DSC Off - Some Observations

[Metro Gray]

So I picked up my speed at the beginning of February and with exception to the loud exhaust (peep) and touchy shifting I absolutely love the car. Unbelievable bargain IMHO and a great overall package.

Before I get into my observation I should put things into perspective. I have owned many 5 spds over the years and I think the Mazda qualifies as one of the most difficult to drive smoothly.

Its not difficult to find the gears or move the shifter, it has more to do with the cars capabilities. Power delivery is abrupt and the DSC cuts in to help control the spin almost immediately from what I can feel. Problem is that the clutch isn't always fully engaged when the DSC cuts in which makes the take off and shifting jerky.

Since I am finally getting really comfortable with the car I decided to turn the DSC off (not completely) by pushing the button only after the car us running. I've experimented with this over the past 2 weeks and I have noticed that the jerky shifting is nearly gone and the car feels much more natural to drive. At first I thought it was mental but after a few drives where I forgot to turn it off I noticed the jerky shifting almost immediately so it really does make a difference. Wheelspin is obviously increased but not dramatically on dry roads and I actually don't mind it.

Has anyone else noticed this dramatic difference with DSC off?

 

[oaklandopen]

i don't think anyone else drives like you. you sound like you are constantly gunning it from a stop so you're always getting wheel spin.

i feel bad for all the cars you've owned and your new one now

 

[HOBDisease]

I decided to turn the DSC off (not completely) by pushing the button only after the car us running.

It's completely off when you push the dsc button.

 

[MikeHTally]

It's completely off when you push the dsc button.

Not likely.

 

[Metro Gray]

i don't think anyone else drives like you. you sound like you are constantly gunning it from a stop so you're always getting wheel spin.

i feel bad for all the cars you've owned and your new one now

Hmm, that is an interesting response. How on earth did you come to that conclusion based upon what I wrote. (scratch)

It's completely off when you push the dsc button.

I was under the impression that you could only turn it fully off only when depressing the button and starting the car?

 

[240ka]

i don't think anyone else drives like you. you sound like you are constantly gunning it from a stop so you're always getting wheel spin.

i feel bad for all the cars you've owned and your new one now

im confused on your reponse to what he wrote.

i didnt get that at all from what he said.

he said that with DSC off the car seems to shift much smoother than with it on. and im going to say i agree.

since i have gotten the car, after start up i always turned DSC off. ive recently started driving with it on over the last few months and have also noticed how much harder its been to get consistent smooth shifting.

ive been paying much closer attention to my shift than i did in the first few thousand miles of owning the car

 

[240ka]

I was under the impression that you could only turn it fully off only when depressing the button and starting the car?

press and holding the DSC button while starting the car...correct

 

[bluelion]

hmmm, i'll have to try this....

 

[madvillian]

turn the key half way, hold the dsc button til it blinks, start the car with your hand still on the button. now traction control and dsc is completely off. this is the way the car should be. i do this every single time i start the car, if im going to drive into a ditch, i'd rather do it without the cars help. if you want to end up in a ditch faster, take apart the underside of the steering wheel and undo the SWAS (steering wheel angle sensor) which eliminates the power limitation when the wheel is at any angle. again, this is how the car should be, you have to be careful though.

 

[mdavis]

press and holding the DSC button while starting the car...correct

this has been heavily debated before. some agree it turns 'everything' off and others are convinced it does nothing.

do a search

 

[GoFast]

turn the key half way, hold the dsc button til it blinks, start the car with your hand still on the button. now traction control and dsc is completely off. this is the way the car should be. i do this every single time i start the car, if im going to drive into a ditch, i'd rather do it without the cars help. if you want to end up in a ditch faster, take apart the underside of the steering wheel and undo the SWAS (steering wheel angle sensor) which eliminates the power limitation when the wheel is at any angle. again, this is how the car should be, you have to be careful though.

 

[SallySpeed3]

Lol, classic

 

[Kain]

This thread has created a tear in the space-time continuum.

 

[240ka]

this has been heavily debated before. some agree it turns 'everything' off and others are convinced it does nothing.

do a search

reading comprehension....

inever said pressing dsc disables everything. pressing the dsc which allows the wheels to spin at will. seems to allow smoother shifting

 

[MSMS3]

DSC is your friend under most normal driving. It is the electronic stability control which, among other things, selectively applies braking to individual wheels when it senses the car is outside of safe parameters. It senses slip angle and even vehicle yaw and pitch and makes corrections with the brakes.

In another vehicle (an SUV), electronic stability control absolutely saved my butt, if not my life when I entered a decreasing radius off ramp at too much speed.

But the traction control component of our DSC should be deactivated when you are doing straight line WOT testing or competition in the lower two gears.

Deactivating will allow wheelspin at will depending on how aggressive you are with the throttle in first and second, even third gear.

I do not see any difference in function with the various alternative ways of deactivating DSC. I just push the button.

With respect, no one in his or her right mind would want to deactivate the separate wheel angle sensor in a car that can't possibly deliver its existing power to the ground in first and second gear. That's an invitation to have a very unpleasant meeting with a telephone pole.

 

[Metro Gray]

I agree that the DSC does serve a good purpose but for day to day driving, warmer temps, dry roads which doesn't entail agressive throttle application I prefer the DSC off. Obviously I'm not suggesting this to everyone, I'm only stating my observations and preference.

I've owned a few cars with traction control and when it comes to my fun cars I prefer without. I have to agree with others that electronic nannies make the car feel artificial.

I also tried the DSC off when starting the car this morning but I didn't note any dramatic difference in driveability and I will only know more after a week or two of using this method.

Wheelspin isn't a problem really unless I accelerate hard from a stop or when there is gravel on the road in a turn. The car has incredible feedback and the throttle seems much easier to modulate without the DSC interfering.

 

[happy and angry]

Power delivery is abrupt and the DSC cuts in to help control the spin almost immediately from what I can feel. Problem is that the clutch isn't always fully engaged when the DSC cuts in which makes the take off and shifting jerky.

If you are spinning tires regularly without the clutch fully engaged to the point where the DSC/TCS systems kick in, you are aggressively launching your car on a regular basis. This car makes about the same power down at launch RPMs (1000 - 1500 rpm) as the base Mazda3, if you can't keep your nannies from closing the throttle plate on you, you need to work on your right foot and stop slipping the clutch so damn much.

 

[Metro Gray]

If you are spinning tires regularly without the clutch fully engaged to the point where the DSC/TCS systems kick in, you are aggressively launching your car on a regular basis. This car makes about the same power down at launch RPMs (1000 - 1500 rpm) as the base Mazda3, if you can't keep your nannies from closing the throttle plate on you, you need to work on your right foot and stop slipping the clutch so damn much.

I would agree with this except I don't have tire slippage or jerky starts with the DSC off. My problem is that I can't get a feel for what the car is doing with the DSC on so I let off the throttle or get on the throttle while the DSC is trying to modulate. I also notice that the engine doesn't rev as freely with the DSC on which I feel during downshift. Seems others have similar observations.

 

[240ka]

^^^tagreed

 

[happy and angry]

Do you know what the word "placebo" means? It sounds like everything you are discussing is in your head, because quite frankly, without wheel spin being detected, the DSC does nothing at all. It is not some all-encompassing throttle control system that alters fuel trims at all points in driving. It engages in very select, specific situations after very specific, select conditions have been met. If you are not spinning your tires, and you are not seeing the DSC light blinking at you on the dash, the DSC is doing nothing. You might as well be blaming your problems on gremlins.