MazdaSpeed 3 TCS/DSC COMPLETELY off.... possibly....

[megz]

You weren't braking hard enough

When I stomp on the brakes because I overshot a turn, I hear the characteristic "crowbar on rotor" sound and the expected vibrations in the brake pedal. There's a particularly high threshold to engage ABS during autoX, it seems...

Ok, put it this way, I've had the ABS kick on in that car, in auto-x and on the street... and I put WAY more pressure on the brakes this time, and it still locked up... that's why I'm confused

 

[major error]

...maybe you're confusing squealing tires with ABS not working?

They're not mutually exclusive. Especially if the wheel is not pointing in the direction of travel/slide...

 

[megz]

Ok, I understand what ABS is, and I understand what tire squealing and when my car slides. The ABS DID NOT kick in. I've had ABS kick in on this car before, and on my last 3, and in my grand prix, my bonneville, my taurus and blazer... I'm not mistaken when I feel a lock up, trust me.

 

[chacon101]

Slightly off topic but I wouldn't bet the farm on it being fool proof.

I had an 03 VW GTi and once while going through a rain soaked intersection, I had to slam on the brakes to avoid a complete idiot that stopped in the middle of the road.

I hit the brakes hard and I felt that intial vibration of the ABS kicking in but then, as I held the brakes down and white nuckled the steering wheel, I realized that the ABS itself had locked up and wasn't applying ANY brake force at all.

In a slow motion, grey hair giving action, I turned the wheel to the right and then left really quick to whip around that guy. THANK GOD there was nobody right next to me or else I would have nailed that guy.

My whole point is that sometimes, that s*** doesn't work.

 

[08mazdaspeed3]

Not sure if the DSC off turns off abs but it does turn off brake assist. Cause like people were originally saying, DSC off by itself only really turns off TSC. Doing the trick turns off DSC for real. So no brake assist. But like I said, I am unsure if abs is disabled.


I also want to add, wether TSC is on of off. my car spins like crazy. No traction in first or second. I am also a very light person so that may have part in it. But even with 3 people in my car it spins in 2nd when I get into it. TSC doesnt really seem to change how much it spins. I normally just leave it on...

But these cars are just badass!

 

[NiteRunner]

1 Year later....no clear answer?

Just a thought.....Mazda is misinforming us a bit.
The manual says "DSC OFF" is to get out of snow and such, (spinning tires), right. Isn't that backwards? TC, (traction control), prevents wheel spin.
DCS, (dynamic stability control), keeps us from sliding off a corner and other nifty things. DSC can even apply brakes and limit power if it feels you might loose control in a turn.

TC, prevents wheel spin
DCS, keeps us out of the ditch in a corner ect.

Me thinks the "DSC OFF" is mislabeled and should be "TC OFF"
Now wether the "MOD" takes the actual DSC out of play as well, or if it can magically reactivate I don't know, but these terms and system purposes seem to be getting mixed up a lot here.

To test this, don't try burnouts, instead try boosting a big circle in an empty lot. Second or third gear boosting like an Auto-X and see if the ECU cuts the throttle in the three configurations when you break traction and start to slide sideways.

I know this is(deadhorse but we should really know for sure.
Any takers?

PS Don't yell at me if you disagree, I have read this entire thread and this is my conclusion.

 

[dkswim]

I disagree

sorry thats all

































actualy im in agreeance with you.

 

[squidmotion]

my '09 will spin pretty darn good in first or second with everything on... if it gets out of control, i get the flashing light... i think it has a mind of it's own...

so my take on the traction on or off thing is really not that important... if i do the start then push the button, the car feels faster, yet looser in twisties..... and if i take off hard enough to spin the wheels, it still spins as before... and gives me the TCS flashing light when it gets to really blowing the tires off... if i do the push the button then start method, it does about the same thing, i just don't get the flashing light warning... i like this, as it doesn't bug me with the light/warning, etc.

on the roads i keep it all turned on... it feels safer in the twisties... on a track or auto-xing i would DEFINITELY want it off, as i can drive it to the limit a lot harder...

my car is all stock, with a k&n..... and it pulls like MAD and will break the potenzas loose at will in 2nd. just rolling in 2nd and nail it... gonna break em loose, every time... mine will sometimes get a bit of a scratch going into 3rd as well.

is my car weird, or does everyone's run this well???

one other thing.... i've learned to control the torque steer in it, finally. it really comes on strong when you give it a hard run.

 

[Retrobmx63]

if i do the start then push the button, the car feels faster, yet looser in twisties..... and if i take off hard enough to spin the wheels, it still spins as before... and gives me the TCS flashing light when it gets to really blowing the tires off...

It shouldn't do that. As soon as you turn it off you shouldnt see the TCS blinking anymore.

my car is all stock, with a k&n..... just rolling in 2nd and nail it... gonna break em loose, every time... mine will sometimes get a bit of a scratch going into 3rd as well.

Seems like you have a factory freak (lucky bastard) to be able to nail it from a roll and spin 'em. (assuming normal dry traction road conditions)

 

[gonerogue]

It shouldn't do that. As soon as you turn it off you shouldnt see the TCS blinking anymore.



Seems like you have a factory freak (lucky bastard) to be able to nail it from a roll and spin 'em. (assuming normal dry traction road conditions)

Mine is the same way in 2nd. Uphill, flat ground, whatever, I punch it in 2nd going even 40MPH and the revs just shoot up and the wheels are spinning. I have to gradually get on it to keep them planted. That's on dry ground in semi-warm and cool weather with stock tires (1300 miles on them).

 

[240ka]

same for me and can get a good chirp in 3rd.

i thought all MS3's can do this

 

[clos561]

my '09 will spin pretty darn good in first or second with everything on... if it gets out of control, i get the flashing light... i think it has a mind of it's own...

so my take on the traction on or off thing is really not that important... if i do the start then push the button, the car feels faster, yet looser in twisties..... and if i take off hard enough to spin the wheels, it still spins as before... and gives me the TCS flashing light when it gets to really blowing the tires off... if i do the push the button then start method, it does about the same thing, i just don't get the flashing light warning... i like this, as it doesn't bug me with the light/warning, etc.

on the roads i keep it all turned on... it feels safer in the twisties... on a track or auto-xing i would DEFINITELY want it off, as i can drive it to the limit a lot harder...

my car is all stock, with a k&n..... and it pulls like MAD and will break the potenzas loose at will in 2nd. just rolling in 2nd and nail it... gonna break em loose, every time... mine will sometimes get a bit of a scratch going into 3rd as well.

is my car weird, or does everyone's run this well???

one other thing.... i've learned to control the torque steer in it, finally. it really comes on strong when you give it a hard run.

mine did it, so does everyone elses as long as you can drive the car good enough. now with mods and lighter rims, its silly quick (silly)

 

[Gmac03]

When I autoX I always do the mod and turn off DSC and TC. If I don't I fly out of control all over the course.

Gmac

 

[meicalnissyen]

Do would it behave like a rear drive car? I'll be doing this test on the next autocross!!! SWEET!!!

I did it on my third run at our last event I was faster, but I also had my coach with me, and I was getting more used to the car.

It was spinning the tires when nanny was off, alot. fronts were hot as hell (159 sec enduro cross run) +4 psi brakes were engaging the abs kin a weird feel way kinda like kicking back at the pedal

NEED a better belt or a clip or something that seat is not as good as the ultrashield in my rolla go figure

 

[Gmac03]

I did it on my third run at our last event I was faster, but I also had my coach with me, and I was getting more used to the car.

It was spinning the tires when nanny was off, alot. fronts were hot as hell (159 sec enduro cross run) +4 psi brakes were engaging the abs kin a weird feel way kinda like kicking back at the pedal

NEED a better belt or a clip or something that seat is not as good as the ultrashield in my rolla go figure

You're talking about the speed3 seats right? I've never had an issue, I find the position I want to be in then do a quick pull on the seat belt and it locks in place. As far as ABS i've never had it engage while I was in the middle of a run. And for pressure I always run the same psi in the fronts as the rears.

What tires do you run? And do you take anything out of the vehicle. Reason I ask is because for my first few events I was taking out the spare and all associated pieces in the back of the car, but was getting a large amount of understeer. For the following events I kept it all in there and it seemed to help, then I equalled out the tire pressure and it seemed to help even more.

Gmac

 

[LukeP]

none of the "mods" that turns off DSC turns off ABS. ABS stays on all the time. I drove on pure ice for the last four months, so ABS is basically growling away all the time no matter what buttons or procedures I've gone through to turn off DSC (all it does is wear brakepads in this weather so I turn it off).

 

[WTF MATE]

I'm not going to read through all 10 pages, but commenting on the first two, I have ran the car with the dsc off and it has been plenty tail happy and the computer never came in and intervened. Even after sliding the car about 100 feet sideways. I haven't tried this mod out but I can't see what else it could possibly not do. It also shuts the traction control off when I've turned the dsc off. I mean I can turn it off and sit there and smoke the tires all day without anything happening.

 

[08cosmic3]

Ok. I'm tired of reading. What is the correct setting for producing the fastest times at the drag strip?

 

[dkswim]

Comic push and hold the DSC button upon start up.

 

[08cosmic3]

Comic push and hold the DSC button upon start up.

Thanks, I'm aware of what that does but will that get me a faster time at the strip or will I just get more spin?