Minor Issues-wheel Noise On Lock, Oil Colour, Traction Control

[amok2]

I have a standard 2004 avensis 2 litre t3-x i recently purchased 1-2 months ago

Some minor issues to share with all:

1. When manouvering the car (e.g. three point turn) with steering on full lock, there seems to be some sort of noise from the front wheel areas when wheels turning (? like wheel too big for the arch or some thing grating/chaffing). Is this normal when front wheels on full lock.

2. Traction control seems to be dud. Doesnt seem to prevent wheel spin even when within normal levels of driving (i.e. safely pulling out fast for right turn etc). No difference I can see whether traction button on or off.

3. The has apparently had its 10K service. Mileage when purchased (last month) around 14K. One thing when checking the oil is that it seems to have a darkish/black oil streaks within the normal clear oil colour. I had assumed that a new car would have clear oil even in between service, or do 'newish' cars actually have darker oil than older cars (due to a low mileage engine still undergoing a more rapid wear rate than say a 30K+ car).

4. Occasional transient 'oil' (engine bay type) smell in cabin (maybe my imagination). Or maybe normal when starting off cold engine / cold weather etc. Or perhaps could be from petrol and oil I carry in my boot !

Otherwise car is fine (other than a sometimes fidgety/bumpy ride).

[Bosnjo]

2. Traction control seems to be dud. Doesnt seem to prevent wheel spin even when within normal levels of driving (i.e. safely pulling out fast for right turn etc). No difference I can see whether traction button on or off.

The only thing I can say is about traction control. mIne is 1.8 VVTi from 2005. Wheels are spinning, just like in yours. Now I'm wondering: Is it actualy traction control or it is a system (don't remember the name) that when one wheel starts spinning moves the power to the other one, so it spins less in total.

[Mkuk0]

Ok

First off, the noise at full lock could just be the power steering pump valve preventing the power steering push the wheels beyond their max travel (if you see what I mean) thats normal, mine does it as well.

Re the oil, it doesn't take long to get dirty in my experience, and nearly half way through the cycle I wouldn't be suprised to see the oil showing signs of age.

Smells almost certainly from stuff carried in boot, try removing it and waiting a few days before retrying 'the Sniff test' lol

Fidgety ride can usually be sorted by increasing the tyre pressures to between 35-37psi, It does work, I have done, and it doesn't affect tyre wear either.

hope this helps!

[runboy]

My Avensis which has TRC and VSC and other acronyms I can't remember still whell spins slightly if I boot it away from a junction. If the system stops all power to the wheels then that can surely be as dangerous as leaving all power to the wheels.

I reckon the system cuts power down a bit to aid traction, but still allows a small bit of power and thus wheel slip if the road is slippery enough.

I've had cars with traction control that cuts nearly all the power and then it is very slow to move away, not ideal when pulling into traffic.

[amok2]

Thanks to all for the useful info.

Bye