Deadly Stability Assist?

[tacitblue]

So I'm pulling out of work a couple of nights ago, and it's a merge onto a pretty busy 2-lane highway (route 130 for those of you around NJ). It's packed around rush hour, so I have to be pretty agressive pulling out. So I hit the Sport button, see a gap in traffic and get the hole shot. I also happen to 'light up' the tires a bit (ok maybe a lot) and next thing I know the Z basically dies right when I need accelleration the most - this with a truck rushing up behind me! I'm new to this auto traction control stuff (previous car was a '97 Jeep) and I assumed it would modulate power to the wheels a bit, but it basically shut EVERYTHING down for a good 1-2 seconds, which was REALLY dangerous in this situation. Somehow I managed to avoid disaster, but since then I've adopted the habit of turning off VSA whenever I'm in Sport mode.

Just wondering what thoughts others might have on this or if there are similar experiences?

[Ledfoot529]

First thing I did when I got my CRZ a few months ago was go to an empty parking lot and test out all the saftey equip. I do it with every new car I get. When I got my first abs car, and now a vsa car. I had no idea how the traction control and vsa would react so I found a safe place and tested each system...ABS, VSA etc...

[MattB]

The car detects that it loses traction and tries to do whatever is necessary to restore it as quickly as possible. The car has no way of knowing if it's lost traction from overly aggressive driving or from wet surfaces.

[Neutron256]

CVT or 6MT?

The only explanation I can think of is that it was applying breaking force to the front wheels to keep you straight at the same time you were shifting (assuming 6MT) and as you let out the clutch the engine couldn't handle the load and died.

That's my random theory. I've had a couple cars with traction/stability control and never experienced anything like what you described.

[atteSmythe]

Originally Posted by MattB

The car detects that it loses traction and tries to do whatever is necessary to restore it as quickly as possible. The car has no way of knowing if it's lost traction from overly aggressive driving or from wet surfaces.

If only there was something in the car that DID know that...

Ahwell. 'Safety' features aren't going anywhere. I leave the VSA on mostly because if I shut it off, I doubt I'd remember to turn it back on in conditions that actually call for it.

I've had VSA hit once or twice before when I neither needed nor wanted it, and it acts exactly like you describe - you're pressing the gas, but nothing happens. Then it clears and you take off because you had the throttle down too much because the car wasn't responding. Fortunately, it's never happened at a critical moment for me - and fortunately your moment wasn't as critical as it could have been!

[tractorboy]

On the BBC News website today "How close are we to a crash-proof car"
BBC News - How close are we to a crash-proof car?
I've oten thought that all these safety features actually de skill the driver and consequently cause new problems by curingthe old ones.
Also I wonder if we will get to a point where the driver blames the car for the accident?

[1337CRZ]

I also just found out that you cant disable VSA if you have any errors. Im running some different wheels and throwing a TPMS error, no biggie, but i noticed that VSA cannot be disabled.

[gordonfc]

Heard of this before.
The VSA shuts off gas to the engine leaving you with only IMA power. DUH !
Solution if you can anticipate the situation....turn the VSA 'OFF'.

Button on left stalk looking like a skid pattern. You will get the VSA OFF light.
Owners manual page 215.

Remember to turn it back on !!

[wicked1]

Originally Posted by atteSmythe

If only there was something in the car that DID know that...

seems like they could look at throttle position... but whatever. Those Japanese aren't very creative technologically.. (obviously that last comment is a joke)

[gordonfc]

Yes you can turn VSA 'OFF' 1337CRZ.
ON / OFF button left stalk. Owners manual Pg. 215