I figured I'd ask you guys who track and auto-x your car because you would know better...

All these people complaining about not being able to completely disable the TCS/VDC system, do these complaints actually have any merit? I auto-x'd the Z three times last year and I had no problems with TCS/VDC except for the one time I forgot to turn it off. When it was off, I never felt it cut my power or do anything to hinder my runs.

Am I going to see issues tracking the car this year, being at higher speeds? I know it will be tracked at least once at Gateway in St. Louis in June, but I'd like to get it out to Pocono in May and maybe one more sometime in August or September. I've not heard of having issues with it turned off, but I want to be sure.

Considering I never had a single problem w/ TCS/VDC, do all these complains about people who street race and canyon run have any merit? I would think auto-xing a car is putting a helluva lot more stress on the system than any street racing or spirited driving could.

Just wondering out loud.

 

I have never experienced anything either as long as its off, and I have spun at 100mph+

Maybe just an excuse for the other guys????

Or maybe its a year thing. My Z is a 2003, what year is yours?

 

For a second, I thought you where starting a “How can I disable it” topic… You scared me !

I’ve never had any problem or ever felt the VDC kick-in after I turned it OFF. Trail braking from 120 mph, sliding with opposite lock, doing burn-outs on corner exits…

Never…

What I have felt is the ABS quick in on the inside front wheel, sending me into understeer. Or the ABLS grabbing a spinning wheel, jerking the car a bit when I gave too much power. The BA can also cut power if you left foot brake, thought I haven’t really tested that one.

I think the guys that do complain on VDC not OFF when OFF issues are mistaking these systems interactions with VDC.

As far as disabling stuff, I’m considering taking the ABS off line for lapping. I know the EBD can still work with the ABS deactivated, which is good. But I’m afraid that would also turn the ABLS OFF and that’s bad. The VLSD won’t be able to lock well enough and I’m afraid I’ll just toast the inside rear tire coming out of every corners.

So for the time being, I’m sticking with the OEM VDC OFF switch.

 

I've felt the throttle cut on LFB, but it isn't as abrupt as it was on my old SpecV.

I have yet to experience VDC turning itself back on, even in wet or slippery conditions.

I've experienced "ICE mode" on both the SpecV and Z, and it can be annoying, but it's not a "deal breaker." Pretty much any car that has ABS has "ICE mode."

 

when i was sliding in the snow... because the wheels overspun (zero traction) vdc kicked back... and i was pissed off lol...

 

You're going to have to be a lot more specific than that this time jv.

What where you doing at that time?
What did you hear? How did the car react and felt like?

The VDC OFF light turned off?

 

umm...
i was basically in the same lot but on ICE/SNOW surface then when the tires are spinning "freely" because it had ZERO grip and engine was redlining because of that... VDC came in and turned ON (i guess the computer felt the car was in danger and put a stop to it)

 

So you were trying to do donuts? The ABLS would certainly be unhappy to sense one wheel spinning like crazy while the other one is stopped... While redlining...

Maybe you're knee hit the button?

If spinning around, completely out of control, is what it takes to get the VDC to kick back in, it's not something to worry about. If that happens on a race track, you'll be tasting ARMCO before you notice the light went out...

 

yeah i can imagine that...
but say you are at a drift event or showing off at an auto-x
you dont want vdc to kick back in in the middle of the drift because then you need to turn oFF the engine and turn it back on to reset the f*cker...
lol...
but i do feel after it im driving like a grandma hahaha

 

I've just experienced ICE mode while running AutoX in the rain. Then again, the G supposedly has a more intrusive system than the Z, which is part of the reason we've been moved to a different class. Didn't stop me from having the 2nd fastest time behind a well-driven STi, but either way, it's very annoying...

 

i agree...
but imo in the rain/ice even auto-x... VDC help you to get a smoother track time because there is less slipping... unless you are very good of course... which i think you are hahaha

 

+1



I left foot brake and I really haven't had any issues. Perhaps its technique that determines whether power is cut? As I enter the brake zone I brake with my left foot and at the same time lift off the throttle and shift into neutral. I then blip the throttle and shift into the appropriate gear. I don't release the brake until I am entering the corner. That technique seems to work just fine and I haven't had issues with the computer cutting power.

 

Thats what I figured. Thanks for the replies fellas.

BTW, I've been around Internet boards long enough to know better than to repost something that's been posted a dozen times.

 

No, no, not at all. I just started last season. It's just that VDC kicks in at inopportune times, and messes with your driving. You just can't race with it on. Even in the rain, it's much better with it off.

 

I have had many of times even on dry roads with the aftermarket lsd when my car goes into ice slipping mode, and once i did it at the track on my launch and put the car in limp mode... VDC made me run a 51 sec 1/4 mi...

So there is a fuse for the system pull it and just lke trac fuse on supras careful on auto trannys it allows a harder shift and more strain on all drivetrain components.

 

I had problems with my throttle cutting in and out when a/x-ing... with VDC off. I'm running 265/35-18's on all 4 corners, and suppose that may be confusing the system enough to 'reacitve' temporarily.

I couldn't stand it, so I disconnected my Bosch yaw sensor (located under the center console, under the 'ashtray' in my '03 Track). It completely disables VDC and EBD, but ABS stays active. I love it and leave it disconnected, however my car never sees rain or snow. I'm sure it could be wired with a switch to disable.

 

You might be witnessing something else going on there. From my experience, when the VDC button is off, there is no longer any intervention.

About the comment earlier on VDC improving lap times: In theory, yes it will, but in practice it doesn't work so well. If it were able to regulate the engine torque to perfectly match what the rear tires can take, it would definitely be faster. In actuality, Nissan has to bring the limit down somewhat to compensate for non-ideal conditions and allow some margin for the system to regain control of the skid. If they let the system regulate out to 100% and the car starts to skid, it may already be past the point of being of being recoverable. It definitely backs out of the throttle on corner exit, and that certainly isn't good when you're trying to build speed for the straights.

 

<--- glad for his enthusiast model

 

You sure you aren't touching the brake pedal when your throttle cuts off?

 

I do left foot brake when A/Xing... so I supposse I could have been. Is there something with the brakes that cuts throttle when you touch the brakes?