Skidding Car Symbol On Dash.

[JuniperEccles]

I'd just set off in my Ford Ka Zetec when an orange symbol of a car with skid marks at the back and the word OFF appeared.  I stopped the car and looked in the manual but couldn't find it.  When I started up the car again it had gone of and has not come up since.  Anyone know what it is, please?

 

[bhg481]

Traction control?

[barry1010]

Have you just had a new battery, or disconnected the battery?

It's definitely traction control.  Is the light on all the time?

[drmorgans]

 

Maybe that the electronic stability control had been been switched off or a fault detected and deactivated itself. Orange tends to mean warning, rather stop the car and get it fixed.

 

[JuniperEccles]

Haven't had a new battery and the symbol has never come up again.  What is traction control?

[brainiac]

'Modern cars have excellent traction sensors onboard that accurately detects the tyres' traction on the road. It is a yellow illuminated sign that shows a car with zigzag skid marks. This indicates that your car is losing traction. On seeing this sign, you should slow down to let the tyres regain their grip on the road.'

Don't think it will appear again, as you obviously slowed down  :)

 

[gingejbee]

^part of the electronic stability control system...basically stops you skidding and keeps you on the straight and narrow.

[ToraToraTora]

Like this (yes traction control)?

https://res.cloudinary.com/yourmechanic/image/upload/dpr_auto,f_auto,q_auto/v1/article_images/IISTD_TCS_Light

 

[ToraToraTora]

Traction control detects wheel spin and cuts the power so the wheel gets traction again.

[davebro3]

are your tyres ok?

[Prudie]

If I pull away too fast or perhaps corner through a muddy patch on the road mine comes on (traction control). Unless it stays on or comes on for no reason I'd guess it was just your car doing exactly what it was designed to do. 

[JuniperEccles]

o.k. folks.  Now I know it's traction control I can look it up in the manual.

Many thanks.