I finally got around to trying out the traction control system fitted to my (wifes) G500. The venue is my G / Mog test track. I have a hill that offers big holes that are staggered and alternate sides. This puts two diagonally opposed tires in the air several times throughout the climb, meaning normal open differential vehicles can not make it.

I took the G out and selected low range as I normally would but did not select any of the three lockers. The first section drops the pass side front tire into a hole and lifts the drivers rear as you proceed. It is my standard practice to do this slowly, the holes are at least 3 feet deep and about 4ft square:p As soon as the rear tire lifted it began to spin and the truck stopped. I gassed it a little thinking I may not have reached the ETS threshold. Nothing more than more spinning I backed out, put the truck back into high range on the off chance low disables the system. I tried the exact same drill in high. I had the exact same result, except the tire spun faster.

I knew the system was working. Durning the last snow I saw the warning light flashing and could feel the brakes working to find traction. I tested it again in the dirt lot around the track. No problem, the 5L V8 makes it easy to test with wheelspin The light flashed and the brakes worked away at the spinning tires.

I went back to the track. This time I thought I would try to take it at more of a roll than a crawl. The thinking was that maybe the computer needs to see the other tires turning as a reference before activating. Same story the rear tire lifted and spun, no warning light, no braking action, no forward progress. The system appears to work just fine in the snow and loose dirt. There are no fault codes stored.

I resorted to reading the owners manual. It stated that the system is employed at speeds from 0-37mph in high and low range. It goes on the describe the ETS functioning we have hashed through repeatedly on this forum. The kicker is that it didn't work worth a darn in the real world. I take that back, it works in the real world ON THE ROAD.

Tell me that the ML has more going for it off-road than this system. So far I am unimpressed.

__________________
1995 G320
1984 280GE
1971 Unimog 416