I just got my titanium gray machine yesterday and love it already!! I have a question on the TCS/DSC system. Does turning off the TCS also turn off the DSC system? I have now, and have had in the past, cars where you can turn off the traction control but leave the stablitiy system engaged. After reading the RX8 manual a few times that does not seem like the case here though. Thanks.

 

Yes, the two are linked.

 

No guysyou are wrong. You can turn the DSC on and off as much as you want justby pushing the button under the air conditioningvent. ButThe only way to turn off TCS is to hold the DSC button for about10seconds. When the TCS isfinally you off you will see a little TCS light that will stay on for aslong as you drive. Butonce you turn the TCS off youcant turn it back on and the DSC stays off also until the nexttime you start up the car. So theanswerto your question isyou can disable DSC w/o turning off TCS but you cant turn off TCS and keep DSC on.

 

Sorry, they both work together. Don't believe me? Try it! Dump the clutch at six grand from a standstill on a wet surface; the TCS will prevent you getting massive wheelspin. Now disable the DSC by pressing the button and repeat the violent wet start; the system will let you light up the wheels as much as you like because disabling the DSC has also disabled the TCS. Furthermore, the "slippery road" symbol illuminates whenever either the DSC or TCS kicks in - the two systems are inseparable.

 

Okay, but the disabling does work individually as stated.

 

I think you are mostly right. BUT, there has to be a reason why we can hold the button down and turn on the other light. There has to be something else we are doing.

I remember reading that pushing the DSC button quickly turns both DSC/TCS off at low speeds. But at high speeds, one or both of them still work. Holding the button disables everything at all times.

Anyone got any answers.

 

There definately is a difference with it being only turned off and completely disabled with holding down the button. The two are linked but there is definately a difference and just pushing the button doesnt turn everything off.

There is a video on the web that shows the difference in handling with all on, DSC off and all off and then compared to mazdaspeed.

here it is

http://www.step-hen.com/rx8spec.htm

 

Well, it was stated (I'll have to dig up the source - perhaps it was the Yamaguchi book, or even the owners manual) that after the short press, activating the ABS will turn it back on. But some anecdotal evidence has refuted that. In any case, holding the button causes an error in the system, which renders DSC and TCS offline.