Ford Ranger (2011 year). Manual — part 39

WARNING: If a failure has been detected within the
AdvanceTrac

威 with RSC威 system, the stability control light will

illuminate steadily and you may hear a chime. If equipped with a
message center, the vehicle will also indicate a failure with the brake
system, have the system serviced by an authorized dealer immediately.
.

The AdvanceTrac

威 with RSC威 system automatically enables each time

the engine is started. All features of the AdvanceTrac

威 with RSC威 system

(TCS, ESC, and RSC

威 are active and monitor the vehicle from start-up).

However, the system will only intervene if the driving situation requires
it.

The AdvanceTrac

威 with RSC威

system includes a stability control
button on the center of the
instrument panel, the stability
control light and a stability control
off light in the instrument cluster.
Both the stability control light and
the stability control off light in the
instrument cluster will illuminate temporarily during start-up as part of a
normal system self-check. The stability control light may illuminate
(flash) during certain driving situation which cause the AdvanceTrac

威

with RSC

威 system to operate. If the stability control light illuminates

steadily, have the system serviced by an authorized dealer immediately.

When AdvanceTrac

威 with RSC威 performs a normal system self-check,

some drivers may notice a slight movement of the brake, and/or a
rumble, grunting, or grinding noise after startup and when driving off.

When an event occurs that activates AdvanceTrac

威 with RSC威 you may

experience the following:
• A slight deceleration of the vehicle
• The stability control light will flash.
• If your foot is on the brake pedal, a vibration in the pedal.
• If the driving condition is severe and your foot is not on the brake, the

brake pedal may move as the system applies higher brake forces. You
may also hear a whoosh of air from under the instrument panel during
this severe condition.

• The brake pedal may feel stiffer than usual.

Driving

159

Traction control system (TCS)

Traction control is a driver aid feature that helps your vehicle maintain
traction of the wheels, typically when driving on slippery and/or hilly
road surfaces, by detecting and controlling wheel spin.

Excessive wheel spin is controlled in two ways, which may work
separately or in tandem: engine traction control and brake traction
control. Engine traction control works to limit drive-wheel spin by
momentarily reducing engine power. Brake traction control works to limit
wheel spin by momentarily applying the brakes to the wheel that is
slipping. Traction control is most active at low speeds.

During traction control events, the stability control light in the
instrument cluster will flash.

If the traction control system is activated excessively in a short period of
time, the braking portion of the system may become temporarily disabled
to allow the brakes to cool down. In this situation, traction control will
use only engine power reduction or transfer to help control the wheels
from over-spinning. When the brakes have cooled down, the system will
regain all features. Anti-lock braking, RSC

威, and ESC will continue to

function during the cool-down period.

The engine traction control and brake traction control system may be
deactivated in certain situations. See the Switching off AdvanceTrac

威

with RSC

威 section following.

Electronic stability control (ESC)

Electronic stability control (ESC) may enhance your vehicle’s directional
stability during adverse maneuvers, for example when cornering severely
or avoiding objects in the roadway. ESC operates by applying brakes to
one or more of the wheels individually and, if necessary, reducing engine
power if the system detects that the vehicle is about to skid or slide
laterally.

During ESC events, the stability control light in the instrument cluster
will flash.

Certain adverse driving maneuvers may activate the ESC system, which
include but are not limited to:
• Taking a turn too fast
• Maneuvering quickly to avoid an accident, pedestrian or obstacle
• Driving over a patch of ice or other slippery surfaces
• Changing lanes on a snow-rutted road
• Entering a snow-free road from a snow-covered side street, or vice

versa

Driving

160

• Entering a paved road from a gravel road, or vice versa
• Cornering while towing a heavily loaded trailer (refer to Trailer

towing in the Tires, Wheels and Loading chapter).

The ESC system may be deactivated in certain situations. See the
Switching off AdvanceTrac

威 with RSC威 section following.

Roll Stability Control™ (RSC

威)

Roll Stability Control™ (RSC

威) may help to maintain roll stability of the

vehicle during adverse maneuvers. RSC

威 operates by detecting the

vehicle’s roll motion and the rate at which it changes and by applying the
brakes to one or more wheels individually.

During an event that activates the Roll Stability Control™ (RSC

威), the

stability control light in the instrument cluster will flash.

Certain adverse driving maneuvers may activate the RSC

威 system, which

include:
• Emergency lane-change
• Taking a turn too fast
• Quick maneuvering to avoid an accident, pedestrian or obstacle
The RSC

威 system may be deactivated in certain situations. See the

Switching off AdvanceTrac

威 with RSC威 section following.

Switching off AdvanceTrac

威 with RSC威

If the vehicle is stuck in snow, mud or sand, and seems to lose engine
power, switching off certain features of the AdvanceTrac

威 with RSC威

system may be beneficial because the wheels are allowed to spin. This
will restore full engine power and will enhance momentum through the
obstacle.

To switch off the AdvanceTrac

威 with

RSC

威 system, press the stability

control button. Full features of the
AdvanceTrac

威 with RSC威 system

can be restored by pressing the
stability control button again or by
turning off and restarting the
engine.

Driving

161

If you switch off the AdvanceTrac

威

with RSC

威 system, the stability

control off light will illuminate
steadily. Pressing the AdvanceTrac

威

with RSC

威 button again will turn off

the stability control light.

In R (Reverse), ABS and the engine traction control and brake traction
control features will continue to function; however, ESC and RSC

威 are

disabled.

AdvanceTrac

威 Features

Button
functions

icon

status

RSC

威

ESC

TCS

Default at
start-up

Illuminated

during bulb

check

Enabled

Enabled

Enabled

Button pressed
momentarily

Illuminated

solid

Enabled

Enabled

Disabled

Button pressed
and held more
than 5 seconds
(speed under
35 mph)

Illuminated

for

5 seconds,

turns off for

3 seconds,

then

illuminated

solid

Disabled

Disabled

Disabled

Button pressed
and held less
than 5 seconds
(speed over
35 mph)

Illuminated

solid

Enabled

Enabled

Disabled

Button pressed
again after
deactivation

Not

illuminated

Enabled

Enabled

Enabled

Transfer case in
4L (4WD Low)

Illuminated

solid

Disabled

Disabled

Disabled

OFF

Driving

162