I know the owners manual said you can press the DSC button to turn off DSC. I found out that pressing the button for an extended period (5 or 6 seconds) makes the dash light up with the slippery tires light.

So for spirited driving, do I need to turn it completely off, such has holding it for 6 seconds or just press the DSC button and turn DSC off?

 

Just pressing the button quickly works for me. I never have held the button down and I know mine shuts off.

 

the first time the light comes on on the dash saying DSC is off. but if you continue to hold the button then the other light comes on. I dunno.

 

another thing worth mentioning, when you do it this way you cant turn the DSC back on until the car is turned off and then back on.

 

It's just like my 3 Series, you hold it done for 5 secs and its' completely off... if you just turn it off, the DSC is just not as sensitive, but will still kick on.

It doesn't really matter where it is if your spirited driving... I usually just disable the DSC period... :D Jus like my FD!!

 

The first, momentary press turns of DSC. The second, longer press turns of TC as well. And, from the second mode you must turn the ignition off / on to re-engage it.

Chrisbert

 

I think the first push turns off both DSC and TC. The five second push just makes it permanent until you restart the car. I saw this in another thread.

 

I have noticed the my dsc doesnt do much. i have tested it both on and off and the same thing happens. i get tires losing traction as i accelerate around a corner. anyone else experience this?

 

The mazda manual here in the UK says if you hold the button in for more than five seconds the system thinks there is a switch malfunction and thats why the two dash lights illuminate .

I think the TC is switched off with the DSC because I can light rears up very nicely this way



Lee

 

You may be correct. I looked at the older thread. Either way, if you want to truly experience the 8 you gotta turn it off. Just go at it easy until you get used to the tail coming out a bit.

 

Maybe is just my style of driving - but with the system on - I can go faster through twisty roads. i feel the ABS controlling the body weight and so - but it actually (as least feels) than I am going faster and on track....

 

When dynoing, we had to hold the button in for the 5 sec. to disable it, otherwise it got upset.

Of course, then the ABS got upset, but that's another story

 

this may be a question better asked in a MPG's thread but anyone think the DSC coming on during spirited driving may be a contributing factor in the poor gas mileage because of how it works(applies the brakes, ie.)?

 

Brakes only come on when the car is pretty much "going out of control". So, no, probably not. Most of you don't go that far .

 

I'm more concerned that the brake pads will wear much faster if the DSC has to intervene frequently. In winter snow conditions, even with winter tires, I usually turn the DSC off, because I like to slide the car a bit (hang the tail out now and then at lower speeds), and the DSC brakes keep interfering!

Regards,
Gordon

 

The manual doesn't really describe with much detail how TSC and DSC work.

Now, feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but from my experience I think it might work this way:

Traction control limits your ability to continue accelerating when it detects your rear wheels spinning.

Direct Stability Control intervenes with brakes to individual wheels to keep the car in control, however does not arbitrarily cut your power upon wheel-spin.

My previous was an AWD, and TC and DSC were combined into one setting. (Audi TT). The wheels almost never spun on that car, even on slick surfaces. Gotta hand it to those guys at Audi, those cars are super safe. Their cars have earth-rotating grip.

In contrast, my RX-8 kicks out at my slightest whim. Not as safe, but fun as heck. Gotta love it!

 

Mazda engineer told a friend of mine that in order to turn the DSC "completely off", the switch needs to be depressed for 7 sec. So that means there are two modes or levels for the DSC?

 

Yes. What the manual (and the light on the dash) call "Off" is actually still enabled but with much higher thresholds of activation. For all intents and purposes, under normal driving conditions, it is off, but it can and sometimes will engage under extreme conditions such as autocross or deliberate drifting.

The only way to completely disable it is to press and hold the button for several seconds, at which point both the DSC OFF light and the "slippery when wet" TCS/DSC operation light will come on solidly, and it will remain deactivateduntil you turn the ignition off and back on.