Any Way to Customize VDC Behaviour?

[dividedhighw]

I was pulling out of the driveway at my son's school yesterday onto a busy road. Seeing a gap in traffic, I accelerated (only moderately heavier than normal) as I turned left onto the road. There's a bit of unevenness where the asphalt meets the curb, so the car bounced slightly, but nothing dramatic.

At this point the car's electronic big brother intervened, totally cutting fuel delivery. It took almost 2 seconds before I could accelerate again. I'm thankful that I waited for a reasonable gap or a collision would surely have ensued!

I took delivery of my EX in April and this is the first time that I've encountered the VDC kicking in. Having had "stability control" for the past 8 years in my Audi S4 which I drove MUCH more agressively, I'm appalled that the VDC is this intrusive, to the point of being downright unsafe!!

I realize there's an OFF switch (inconveniently) located far below the steering column on the left, but is there any way to just tone this down?

Any info/experiences appreciated.

Cheers,David

[marlin29311]

That seems odd that it popped on like that - the VDC in my car has actually been quite nice, comparing to the old TCS system that I had in my Ford a while ago - you couldn't even drive in wet weather without that sucker turning on...

As far as I know, there isn't a way to do so. However, one would imagine that you could take the car to the dealer and have them reprogram the ELSD to allow for more time before kicking in the VDC. I'm not 100% sure if this is allowable through the car's programming, but hell, it's worth a phone call to ask...

[specialist23]

simple answer, no.

easy answer, just keep pressing the button everytime you get in. i know it's a pain but it'll become a habit.

[G_whizz]

simple answer, no.

easy answer, just keep pressing the button everytime you get in. i know it's a pain but it'll become a habit.

There is no way to change it to your needs..it's routine now for me to hop in and turn mine off. Hell, I think I even do it before I put my seatbelt on.

[Timmbo]

There is no way to customize it, other than to turn it off each time you start the vehicle. I will tell you this, I have had the VDC on several Nissan/Infiniti vehicles, and you will LOVE the feature, especially in snow and ice. I will NOT buy another vehicle without this feature!!!

[SteveTheTech]

The VDC system on your EX uses inputs from numerous sensors from the decel/G sensor, ICC control unit(if equipted), Throttle CTRL MTR, ECM, TCM, LDW/LDP (Lane Departure Waring/Prevention)(If equipped) camera, plus the wheel speed sensors and AWD sensor inputs.

My thinking on this incident is that the decel/G sensor noticed a rapid change in pitch and roll dynamics and increased throttle angle, sudden change in torque distribution through the ATESSA system and steering angle. I do not know what all the parameters were with this happened but if you think about it I bet you will see why the VDC control unit decided to cut your throttle and fuel.

The system is actually pretty intuitive and especially on the new vehicles there are so many inputs and AWD to keep the wheels to the ground correctly. The AWD vehicles need VDC to keep the transfer case running cool and efficiently.

If operation is more than it should be or the lights (brake,slip,or VDC) illuminate then I would say get it checked out. In the case that it does not become an issue just keep in mind that it is watching you and if the car does not like the way you are operating it it will cut you off until you regain control.

[zozoka1212]

Dave,

That wasn't just the VDC. It was your VDC and ATESSA together. I had it once in one corner in Guelph. Similar situation with yours. Right turn and there is a little pothole where my left front(outside all the weight on it)wheel. Had the same reaction from my car. Although I don't think it was 2 seconds for me but it was noticable slow. The computer did not know what's going on cut the fuel and acceleration. I went back a few times and I was able to reproduce the same thing all the time when I hit the pothole and I was accelerating harder. I think when you loose the traction on your wheel where the most of the weight distributed the system just doesn't know what to do because you turning, loosing traction on the wheel where most of the weight is and the body rolls that way. Then when you get over the pothole it senses the traction and back to normal.

I love the ATESSA it is really predictable but not perfect. 99.9% it helps but the .1% is always there.

zozo

[dividedhighw]

Thanks for your opinion, information & analysis, everyone!

I have driven Audi since 1990 until April of this year, and NEVER had this happen. I guess you don't get Quattro/ESP engineering & performance at Japanese prices, after all.

Cheers,David

[SteveTheTech]

I have driven Audi since 1990 until April of this year, and NEVER had this happen. I guess you don't get Quattro/ESP engineering & performance at Japanese prices, after all.

There are many differences between Infiniti and Audi. I think allot of what you are experiencing is to try to assist in controlling the slightly larger size of your crossover. The car was loosing traction and trying to regain it there is not much of an issue with the car and it has nothing to do with the price of the vehicle.

Where you trying to drift? Because that is what the car though.

[kullenberg]

A piece of this issue is tires. I had some of the same problems on a V8 4runner until I changed to Bridgestone Revo's; again the same issue with a Highlander Hybrid, until a change to Nokian Wr's. I intend to change to the Nokians when the Michilens on my Ex become a problem. If the tire doesn't lose grip the cars traction systems are not an issue.

[dividedhighw]

I appreciate a technician's viewpoint Steve, but just for the record, there was no discernible loss of traction. The vehicle was NOT drifting (though it's possible the system mistakenly "thought" it was happening), and there was no squealing rubber, neither from forward acceleration nor lateral forces. That's precisely why I said that the systems were way too intrusive. Well-engineered electronic systems stay out of the way until they're actually needed.

Having owned cars since the '70s (one of which was a 1975 Chevy Impala), I can assure you I'm no stranger to driving vehicles of various sizes. In no way am I expecting the EX to behave like a sports car - I was just trying to pull out of a school driveway, as I said, under only moderately heavier acceleration.

BTW, I've not only driven Audi, but have experience with stability systems in BMW and Volvo as well. In my opinion, my EX's recent behaviour was unwarranted and shows it to be under-engineered.

David

[zozoka1212]

I think the reason you havn't experienced it because the Audi and others are not capable to put all the power to the rear wheels. Attesa takes the 100% to the rear wheels after 12mph(19km/h). They are different animals.

zozo

[AWGD8]

Since you guys touched this topic, lately I noticed a strange noise coming from the left front wheel side. Similar to an ABS sound when you hit the break in a snow filled road. Although this only happens when I used manual mode and depressing the throttle on 1st gear. I`m just wondering if ex35 VSC system will light up on the dash if it`s currently applying it? Just like the Toyota RAV4 VSC warning light.

[zozoka1212]

Not sure if I understand right. If it happenes when you start up your car 1st gear then the ABS doing a test. That is normal.

zozo

[AWGD8]

The engine is already running like when your are in the stop light waiting for a green light. When I gas it from 1st gear, I could hear a noise like an ABS noise from my left side , but I don`t see any VSC warning that tells me VSC is working.My old 08 RAV V6 shows a light (slippery signs) on the dash when the VSC is doing it`s job.

[specialist23]

There is no way to change it to your needs..it's routine now for me to hop in and turn mine off. Hell, I think I even do it before I put my seatbelt on.

so how does that make me stupid?

[marlin29311]

You're not stupid, it's just the smiley thingy saying G_whizz agrees with you