Controls (RSC), Curve Controls, Side Wind Stabilization, and Torque Vectoring by Brakes. The manual talks about turning Traction Control (TC) off and on. Yet the manual also talks about turning AT off and on when it appears to really only allow ESC to be turned off and on (Page 288). Hard to be sure.... But from what I can tell my Platinum Powerboost has at least 3 settings:

1: TC and ESC on - setting and default at start up. Power is cut and brakes applied to limit both wheel spin and understeer/oversteer conditions. Understood. And I am sure we all have experienced it.

2: TC off - push the button once. Indicator light is on. Have used this setting and it does allow wheel spinning. Have not yet had an oversteer situation in this mode but I think this mode will prevent fishtails. What have others experienced? Will this setting prevent all fishtails?

3: AT off - push the button and hold for a countdown period. Same indicator light is on. TC is already off. ESC is not turned off. I have not tested this setting... need a large parking lot or field.. Will this setting allow donuts? And the 2021 F150 manual (page 288) says the TC system can be enabled with tighter or looser thresholds. Anyone figure out what the thresholds are... and how to set? Just holding down the button does a countdown to "AdvanceTrac Off." Which really turns off ESC. Confused yet? I certainly am.

General driveability questions I hope more experienced F150 owners can answer:

1. Is there a way to turn off all the electronic nannies? I elk hunt and sometimes you really need to be flinging a lot of mud and doing some serious 4 wheel drifting .... The drive mode Mud seems to allow flinging but not drifting. Any other way? Deep Sand? Perhaps Mud Mode with ESC off?
2. Deep Snow/Sand Drive mode. Page 329 "This mode optimizes accelerator pedal response, traction and stability controls to
   help maintain forward momentum." - This is the only mode where the manual claims the mode modifies TC and AT settings. Really? I find that hard to believe....It seems Sport Mode changes TC to be slightly more wheel spin lenient. Anyone else experiencing traction and stability control variations by drive mode?
3. I often turn right onto a very busy street from a side street that has a very steep uphill incline. The busy street continues the serious uphill climb for a few hundred yards. When driving this route in my Corvette a button push followed quickly by a push and hold switches to "competitive" drive mode which allows serious wheelspin but will save your bacon if you overcook a corner or drift the tail out past about 20 degrees or so. I am looking for a similar SIMPLE aggressive setting(s) for the F-150 as the F150 is really challenged there when merging into traffic in Normal mode. Sport mode helps some but isn't enough. In Sport Mode if I get some wheel spin in the right rear I lose power for 2-3 secs... BAD. Right now I am having great success using Sport mode (4 clicks left) with TC off (one push) and locking the electronic differential (one push). A hard to light pressure transition with the left foot on the brake (being careful not to roll backward) restarts the ICE and I can then add gas with the right foot to build boost prior to coming off the brake for a hard launch. But it sure is a lot of buttoning and knobbing and tap dancing to extract the performance levels this very fine Ford Powerboost is capable of. Suggestions? How do others extract high levels of performance?
4. Are there any other hidden/secret settings? What do they do? How do you get there? What indicators show you are in that setting?

What I would like to do... Gather details so I can make a detailed chart and post here for myself and others to refer to. Something like Drive Mode + TC/ESC Setting = Results/Behavior. Or some other format that makes sense. I suspect there may even be multiple chart versions because of model and options (2WD, 4WD, 4A, Tremor, Raptor, etc.) variability.

Thanks in advance for your input.

Jim

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[pavementends]

That's a really, really articulate way to ask, "How the hell do I hoon this thing?!", which is something I've been trying to figure out with my new truck, too. Perfect timing for these questions, as it's DUMPING SNOW in SW Idaho today and was able to... uh.... "practice elk hunting maneuvers" on some empty roadways today.

TC off - Does allow some fishtail, but still some audible clicks and pulsing, which must be the torque vectoring by brakes, I assume. I perceive it mutes the throttle response a little in this setting, but maybe not.

TC off + AT off - Quite fishtailable in this setting. No perceived resistance to hangin'er bootie out sideways, especially with the rear diff locked. Can confirm 400hp donuts.

Thanks for doing that research to confirm that Ford doesn't want us to know all the nannies and how to fire them temporarily. Eager to follow updates to this thread...

 

[Oxford_Powerboost]

You seem to have 1 2 and 3 right. I’ll try to add my understanding, with my only experience with fords being a 13 mustang and my 21 Powerboost. The mustang had a similar system to your Vette’s competitive mode, a double tap of the TC off button would enable AT sport mode. The f150 has no such option, given its normal driver demographic.

Push TC off once gives you no traction control, but AdvanceTrac (Ford’s name for electronic stability control) remains on. Your wheels will spin freely as long as the vehicle continues in the intended direction of travel. The only thing that may happen in 4WD is that it will not reduce power, but will brake wheels spinning faster than others to shift power left and right through the diff. If you end up overcooking it and end up in a slide, the AdvanceTrac system will intervene, braking either driver or passenger wheels to pivot the vehicle back into the intended direction of travel, based on the steering angle. While it does this, it may brake the spinning wheels to regain traction with the same goal of going straight again. Pushing TC off quickly again will turn traction control back on.

Push the TC off button and hold for 10-15 seconds will show “AdvanceTrac off.” This means that both traction control and AT have been turned off. The only nanny you have left is ABS, which is not defeat-able without pulling fuses and such. This is your donut mode. It will still apply brakes for brake based torque vectoring.

Drive modes are much more complex and not explained by Ford, but I will do my best to articulate my understanding from doing way more research into this type of thing than I’d like to admit…my descriptions below will assume you are not touching the TC button and allowing the system to work as default.


Normal - 2Hi; diff unlocked - traction control and AT active. Normal shift pattern, normal throttle response. Traction control is moderately aggressive and AT is very aggressive.

Tow/Haul - 2Hi; diff unlocked - same as normal, but with adjusted shift strategy. The trailer sway features of AT may work or be more aggressive in this mode

Eco - 2Hi; diff unlocked - same traction control and AT behavior as normal, throttle response is dulled and mapping changed to require deeper pedal for the same throttle opening as normal. Shift strategy is to upshift sooner and resist downshifts for fuel economy

Sport - 4Auto; diff unlocked - traction control moderately aggressive, AT moderately aggressive. 4Auto will favor power towards the rear until slip is detected.

Slippery - 4Auto; diff unlocked - traction control very aggressive, limiting wheelspin as much as possible, AT very aggressive. 4Auto will not favor rear bias as much as sport. Throttle response is dulled and transmission shifts are early, similar to eco.

Deep Snow/Sand - 4Hi; diff locked - traction control almost off, AT is reduced. This mode will allow a lot more wheelspin and a lot less intervention. The point is to keep wheel speed and momentum up to keep you moving. Similarly, throttle mapping is similar to normal, transmission will hold lower gears to keep the engine in the power band. Brake based torque vectoring will still happen I believe.

Mud/Ruts - 4Hi; diff locked - traction control off, AT reduced. This mode is very similar to sand, it will allow wheelspin to clean the tires of mud, brake based torque vectoring may still occur on front axle. Transmission will hold low gears. Throttle mapping more aggressive

Rock Crawl - 4Lo; diff locked - traction control and AT are defeated, but brake based torque vectoring will be extremely aggressive on the front axle. In rock crawl, you should see very little wheelspin due to the torque vectoring. Throttle mapping is normal, but 4Lo will make it feel aggressive. Transmission will hold low gears.


Disclaimer: the above observations are my observations and understanding of the system. These are not all confirmed by Ford, nor do I know them to 100% be true. Just contributing the knowledge I have, and looking to learn more. So if anyone sees something they know to be incorrect above, please say so. Hope this helps

 

[pavementends]

Sounds like we have only two nanny deactivation options then: 1) TC off or 2) TC off + AT off.

I read on a few other threads about "AdvancTrac Sport mode" which for other (older?) Ford models was accessed by two 3-second TC button presses, which doesn't do anything on my truck. Is AdvancTrac Sport Mode just deactivating TC & AT while in the Sport drive mode setting? Or is it different?

 

[Oxford_Powerboost]

Sounds like we have only two nanny deactivation options then: 1) TC off or 2) TC off + AT off.

I read on a few other threads about "AdvancTrac Sport mode"... is this just deactivating TC & AT while in the Sport drive mode setting? Or is it different?

My Powerboost doesn’t seem to go into AdvanceTrac Sport Mode. My mustang would, and I understand some older F150s would, both with a double tap of traction control off. I believe that mode is baked into the sport driving mode now

 

[JIMFOUNTAIN]

Thanks for the clarifications.

When I use Sport Mode I still get what I consider too much traction control intervention. I am still hoping someone out there has figured out how to... as the 2021 F150 manual (page 288) says.... enable the TC system with tighter or looser thresholds. I think Sport mode with loose TC thresholds ... would be the ticket for my hilly intersection challenge.

And my experience with Mud mode had the ESC interfering too much once I had drifted out some... not nearly enough to loop and I felt very comfortable and in control (except for that uncomfortable feeling when you are about to get stuck with no buddy/winch/backup vehicle around). I think my future plan ... when mud mode is needed... is to turn off TC AND ESC.

@pavementends - Can you do some testing of mud mode ... playing it the 3 TC and ESC settings? Any yea... have some fun at it!

 

[JIMFOUNTAIN]

Sounds like we have only two nanny deactivation options then: 1) TC off or 2) TC off + AT off.

I read on a few other threads about "AdvancTrac Sport mode" which for other (older?) Ford models was accessed by two 3-second TC button presses, which doesn't do anything on my truck. Is AdvancTrac Sport Mode just deactivating TC & AT while in the Sport drive mode setting? Or is it different?

Sport mode setting definitely does not turn off TC or ESC. Try a right hand turn hard launch. Doesn't even have to be that hard to get the right rear to slip. When it does slip TC brakes and pulls throttle. You lose seconds and all your boost.

 

[Oxford_Powerboost]

Sport mode setting definitely does not turn off TC or ESC. Try a right hand turn hard launch. Doesn't even have to be that hard to get the right rear to slip. When it does slip TC brakes and pulls throttle. You lose seconds and all your boost.

If you want it all off, is sport mode and holding the TC off button for 10 seconds not doing it? You should have no intervention in that case.

 

[21F150_208]

My roads are ice or packed snow right now. My driveway grade defeats all 2WD “All Season” shod vehicles.

I have had my PB XLT 8 days. Overall, love the truck. My Acura MDX has a dash light that tells you went its traction control is active, even for a fraction of a second.

The F150 traction control is active on every outing. If there is a TC annunciation light I am not seeing it. I have Continental Viking Contact 7s - very happy with them. Every once in a while I feel it sliding, but it never loses control.

So far I have only had one scare - today. Solid ice at the intersection started sooner than it looked like it should have and I was on a slow slide to rear end the car in front of me. I am begging this blessed car to please proceed within the confines of my crew cab, while pumping the brakes. Cleared him by a foot and everyone went home happy.

I like the way the MDX lets you know it’s TC is active - it’s so solid you could easily go faster than conditions allow.

 

[Oxford_Powerboost]

My roads are ice or packed snow right now. My driveway grade defeats all 2WD “All Season” shod vehicles.

I have had my PB XLT 8 days. Overall, love the truck. My Acura MDX has a dash light that tells you went its traction control is active, even for a fraction of a second.

The F150 traction control is active on every outing. If there is a TC annunciation light I am not seeing it. I have Continental Viking Contact 7s - very happy with them. Every once in a while I feel it sliding, but it never loses control.

So far I have only had one scare - today. Solid ice at the intersection started sooner than it looked like it should have and I was on a slow slide to rear end the car in front of me. I am begging this blessed car to please proceed within the confines of my crew cab, while pumping the brakes. Cleared him by a foot and everyone went home happy.

I like the way the MDX lets you know it’s TC is active - it’s so solid you could easily go faster than conditions allow.

My TC light flashes when in action. Put it in 2WD and send the pedal to the floor (in a safe place) and you’ll definitely see it.

Just wanted to chime in and say 2 things, 1; glad you didn’t hit that car. And 2; don’t pump the brakes with ABS. That will only increase your stopping distance. Once ABS engages, maintain firm consistent pressure on the pedal

 

[wayfarer556]

This is probably the best information I've read about these modes by far, even if they are unconfirmed observations from direct experience.

 

[21F150_208]

My TC light flashes when in action. Put it in 2WD and send the pedal to the floor (in a safe place) and you’ll definitely see it.

Went to a large parking empty lot and messed around. I found the TC light - my steering wheel was blocking the upper portion of the gauges where that same icon appears.

I don't see any lights when the truck is sliding.

I live in the mountains and we deal with icing conditions for about 3-4 months of the year. Full size trucks are good in these conditions until they aren't. When they aren't good we find they tend to roll over more often than not.

Most of the time I completely agree with your standard advice about ABS braking. In certain icing conditions you cannot rely on ABS. I've had several occasions when the only way to regain control when attempting to stop is by releasing the brakes and steering to where you want to go.

Overall, today's experimenting was a very good experience. The lighter weight and lower CG of the Acura is why I have the wife driving it. This F150 does much better than any of my previous F150's.

 

[JIMFOUNTAIN]

More real world experience... I had to pull a tree stump for a neighbor. Instead of messing with Modes I just went directly to 4L while in Normal Mode. I noticed when I did that I got a popup that AdvanceTrac was off. I am assuming that meant Traction Control (TC) and Electronic Stability Control (ESC) were both off. Since I was trying to not rut up the neighbor's yard I didn't actually confirm both were off. Out of curiosity I then switched the TC on. The AdvanceTrac light stayed on. Hmm. Usually this dash light it is off when TC is on... flashes when wheelspin is detected.. and is on when you turn something like TC or ESC off. I then switched TC off... no change in dash lights.. then press and held and switched ESC off. No change in dash lights.. AdvanceTrac light still on. Conclusions needing confirmation:

1 4L Turns off TC and ESC
2 4L and then pushing button turns on TC but leaves ESC off
3 ESC is always off in 4L

Anyone with snow and a big parking lot to confirm these conclusions?

And being curious... I tried Normal Mode 2H to 4H and 4A. Neither of those caused a change in AdvanceTrac.

 

[Oxford_Powerboost]

More real world experience... I had to pull a tree stump for a neighbor. Instead of messing with Modes I just went directly to 4L while in Normal Mode. I noticed when I did that I got a popup that AdvanceTrac was off. I am assuming that meant Traction Control (TC) and Electronic Stability Control (ESC) were both off. Since I was trying to not rut up the neighbor's yard I didn't actually confirm both were off. Out of curiosity I then switched the TC on. The AdvanceTrac light stayed on. Hmm. Usually this dash light it is off when TC is on... flashes when wheelspin is detected.. and is on when you turn something like TC or ESC off. I then switched TC off... no change in dash lights.. then press and held and switched ESC off. No change in dash lights.. AdvanceTrac light still on. Conclusions needing confirmation:

1 4L Turns off TC and ESC
2 4L and then pushing button turns on TC but leaves ESC off
3 ESC is always off in 4L

Anyone with snow and a big parking lot to confirm these conclusions?

And being curious... I tried Normal Mode 2H to 4H and 4A. Neither of those caused a change in AdvanceTrac.

Common. My good friend has a ‘19 Toyota Tacoma. His dash lights up like a Christmas tree as soon as he selects 4Lo. ESC off, trac off, collision assist off, anti rollover assist off, etc

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