VSA VSA or not VSA - Page 2

sushi_chef · 11th April 2007, 14:03

This is an interesting subject. I consider myself a reasonably experienced and safe driver however I do enjoy, as I would expect many others on here do, a "good run out" on those quiet squiggly hill top roads. I get the impression that this is the time where some people may turn off the VSA to put the car back in to its raw format. I think I'd be the complete opposite, I may know the roads well, I may be very confortable with the cars handling, I may consider myself to be a good driver, however I may not know about that little diesel spill / patch of wet leaves right on the corner. VSA may be my last chance to save the car or the car and me! Im sure that I couldn't judge a situation, condiser my options, react and still get it right in the split seconds that VSA could do it for me. Its staying on in my car!

GHGH · 11th April 2007, 14:17

Except for that a diesel patch in a steep hill covered with 5 cm loose wet snow hardly will make any difference in the already very slippery conditions. And it is in such conditions you might need to switch off the VSA to be able to reach the top.

sushi_chef · 11th April 2007, 14:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by GHGH

Except for that a diesel patch in a steep hill covered with 5 cm loose wet snow hardly will make any difference in the already very slippery conditions. And it is in such conditions you might need to switch off the VSA to be able to reach the top.

Agreed, I should have said in "normal" driving conditions. I haven't yet driven the civic on a very slippery surface i.e mud or snow but appreciate that you may need to turn it off in those circumstances to acheive some movement.

GHGH · 11th April 2007, 14:34

Neither have I.
But I know incidences where the poor stuck driver has tried to remove the stability system circuit fuse in sheer desperation.
Reminds me of me and my PC

.

romatic · 11th April 2007, 17:20

OK guys, I've been for my experimental VSA ON/OFF drive and between that and the above posts and the results of the survey at top, I'll leave the VSA switched ON.

Dr Dark · 11th April 2007, 18:57

VSA on at all times - has saved me no end of time.

Only time it could possibly be a danger, is if you're stuck at a junction on a busy road, its wet (or theres shedloads of gravel/muck) and you want a quick getaway, too quick and it will just "stall" the car and you'll not get away at all - my Accord did this a hell of a lot (but it was the 2.4 auto)

I've never turned it off - I once belted into a familiar bend but it was rather lumpy and wet, so the car panicked and helped me gain control again... Some of the roads round here have really odd/sharp contrasting cambers and would otherwise cause the car to torque steer or tramline under braking, now generally do not.

There's a rather nice sharp bit what I can take fast coming off the M4 onto the M25 and I whip round there, but the other day I must have been too cocky and felt the back end start one of those rather expensive "whoa!" moments MG TF drivers seem to love.... but the car chimed in (I could really feel the G forces changing spookily) and I still whizzed round, albeit facing the right way, and a lot slower!

VSA is designed for a reason, so use it as intended. I can't think of a reason to turn it off completely (I'd rather turn off ABS in winter than VSA - think of Land Rovers "Hill Descent" system as advanced VSA and you're there more or less)

MC Hammer · 11th April 2007, 20:00

Very Interesting thread.
Most of it relates to the traction control that the VSA also does. More importantly though is that fact that it helps avoid a spin in extreme circumstances.
Personally I'd rather be safe than sorry and keep it switched on.

pjr · 11th April 2007, 22:17

VSA will be switched on all the time (other than the odd occasion in the snow where the extra revs could prove useful)

Only managed to activate the DSC on my previous car twice in 3 years (not counting when the roads were icy/snowy). First time was when I deliberately provoked it into action by taking an armful of steering and a heavy application of throttle in 2nd gear on a wet road, just so I would know what to expect if it did trigger itself.
2nd time was the unexpected occasion - going round a roundabout in 2nd/3rd and encountered massive understeer - think there may have been diesel on the road, as I wasn't going quickly - DSC stepped in and corrected the slide without me doing anything.

Haven't had occasion to use the VSA in the Civic yet - hasn't rained in the last week and a half, and because I'm still running the car in haven't been excessively hard on the throttle!

elfa7 · 12th April 2007, 08:09

VSA appears to be an excellent safety device, and I always leave ours on.

But does it ever fail --- is there a warning light to tell us it has failed ?.

GHGH · 12th April 2007, 08:13

Yes, I believe an orange VSA sign will appear to the right of the VSA triangle.

elfa7 · 12th April 2007, 08:19

Thanks GHGH. Very reassuring.

GHGH · 12th April 2007, 08:42

Yes, provided that the instruction book is correct.

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This thread is about: VSA or not VSA, it's in Electronics at the Honda Civic forum Civinfo; This is an interesting subject. I consider myself a reasonably experienced and safe driver however I do enjoy, as I would expect many others on ...

11th April 2007, 14:03	#21 (permalink)
sushi_chef Nifty with fish Triangular Exhaust Join Date: 7th March 2007 Location: Nr Halifax, W.Yorks Posts: 249 Thanks: 8 Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts iTrader: (0)	This is an interesting subject. I consider myself a reasonably experienced and safe driver however I do enjoy, as I would expect many others on here do, a "good run out" on those quiet squiggly hill top roads. I get the impression that this is the time where some people may turn off the VSA to put the car back in to its raw format. I think I'd be the complete opposite, I may know the roads well, I may be very confortable with the cars handling, I may consider myself to be a good driver, however I may not know about that little diesel spill / patch of wet leaves right on the corner. VSA may be my last chance to save the car or the car and me! Im sure that I couldn't judge a situation, condiser my options, react and still get it right in the split seconds that VSA could do it for me. Its staying on in my car!

11th April 2007, 14:17	#22 (permalink)
GHGH Supporter Rocketship door handle Join Date: 13th March 2007 Location: Trondheim, Norway Posts: 1,038 Thanks: 2 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post iTrader: (0)	Except for that a diesel patch in a steep hill covered with 5 cm loose wet snow hardly will make any difference in the already very slippery conditions. And it is in such conditions you might need to switch off the VSA to be able to reach the top.

11th April 2007, 14:34	#24 (permalink)
GHGH Supporter Rocketship door handle Join Date: 13th March 2007 Location: Trondheim, Norway Posts: 1,038 Thanks: 2 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post iTrader: (0)	Neither have I. But I know incidences where the poor stuck driver has tried to remove the stability system circuit fuse in sheer desperation. Reminds me of me and my PC .

11th April 2007, 17:20	#25 (permalink)
romatic Supporter Locking Wheelnut Join Date: 30th March 2007 Location: Glasgow Posts: 133 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	OK guys, I've been for my experimental VSA ON/OFF drive and between that and the above posts and the results of the survey at top, I'll leave the VSA switched ON.

11th April 2007, 18:57	#26 (permalink)
Dr Dark Wheelnut Join Date: 29th January 2007 Location: Oop Nooerth Posts: 86 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	VSA on at all times - has saved me no end of time. Only time it could possibly be a danger, is if you're stuck at a junction on a busy road, its wet (or theres shedloads of gravel/muck) and you want a quick getaway, too quick and it will just "stall" the car and you'll not get away at all - my Accord did this a hell of a lot (but it was the 2.4 auto) I've never turned it off - I once belted into a familiar bend but it was rather lumpy and wet, so the car panicked and helped me gain control again... Some of the roads round here have really odd/sharp contrasting cambers and would otherwise cause the car to torque steer or tramline under braking, now generally do not. There's a rather nice sharp bit what I can take fast coming off the M4 onto the M25 and I whip round there, but the other day I must have been too cocky and felt the back end start one of those rather expensive "whoa!" moments MG TF drivers seem to love.... but the car chimed in (I could really feel the G forces changing spookily) and I still whizzed round, albeit facing the right way, and a lot slower! VSA is designed for a reason, so use it as intended. I can't think of a reason to turn it off completely (I'd rather turn off ABS in winter than VSA - think of Land Rovers "Hill Descent" system as advanced VSA and you're there more or less)

11th April 2007, 20:00	#27 (permalink)
MC Hammer Kids use a lot of space Magic Rear Seat Join Date: 16th June 2006 Location: UK Posts: 631 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post iTrader: (0)	Very Interesting thread. Most of it relates to the traction control that the VSA also does. More importantly though is that fact that it helps avoid a spin in extreme circumstances. Personally I'd rather be safe than sorry and keep it switched on.

11th April 2007, 22:17	#28 (permalink)
pjr Type S(tig) Magic Rear Seat Join Date: 24th March 2007 Location: Scotland Posts: 552 Thanks: 9 Thanked 18 Times in 16 Posts iTrader: (0)	VSA will be switched on all the time (other than the odd occasion in the snow where the extra revs could prove useful) Only managed to activate the DSC on my previous car twice in 3 years (not counting when the roads were icy/snowy). First time was when I deliberately provoked it into action by taking an armful of steering and a heavy application of throttle in 2nd gear on a wet road, just so I would know what to expect if it did trigger itself. 2nd time was the unexpected occasion - going round a roundabout in 2nd/3rd and encountered massive understeer - think there may have been diesel on the road, as I wasn't going quickly - DSC stepped in and corrected the slide without me doing anything. Haven't had occasion to use the VSA in the Civic yet - hasn't rained in the last week and a half, and because I'm still running the car in haven't been excessively hard on the throttle!

12th April 2007, 08:09	#29 (permalink)
elfa7 Supporter Rocketship door handle Join Date: 8th May 2006 Location: Cheshire Posts: 1,699 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	VSA appears to be an excellent safety device, and I always leave ours on. But does it ever fail --- is there a warning light to tell us it has failed ?.

12th April 2007, 08:13	#30 (permalink)
GHGH Supporter Rocketship door handle Join Date: 13th March 2007 Location: Trondheim, Norway Posts: 1,038 Thanks: 2 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post iTrader: (0)	Yes, I believe an orange VSA sign will appear to the right of the VSA triangle.

12th April 2007, 08:19	#31 (permalink)
elfa7 Supporter Rocketship door handle Join Date: 8th May 2006 Location: Cheshire Posts: 1,699 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	Thanks GHGH. Very reassuring.

12th April 2007, 08:42	#32 (permalink)
GHGH Supporter Rocketship door handle Join Date: 13th March 2007 Location: Trondheim, Norway Posts: 1,038 Thanks: 2 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post iTrader: (0)	Yes, provided that the instruction book is correct.