Does 4 wheel drive help you stop faster or is it just a traction device

The traction sensor comes on when one of the front wheels spins faster than the other. If you push it on then the front wheels lock up to give traction to both front wheels equally so you can drive away from a situation where one wheel may be in sand or snow/ice and the other on dry pavement. Traction Off is the normal running mode.

No, Traction control only engages when slippery conditions exist. So unless you live in the snow belt or drive on wet muddy dirt roads you may likely never experience a traction control engagement.

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Traction control helps by controlling the engine power to the drive wheels to prevent wheel spin. When traction control is OFF then you can apply all power to the drive wheels and it could cause loss of control and or wheel spin.

The vehicle computer's Traction Control System (TCS) has detected wheelspin on one or more wheels that's greater than the detected speed of the vehicle. That is, it knows you're spinning the tires and not going anywhere (or not really going that fast). It compares the rotation of all wheels to that of the slowest moving wheel (or slowest wheel that has a sensor), and slows down the faster of the bunch. Since it's not a full-time 4-wheel drive (where all wheels move the same speed all the time), it allows some wheelspin for outside wheels around corners, but keeps the wheels in check with the brakes. Some Traction Control Systems rely on cutting engine power to stop wheelspin, while others activate the brakes on the faster-moving wheels.

the rear brake light probably needs to have a new bulb. The traction control light on means traction system is off. There is a button I think on the dash or cosole that says TCS...try pushing the button and maybe that will turn light off. At hard throttle TSC keeps wheel from spinning
with the help of wheel speed sensors from the anti-lock brake system.when TSC is off car will drive like a hot rod. the TSC takes away power from engine by reducing power.anti -lock system lets the TSC know that one wheel is spinning faster than the rest.If that helps let me know

Hi this is to do with the Electronic Traction System, ets, this system can normally be switched on or off with a button, when off the vehicle does not have traction control and if one wheel spins faster than the other it will make no difference, but when enabled if one wheel spins faster than the other the traction control system cuts in and equalises the traction between the driving wheels....hope that helps

For today's typical high-torque engines, traction control (ASR) can increase both comfort and safety, particularly when driving on slippery roads or surfaces offering differing levels of grip. Traction control permits smooth starting and acceleration through the full speed range without wheel-spin or fishtailing.


ASR only operates in conjunction with the electronic accelerator (E-gas) and uses components of the anti-lock braking system (ABS). If one wheel suddenly begins to rotate faster than the others (slip), ASR intervenes in the engine management system and reduces power until the wheel stops spinning.
The ASR system represents a further contribution to active safety as it maintains vehicle traction and directional stability throughout the acceleration phase at any speed. In addition, it reduces tyre wear. Activation of the ASR system is indicated by a flashing indicator lamp in the instrument cluster.

No! Traction control works similar on various automobile manufactures. There are speed sensors attached to the brake calipers or brake parts of the car sensing how fast each tire is turning. This information is feedback to the powertrain brain box. If the computer determines that one drive wheel is turning faster than the other in a split second brake pressure is placed automatically to the wheel that is turning faster, both wheels turn at nearly the same rate. This is done agin automatically by the antilock brake power controller.

On the specific car that you speak of, I don't believe all wheel drive was an option. So only the front wheels pull the vehicle forward.

Yes, Your Jeep is what is known as a Quadra-Trac. This type of cherokee is an all wheel drive model. 4 wheel all time is for everyday driving, Neutral completely dissconects the drive train from the transmission and will not move at all. 4 wheel low is more for off road conditions where traction is compromised. 4 wheel low should NEVER be used at speed above 15 miles an hour.

To the guy above: 4 wheel drive is designed for low end pulling power and safer handling on slippery road conditions. 4 wheel drive has NOTHING to do with how fast you go or how fast you stop. Don't post a comment if you clearly don't know the correct information.

the role of the Electronic Control System is to avoid wheel spinning on icy or 'snowed' surfaces. When the system that one wheel having traction is spinning faster than the others than it will apply brake to that particular wheel to help it to recover its traction.
In the reality, the system is more active when you are accelerating after a stop on icy surface. Once the vehicule got its speed the system should be less active .
Globally, this system should help to keep the traction at its best under any condition.
However, my personnal experience is that you could have to desactivate the system if you are driving in heavy snow condition. Under these particular conditions, the system could apply brakes to a point/frequency that your vehicule will run as a turtle.

In conclusion, there is nothing bad if you let the system manage by itself, unless you don't like the feeling or unless the system generates more problems than benefits.
Hope I have ansered your questionning.
Dan