Status report: My dealer agrees with me that my truck's TCS function performs very well when it works, but that it works unreliably. No problems have been found with truck and FCA appears to have stopped supporting dealer in the matter.
I opened a problem (tracking number assigned) with FCA customer service (800-992-1997). Customer service tells me they have no other complaits so the issue may not get attention. My hope is that this post will generate more complaints to dealers and FCA.
I've always felt all recent trucks have a TCS problem. One person responded to my previous test request. He tested a 2017 and found the same problem- the TCS does not always work as described in the owner's manual. If you feel your LSD - limited slip differential - is ineffective at low speeds, you may be experiencing TCM failure. If you want to observe your TCS in operation and then in failure mode do the following. Stop and don't shut off the engine somewhere with one rear wheel on pavement and the other rear wheel on a slippery surface such as wet grass - then place blocks in front of the front wheels. Now, try to drive over the blocks.
If the TCS is working properly the truck will either drive over the blocks or the the rear wheel on pavement will spin - minimize speed and duration of spinning for the good of your truck and tires. If the only thing that happens is the wheel on grass spins then TCS is not operating.
If the TCS was working you can disable it as described in your owner's manual - simply depress the Stability Control System/Traction Control system button for 5 or more seconds. Now, with TCS off, only the wheel on grass spins.That is normal. However, if you turn TCS back on by quickly depressing and releasing the SCS/TCS switch (the indicator light on the dash will go dark) it is unlikely the wheel on pavement will spin. Thus TCS functioning has not been restored. Turning off and restarting the engine may or may not restart TCS.
When working, TCS in combination with the LSD, at low speed is about as good as a locked differential. Yes, if you have 4WD you can use it to get the vehicle to move. However, imagine you're stuck at an icy street intersection in heavy traffic because your TCS is not operating. Right, the time it takes to lock in 4WD could result in an accident.
So, if these safety issues concern you, or you've spun a wheel when you expected more from your LSD, complain to your dealer - then FCA if necessary. The fix is most likely a simply programming change and update.
I opened a problem (tracking number assigned) with FCA customer service (800-992-1997). Customer service tells me they have no other complaits so the issue may not get attention. My hope is that this post will generate more complaints to dealers and FCA.
I've always felt all recent trucks have a TCS problem. One person responded to my previous test request. He tested a 2017 and found the same problem- the TCS does not always work as described in the owner's manual. If you feel your LSD - limited slip differential - is ineffective at low speeds, you may be experiencing TCM failure. If you want to observe your TCS in operation and then in failure mode do the following. Stop and don't shut off the engine somewhere with one rear wheel on pavement and the other rear wheel on a slippery surface such as wet grass - then place blocks in front of the front wheels. Now, try to drive over the blocks.
If the TCS is working properly the truck will either drive over the blocks or the the rear wheel on pavement will spin - minimize speed and duration of spinning for the good of your truck and tires. If the only thing that happens is the wheel on grass spins then TCS is not operating.
If the TCS was working you can disable it as described in your owner's manual - simply depress the Stability Control System/Traction Control system button for 5 or more seconds. Now, with TCS off, only the wheel on grass spins.That is normal. However, if you turn TCS back on by quickly depressing and releasing the SCS/TCS switch (the indicator light on the dash will go dark) it is unlikely the wheel on pavement will spin. Thus TCS functioning has not been restored. Turning off and restarting the engine may or may not restart TCS.
When working, TCS in combination with the LSD, at low speed is about as good as a locked differential. Yes, if you have 4WD you can use it to get the vehicle to move. However, imagine you're stuck at an icy street intersection in heavy traffic because your TCS is not operating. Right, the time it takes to lock in 4WD could result in an accident.
So, if these safety issues concern you, or you've spun a wheel when you expected more from your LSD, complain to your dealer - then FCA if necessary. The fix is most likely a simply programming change and update.