DSC; can it be turned off?

[Norkamus]

Hello, simple question as in the thread title. My AWD 2014 CX-5 GS has only the TCS button. I was playing in a snowy parking lot the other day to learn how it all works. I found that whether the TCS is engaged or not, as soon as there is any side slippage, the power cuts completely off.

My guess is some other (DSC?) system is taking over. Can anyone shed some light on this for me, and any possibility of turning it off? I want the option to rip around and lose some control on a snow covered parking lot.

Thanks,
Nick

 

[Canadian-ES-GT]

Could it be applying the brakes and not cutting the power. Stability control is to put you in a straight line and the ones I've tried apply brakes to certain wheels to keep you straight.

Don't own a CX-5 so I can't test it. I'm sure someone else has tried though.

Have a good one!

 

[Norkamus]

It is definitely cutting power. When it's side slipping, even at low parking lot speeds the gas pedal does nothing. Anyone else wanna chime in here? Did I post in the wrong section?
Nick

 

[IHeartGroceries]

One of DSC's parameters is to close the throttle plate if slipping occurs. AFAIK, there's no easy way to disable it. Should've bought a Speed6 if you want to disable it to have fun in the snow.

 

[Norkamus]

Hmm. That's not news I was hoping for. Is this something a dealer could install for me?- A button to disable this feature? Surely it is only a computer thing, and would only require a simple parameter change.

Otherwise, I guess I am truly a family man now. Thanks for the response.

Nick

 

[deepfriedsushi]

Not too sure if this would apply to the cx5, but my general understanding is that pressing the TC button will turn off traction control, but holding the TC button down for a few seconds would then turn DSC off. However, I've read that there are some cars that don't allow DSC to be turned off.

I would assume this could be written somewhere in the manual too.

 

[xxxmonoxidechil]

Possibly try holding down the TCS button for an extended amount of time. Alot of cars will do a override and fully disengage DSC if you do this. Not sure if the CX5 is one of them or not though. But there's no harm in trying.

 

[Norkamus]

I'll quote from my manual "If the TCS off switch is pressed and held for 10 seconds or more, the TCS OFF switch malfunction detection function operates and the TCS system activates automatically. The TCS OFF indicator light turns off while the TCS system is operative."

I have tried this procedure and until you restart the vehicle, the TCS button does nothing. I think TCS OFF is just meant to be used at low speed like when you're stuck.

On the topic of DSC, "DSC operation is possible at speeds greater than 20km/h"

I guess I'm stuck.
Nick

 

[IHeartGroceries]

Want to buy my Speed 6? It loves snow.

 

[MikeM.]

One of DSC's parameters is to close the throttle plate if slipping occurs.

To clarify, it's the traction control that closes the throttle when wheel spin is detected and this function can be disabled by pushing the TCS button. The reason it can be disabled is because there are conditions in which the only way to make forward progress is with wheel spin.

Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) can also close the throttle but only does so if it detects the car yawing in a direction that is not intended based upon the direction the front wheels are aimed. This is the kind of slide that may be experienced on an icy corner that could take the vehicle into oncoming traffic or over the edge of an embankment. While it will cut the throttle (if the throttle is open when the slide begins) it has a more powerful tool in it's range of capabilities: it can apply individual brakes one at a time or even diagonal brakes in order to bring the car back under control. This function cannot be disabled presumably because there is not a practical situation in which it would be advantageous to have it disabled. So, if your intention is to do donuts in a parking lot, you are out of luck.

With almost 30 CX-5 trips up and down the steep mountain road to the local ski area I have had numerous opportunities to put the DSC through it's paces and can report that it works very well (especially helpful on slippery downhill hairpin turns). If the corner is entered too fast, DSC simultaneously checks your speed while pulling the vehicle to the inside of the turn, something even a skilled driver could not accomplish in such a circumstance (because without DSC it is not possible to apply individual brakes). Imagine the complexity of a brake control system that was set up to allow the driver to manually apply the brakes individually or in diagonal pairs. With the CX-5's DSC, I find that I can enter a corner with unknown traction more confidently (it is often impossible to tell if there is ice or bare pavement under a thin layer of freshly fallen snow until the vehicle is actually in the corner). The extra confidence is due to the additional capability provided by the DSC system which makes it less critical to know just how much traction will be available mid-corner. After 30 years driving cars without DSC on snowy mountain roads I can say that DSC is certainly of great benefit, even to one who is skilled at driving on low traction surfaces.

The CX-5 loves the snow.

 

[Norkamus]

...So, if your intention is to do donuts in a parking lot, you are out of luck.

Yeah, the original intention was to do donuts. Alas, I still love this vehicle.

Nick

 

[IHeartGroceries]

Hah...I turn DSC off 100% of the time in my Speed6, unless it is raining. All it does is ruin fun.

 

[Caspan]

I experienced this the other day trying to go up my slippery driveway. I was using my tires to compact the snow and at one point my tires started to slip and then all of a sudden the peddle would do nothing. It was like I had no power at all with the peddle to the floor. I did not realize the TCS did this and is kind of a neat feature..... unless you are stuck. I will have to test turning it off next time to see if that works.