"VSC" Caused me to total my LC-100

[Topoguide]

Oh right, I forgot you were discussing a switch that would ground to bypass VSC. I would agree that probably would not pass start up diagnostics.

Although I am not sure that the OP would not want to change the ABS function. He said he did not want to lose TRAC, so if the ABS became less intrusive yet still functional it may be a desireable side effect in the snowy/icy conditions he is driving in.

 

[Topoguide]

Soooo... If anyone has documentation on the ABS having different programing depending on what is activated or not (like the CDL) I would be interested to see it. I went out on a sandy road today and the braking was the same CDL locked or not.

 

[Alaskan_IB]

I agree that we would want to keep our ABS while only bypassing the VSC system. Weather we leave VSC off for good or have to hit the switch every start up probably doesn't matter. Just talked to the auto body shop this morning and it my nearly totaled LC should be ready this next week. Took a few pics hope you get a bang out of it.

I drove by the scene of my guard rain incident and saw pieces of my vehicle still in-bedded in the guard rail.

 

[1loudLX]

bumper covers, 500 + paint, so 1000, front parking light, 190, fender 250 plus paint, 1000 but you're gonna have to paint the new door skin (dont know the cost there) so probably 1500-2000 in paint plus two plastic trim moldings and a detail. Def not total material. oh ya, a hubcap and one of those reflectors in the rear bumper.

Although, I cant see if there are any hidden front end suspension damages...were there?

 

[1loudLX]

what type and brand of block heater do you run?

 

[Alaskan_IB]

Don't know the brand of block heater to be sure but I know for sure I have a battery heater and oil pan heater. It sees 40-60 below so it doesn't like to start at those temps and needs assistance, not to mention I have the convenience of an auto start.

As for the total its around 7k for repairs. Don't know if there is any front end damage but its going to the mechanic this week to be checked.

PS: my wife just told me her co-workers family just got in a near fatal acident that is attributed to the VSC taking control. Like some said in the past posts if you know its there and are used to its kicking in then great. If your not used to VSC and you correct like the rest of us "OUCH" when the vehicle takes over. Sounds like the family is ok but the truck was rolled.

 

[txnative]

I lived in AK for 10yr and it took me a long time to get used to anti-lock braking when I got my first truck with it.
While I live in the L48 now, I do a lot of travel to CO in my LX and I have had problems getting used to the VSC. If I could turn it off when the roads are patchy (when there is enough dry pavement that I can't lock the CD), I would do so.

 

[re_guderian]

I agree that we would want to keep our ABS while only bypassing the VSC system. Weather we leave VSC off for good or have to hit the switch every start up probably doesn't matter...

Found this tidbit about disabling VSC for drum testing (like a dyno?). Not sure if this is a possibility for wiring a swich that wouldn't mess with the ATRAC or the ABS?

 

[Trunk Monkey]

I agree that we would want to keep our ABS while only bypassing the VSC system. Weather we leave VSC off for good or have to hit the switch every start up probably doesn't matter.

Why not learn to drive with it? It's a very good and proven system and can save your butt.

 

[CSG1]

As I've just picked up a 2002 LX I'm curious about what really happened here. I like many drivers of a certain vintage always learned to turn in the direction of a skid. Are you saying the VSC system on my LX will try to kill me if I do this? What am I supposed to do instead? I understand that I can activate the CLD and the VSC will turn off but what happens if I haven't locked the CD and start skidding on ice or snow?

 

[1loudLX]

this thread needs some Shotts...











































or maybe not.

 

[FOPLawyer]

CSG1,

The problem with active traction control, dynamic stability control, variable skid control, atrac etc. is that they assume that you want to go in the direction that you turn your wheel. Experienced drivers turn into the skid which tells the system you want to go that direction, but you are not really wanting to take a hard right or left, you are merely trying to bring the vehicle out of the skid. The computer is trying to brake and torque your wheels while you are trying to bring the car out of the skid.

From personal experience (Acura RL FWD traction control/stability control/skid control) everything happens very quickly. When you steer into the skid the vehicle begins to act strangely. Instead of rotating back to straight my system's reaction seemed to have over-corrected and threw me harder into the skid. I responded by turning further into the skid which instructed the system to react even more severely. This took half a second. What you are left with in real time is the feeling that the car is not acting the way it should and not the way you expect it to. In my case it went on long enough for me to wonder what the f was going on. Once I bounced off the jersey barrier and ended up facing an oncoming snow plow everything went back to normal.

It is disconcerting to not know what is going on, but once you are aware of the issue, you can adjust. In my opinion the system will do a better job than even the best driver if given the opportunity. Problems will arise when drive input and the system clash.

 

[Topmounter]

So do you do when VSC kicks in under those circumstances... Do nothing and keep the wheel steady?

I've been able to get VSC to kick in playing around in parking lots, but getting the speed up to simulate this type of situation isn't very practical.

 

[uzj100]

Lock CDL and go full World Rally style.

I am ready for snow to try all this out. In a place without railings to run into.

 

[scottm]

This is good stuff to talk about, I'll try to remember it if it happens to me. I've adjusted to trusting ABS, just hold the brake pedal down, and now I like being able to steer while braking on snow. Like Topmounter says, kinda hard to get used to VSC when you aren't likely to be able to simulate it. I make a sweeping U-turn on the highway every morning on the way to work, and I used to turn my traction control off for that when it was snowy (in a jeep). It stopped me dead in the middle of oncoming traffic instead of letting me slide safely across. My 4R doesn't have an off switch (yet), I may have to learn how to slide with VSC on.

 

[cmfhsu]

scottm, lock your center differential. That'll disable VSC, not leave you stuck on a highway, and give you an easier time powering out. Also, that may be because of traction control, not VSC. VSC helps control lateral movement, traction control is the one that cuts your power. Either way, lock the CDL and you'll be golden.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

So do you do when VSC kicks in under those circumstances... Do nothing and keep the wheel steady?

You drive. Same thing with ABS. I was brought up that you slide until you stop. With ABS you're supposed to continue steering and avoid a collision since you're wheels are still rotating, not locked up.

So, if VSC kicks in while sliding in a turn, let off power and let it do it's thing to correct your course.

 

[CSG1]

Very interesting reading. But to be clear, if one should start to skid with VSC on should you do the opposite of what we were taught? In other words turn the wheel in the opposite direction and try to hold our line of travel?

I gotta go get my manual out.

 

[re_guderian]

Very interesting reading. But to be clear, if one should start to skid with VSC on should you do the opposite of what we were taught? In other words turn the wheel in the opposite direction and try to hold our line of travel?

I gotta go get my manual out.

I "think" he's saying if you were headed straight and the rear wheels start to come around on you, you should just keep the wheel where it was, applying no correction, as the yaw sensor should detect your "sideways" motion and try and correct you back to your original direction of travel (i.e. wheels pointed straight ahead).

I suppose if you were in a turn, you should do the same, just keep the wheel at the same position as if to complete the turn w/o correcting for the skid?

 

[1loudLX]

I spunout on ice once on a turn in the snow. As I started to countersteered I hit the cdl, punched it to keep my ass off the centerdivide...as I got perpendicular I slammed the brakes and hit reverse as the wheels stopped but I kept sliding sideways, hit the gas to keep the front off, as it rotated back around I turned the wheel back and straightened out....and turned the cdl back off.

To the untrained eye, I was being reckless doing a 360 while in reality I was trying to stay wreckless. This was at 60mph.


Point is, if your fast enough you can disable vsc quickly