A&Q about 350Z
Q:
Hey all,
just a quick question/survey. how many drive with traction control off most of the time? when i first bought i rarely did but now its almost always.
A:
I usually leave it on, but only because I can't remember to turn it off. Anyone know of a quick way to turn it off permanently?
A:
Only turn it off when I am about to do some racing. Never know what is going to happen in everyday driving and I’m not prepared.
Mspeasl
Central Illinois - Form member since 2/02
"Growing old may be mandatory, but growing up is optional"
03 Redline Touring 6sp "350Z" (Pre-Ordered 02/02) - Delivered 29 August 02
05 Satin Jade Pearl Chrysler 300C 6/04
A:
It's just habbit now to turn it off now.... I really hate it when it's on and I want to scoot out of the way or take off quickly and the engine partially cuts off. Other than that, I do leave it on in the rain. Also, on long highway trips, I was thinking maybe it would be better left on as then the posi-traction isn't powering both wheels full time. Maybe better gas mileage? Just a thought. giZmo
A:
Ahh...mostly on because thats default. I usually forget. When I think about it...if I am on dry roads and feel like giving her a little juice, I turn it off.
Previously owned: 2005 Z Enthusiast, Super Black, 6 spd.
Currently lease: 2006 Pathfinder S, Silver, Auto
"She is (and always will be) my little deuce coupe, you don't know what I got!"
A:
yeah I'm sure theres either a fuse or fusible link that will disable all of the traction control / stability control. Check your manuals, I will see if I can find any info in the FSM. I'll post if I find specific instructions.
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1985 300ZX n/a
A:
i turn it off all the time unless it's raining out.
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'05 350Z Chrome Silver Touring
'73 240Z
A:
My car is 22 years old, it never heard of such silly technology :)
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1985 300ZX n/a
A:
it's for people that don't know to let off the gas when the tires start spinning.
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'05 350Z Chrome Silver Touring
'73 240Z
A:
no no no, you give it MORE gas when the tires start to spin!
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1985 300ZX n/a
A:
You're definitely wrong about the impotence - VDC has a strong grip on the dynamics of the car - and I don't like it. I have an '03 Track (no TCS), only VDC, which I manually turn off when it occurs to me (or when some clown is revving next to me, hehe). I have had a number of experiences where I had to scoot across lanes quickly to avoid oncoming traffic, only to have the wheels slightly spin, and have the power cut off...and there's nothing worse than that. I can respond far more quickly, accurately and delicately than that train wreck of a system.
Believe only what you think, not what you feel.
A:
Do all Z's have this???
Keep it real and stay true to yourself!
A:
have what?
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'05 350Z Chrome Silver Touring
'73 240Z
A:
my VDC might be impotent..Tell me it ain't so..
'06 Silver Alloy 350Z Touring
A:
After upgrading to 19" wheels with 35x245 front/35x275 rear tires, mine does nothing.
Anyone else?
-Zanioed '03 Le Mans Sunset Touring Coupe w/ Nav.
A:
No, not all Zs have Stability control and traction control. Only Z32s and Z33s came with it as options on certain trim packages. All previous Z's never even heard of it.
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1985 300ZX n/a
A:
I have the exact same 19" wheel setup, and mine still kicks in. My setup was made specifically for my Z, however....offsets are important in that regard.
Believe only what you think, not what you feel.
A:
No Z32s in the US had traction control or stability control. Was that on the later '97+ Z32s?
-- Next Up: SCCA ITR 300ZX --
A:
No I mis-posted. For some reason I thought that the Z32 had stability control as standard equipment on the TT models because they all came with ABS as standard, but I was incorrect. The 350Z is the only Z to have stability / traction control and they are standard equipment on all but the base models.
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1985 300ZX n/a
A:
I didn't have VDC on my 03 enthusiast !
'06 Silver Alloy 350Z Touring
A:
No, but all the new ones do. The '03 Enthusiast still had traction control as standard equipment though
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1985 300ZX n/a
A:
The '03 Track has VDC.
Believe only what you think, not what you feel.
A:
^^^ Eric is correct, at least from what I understand.
From what I also understand, any '06 model should have TCS and VDC unless its the base model. Can a '06 owner confirm that?
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1985 300ZX n/a
A:
According to the manual for my '06 Touring, I have both, which gives the same description for both the VDC and TCS. I just checked the switch again on the dash, and there is only one button labeled VDC. There is a vacant spot next to it for another switch, which I don't know what that would be for? How can one switch control two different functions ?
'06 Silver Alloy 350Z Touring
A:
hello, survey seems to have brought out a few new questions. I have an 03 enthusiast. as far as i have ever known it only has one button to turn TCS off & on.
A:
Yeah...Mine is exactly as "zooom" described, except my button says "TCS" instead of "VDC".
Previously owned: 2005 Z Enthusiast, Super Black, 6 spd.
Currently lease: 2006 Pathfinder S, Silver, Auto
"She is (and always will be) my little deuce coupe, you don't know what I got!"
A:
Yes, all models, excluding base, will only have one button.
The Enthusiast in the 03-06 models had TCS, and a single TCS button that turns it on and off.
The higher levels models had VDC, and a single VDC button that turns it on and off. Technically the higher level cars have both VDC and TCS, but they are both turned on and off by the same button - and I have a feeling that VDC is more like an extension of TCS than a completely seperate entity from TCS. Therefore they do not want you to be able to just disable one or the other, you must disable both or turn both on - thus the single VDC button.
Of course, I'm no Nissan tech, so this is all a guess.
'04 Daytona Blue 350Z Enthusiast - B-Stock #34
Tanabe Sustec 36mm chromoly front sway bar
K&N drop in air filter
Hawk HPS brake pads
Pioneer Premier CD/MP3 head unit
18% tint rear and sides
A:
Yes Reno, the 03 Enthusisast has only one button labeled TCS. This is more confusing than it should be. So, if I understand it, the new models have one button labeled VDC that controls both the braking dynamics and basically a limited slip differential control? How the hell can they do that ? The interesting thing, there is another spot for an additional button next to the VDC button on mine.
'06 Silver Alloy 350Z Touring
A:
TCS is a part of VDC, but VDC isn't required. This means that many cars will have TCS without VDC, but you cannot have VDC without TCS.
Its my understanding that: (but I'm not 100% sure)
1) '03 - '05 have TCS on all models except base, but only Touring and Performance packages [and maybe Track] had VDC (which includes TCS by default)
2) for '06+, all models except base have VDC, which again would include TCS by default.
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1985 300ZX n/a
A:
I think we all agree with one thing....that if your model has VDC, it also includes TCS, right ? So that being the case, there is ONE button that controls both, right? So if the models that have ONLY TCS and not VDC, means all they have is the rear traction control, which I think is the same as a limited slip differential, correct me if I am wrong.
So, how can pushing one VDC button control both systems? Is this possible ?
from Mario, "One should prevent wheel spin the other should control the brakes to prevent too much oversteer (or maybe any at all "
'06 Silver Alloy 350Z Touring
A:
zoom,
TCS cuts power electronically by decreasing the air and fuel. An LSD doesn't cut power, it transfers power to the wheel that has more grip. An LSD cannot be disabled because it is mechanical, rather than electronic like TCS. TCS is considered more of a safety feature, and an LSD is considered more of a performance feature (though some would disagree that the 350Z LSD is much of a performance feature).
When people track or autox their Z, they always disable TCS. Cars without LSDs from the factory, typically add an LSD if they track the vehicle because it helps with performance.
From Mario's comment, TCS prevents wheel spin by cutting power to the engine. The VDC uses the brakes to decrease oversteer and other balance/traction issues by applying slight braking power to a wheel that is slipping.
With VDC, if you start to have a rear wheel slip, it can simply apply the brakes to that wheel, thus decreasing the slippage while allowing you to continue to apply power to the other wheel. If the slippage exceeds what the brakes can counteract safely, then it can cut power to the engine via TCS, thus slowing both wheels. I believe the VDC can also help with the front wheels slipping too, but that is beyond my knowledge.
Does that make any sense? It all sounds good in my head, but when I write it out, sometimes the thoughts get jarbled :)
'04 Daytona Blue 350Z Enthusiast - B-Stock #34
Tanabe Sustec 36mm chromoly front sway bar
K&N drop in air filter
Hawk HPS brake pads
Pioneer Premier CD/MP3 head unit
18% tint rear and sides
A:
Thanks Eric for explaining how it all works. I think I need to go have a beer and try to figure it all out !(maybe two might be better)
'06 Silver Alloy 350Z Touring
A:
SO. If I have an '03, and only have a VDC button, Then that means I must have a Performance model? I don't have leather or Bose, so I don't have the Touring. What is the difference in the Enthusiast and Performance? Other than VDC....