My 1999 Chevrolet Metro has manual steering.

 

It is recomended to remove traction control when the vehicle is stuck in the snow. Sometimes you can spin your way out. That is why most Vehicles have the shut off.

Also most cars today have it as with FWD if you spin your tires you lose your steering in a turn. With the traction control it helps those wh just flat can't drive. FWD is not infallable to some. I used to replace a lot of wheels for many who just gassed their way into a curb in a turn.

Gas mileage loss? How much to you really thing a traction control system will lose? That one is pretty weak. Spinning your tires used more gas for the most part than anything.

Most systems work very well had get a lot of people who just flat can't drive where they are going.

I am a RWD fan and can drive through anything in the winter. Traction Control is the one thing I really like on any FWD with a powerful engine. If the tires break traction in a turn It will still turn.

I though all HHR's with it had the shut off button. It may not have it with no button.

 

Traction Control applies brake pressure and reduces engine power to manage wheel spin, and has a ESC/TCS button on the dash to disable. Electronic Stability Control has no button. ESC will reduce engine power and/or shift to higher gear when it senses a front wheel spinning, but does not apply brakes. ESC can be disabled by shifting to Low gear or applying parking brake.

I don't know how many have traction control, but my LS definitely has no button for it. I've felt the ESC engage before and thought that's what we've been talking about... ...and is probably what the original poster is talking about.

 

Nope, in slippery conditions, I get the Low Traction warning, and the traction ctrl indication light, low gear shows trac off.

 

According to the owners manual (section 4-6), "If your vehicle has TCS, there is a ESC/TCS button located on the instrument panel." The TCS button is located between the dimmer switch and the passenger airbag light, just below the emergency flasher switch. This information comes from the 2008 owners manual.

 

I misposted a little bit before...

If you have no button for ESC/TCS in the center dash, then you are talking about ETS. Enhanced Traction System reduces engine power during wheel spin, but does not apply brakes. ESC/TCS applies brakes and reduces engine power. The indicator light and DIC message is the same for both when you get wheel slippage.

ESC/TCS: Disabled via the center dash button
ETS: Disabled via Low Gear or Parking Brake

I hope I've haven't as thoroughly confused everyone as I have myself. If so, read the manual.