Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) Modes?
 

Okay, DSC has three modes, as far as I can tell:
1) On
2) Off
3) Really Off (hold the button in 5 seconds and the skidding car dash light goes on)

So what is the difference between "Off" and "Really Off"? Other than the fact that "Off" can be switched back to "On".

Also, has anyone figured out how to make DSC "Off" the default setting on start up?

DSC Off leaves TCS on. That's the push and release. It'll still attempt to correct an 'out of control' condition, it just has a higher threshold before kicking in. Fully off, means you have no babysitter at all, and it'll behave like a regular old rwd car. There's speculation that TCS off also gives a little more grunt, and I feel like it does, but who knows.

There was a DIY a while back from someone who modified the switch to turn DSC and TCS off upon startup. But I personally like having the choice. The nannies will save your butt on occasion, particularly when it's wet out, and you only have to hold the button down for 7 seconds. My car takes longer than that to drop to normal idle rpm on startup, plenty of time to push the button.

Do yourself a big favor, leave it alone. Too many people wrecking out their 8's because they think they know better.

:D

Val, are you saying that people with base models are sliding all over the place and wrecking in great numbers? I've been under the impression that this car is incredibly easy to drive DSC or no for a skilled driver.

only the silver ones are crashing ;)

I'll have to check my manual again, but I read the section about the DSC/TCS button very carefully when I got my car. (late 2004 - VIN about 35000) It said that the button (pushed briefly) will disable the DSC/TCS system, and cautioned against holding the button down. It said something like "holding the button down for several seconds will cause the circuitry to sense a malfunction and shut the system down permanently. The DSC/TCS system will only re-engage if the ignition is turned off, and the car restarted." It made no mention of any possibility of separating the DCS circuitry from the TCS circuitry. In fact, a note about the "really off" situation stated that "in these circumstances, the brake LSD will still function." If this is true, then the only way to completely disable the LSD (and make it behave like a regular old rwd car) would likely be related to disabling the ABS, or part of it.

I have unmistakably set off the abs individual braking feature with DSC off before, without touching the brakes. And cars without traction control have limited slip diferentials, 2 different things.

Why doesn't someone "test" both modes and see what the real deal is?

1.) Tap the DSC Off switch.
1a.) Try doing a burnout (wet parking lot would be ideal).
1b.) Try making the back end come around (same as above).

2.) Hold it for the full 7-8 seconds to disactivate it entirely, and perform the above tests again.

I'd love to know that simply tapping the off switch gives the same effect, so that I don't have to shut off the car should I suddenly decide I need the systems back online.

When I had my 8, I generally found no difference between a "partial off" and a "full off"

In the snow, all I had to do was press it once for a "partial off" and the ass was hanging out like a cheap hooker. On another occasion I did the "full off" and found no difference. Both times were playing in the snow revving to redline in 1st or second with little to NO traction and nothing inhibited my fun.

1) DSC Off (As above)
1a) TSC interrupts...but it is intermittent. In the snow, this would result in wheelspin most of the time.
1b) TSC interrupts, but you can slide the tail out... (lift off oversteer works, not power on oversteer.)

2) DSC Off (Totally, Long Press)
2a) Obvious....burnout.
2b) Oversteer, Power on oversteer, Lift off oversteer

Remember that with either option, ABS and EBD are in effect. EBD will only assist while braking, and not a function of DSC.

Base 8z rule all!!!!!!muahahahhahah :p

Awesome, someone has tried it. :) Thanks for the info!

Then what is a "brake LSD" as described by the manual? I assumed this was an electronic system that applies the rear brakes selectively to limit rear wheel slip - thus making it a limited slip differential. Is this really a mechanical LSD? If so, then why would it be referred to as a "brake" LSD?

Can't say about base models sliding all over the place. Evidence mounts that turning off DSC is not a smart move. I know of SEVERAL owners that wrecked after they made the mistake of turning DSC off. Also some near disasters, too. This car (and my old RX-7) is light in the back and can spin freely. You can be the best driver in the world hit oil, grease, tranny fluid, water, coolant, chicken fat, Crisco, what have you and its round she goes.

No one I have talked to that has had the "nanny" save their ass said, "Boy, I wish I had turned DSC off!" Bottom line, do whatever you want, I'm just saying err on the side of caution.

Off my soap box.

Hmm...I would have to read the manual and see what is says...so I could not say based on the above quote.

My understanding is that the 8 is equipped with a Tochigi Torque Sensing Limited Slip Diff, which I believe to be mechanical; In the fact that it will apply torque to the wheel with the most traction? Correct if wrong.

In my thinking....out of context, a "Brake LSD" would seem to be a part of EBD (Electronic Brakeforce Distribution), in which it would apply the brakes to limit wheel spin of the wheel losing traction. Of course, this would make it a part of DCS and TCS, (If invoked) right?

So, before this gets too confusing...I would say that the Tochigi TS LSD will shift power to the wheel with the most traction, or balance the power between the two in the event that traction is equal...The "Brake LSD" would assist to balance the power by applying the brake to the wheel slipping to help it regain traction.

All speculation at this point, I'll read the manual and see what it says.

Limited slip is usually just a spring that prevents the spider gears from being pinned into one axle from inertia/centrifugal force. The spring keeps them touching both gears and both tires spin. If one tire spins more in puts more force on the spiring and more power is pushed to the non slipping tire.

Hmmm.. I hear alot about people worrying about turning off DSC and stuff, but what about base models?

In my opinion, I think people with DSC learn to drive and get used to the feeling of the car with DSC off, so when DSC is turned off it maybe feels different? I can't honestly say for sure since I've never driven with DSC on so who knows.

I'm getting base... think I should be worried about sliding all over the place? ^^

I think my car handles fine with DSC off it does what I expect it to do... swing the ass end around proportional to the amount of gas I'm giving it. DSC on it just chirps the tires blinks at me and stays planted. If you asumed this is all the car would do then that's your mistake. I like driving with mine off sometimes as it give me more control. I think it does have it's place though as there are plenty of times Where if you slam the gas the car would want to get sideways in a hurry... that might not have been a problem 20 years ago but now there's too many other people around.

I left my DSC on all day at Laguna Seca, and it didn't seem to slow me down at all as far as I could tell. I was driving at about 7/10s and it wouldn't even light up except on turn 11, which is very slow and tight.

I could feel the ABS/EBD kick in at the crest of the corkscrew and it was a trip; I swear I could tell it was braking one of the front wheels harder than the other as I braked hard, coming out of 7, for the turn into 8A. Same thing going into 2 sometimes.

(I love this frickin car; it was so awesome on the track.)

I’m somewhat envious of those who have not driven the 8 with DSC. You guys should understand the limits more than I do. For me it is a crutch that I refuse to do without. I’m scared to death to turn it off. I do feel safe with it on and I will not turn it off. I want to learn my car's limits but I will not do it until I can go to a school of some sort. I have a little Dennis the Menace tendency to want to push the button just because it is there.

One question, do you think you would have better control of the car at maximum speed in turns with it on or off (not sarcasm, I really do want to know what you think). Let me qualify that by saying the same experienced driver.

Many of my friends racing here in Georgia leave the DSC on but we have one brave sole that turned it off the other day and wound up doing a couple 360’s in turn 5 at Road Atlanta. He is a very good driver but he wanted to get just a little more out of the car so in pushing it to the limit he slightly exceeded. That little bit of extra slide did him in. (no damage except to his ego). He would not have spun if the DSC had been on.

Hey Hard 8, I am suprised you would be driving an 8. I wouldn't think you could get all those weapons in your trunk, plus all that blood from the chainsaw on your upholstery!! Shameful.

Ok, sorry to ressurrect an old thread, but I have a stupid question and I didn't want to create an entirely new thread for it.

I recently bought a used 2004 rx8 from a dealership. They had basically no paperwork on it. The model has the fog lights, xeon lights, 18" wheels and larger brakes. (ala the sports package)

However, for the life of me I can't find anything relating to DSC. There's no button to the left on the steering wheel, and no light in the dash that I can see. However, I find it odd that someone would have half the sports package and not the entire thing.

I assumed I didn't have DSC, but wanted to test it out. So it was raining hard and I was driving (in a deserted area) hard and couldn't get the back end to slip for beans. (although if i revved to 4k and dropped the cluth it would spin)

Is it correct to assume that if I don't have the DSC button there's no DSC on this model? If so, this car handles amazingly well.

6 speed has 18" wheels and bigger brakes no matter what package.. base - gt

The fog lights, xenon lamps and DSC are part of sport pkg and up.

I can't imagine someone installing xenon lamps, (fogs maybe) on a base.

Look at your instrument panel when you first turn on the ignition.

You should see just below the 7 and 8 on the tachometer, the little

car with slippery skid marks under its tires. It should light up and then turn off.

If you see this you should have DSC

The DSC switch is right beside the interior light dimmer switch.

^^ what he said. just attaching a pic showing exactly where the button is.