Unless I'm mistaken, ASR (Acceleration Slip Regulation or words to that effect) became standard from 1992 on. It effectively measures the speed differential from wheel to wheel (traction loss) using the ABS sensors and retards with timing, applies ABS braking, retracts the throttle, and pokes you in the eye if you don't let off. I believe the hydraulic eye poker was removed in the C5 version.

Typical operator procedure; Close door, fasten safety belt, start engine, TURN ASR OFF, select gear, nail it.

 

All 92's and up got the traction control as rocketfinger said. The C5 version is much better... less noticable. The C4 version kicks in at the wrong time and is very abrupt when it does come on. I turn mine off 98% of the time i'm driving the car.

 

Mines off unless its raining or I get caught by supprise in a snow storm.

 

Don't be too mislead about the ASR kicking in at the wrong time. I believe it's a good learning tool to explore the outer boundaries of the car's performance without getting in over your head. Yes, the ASR will limit the level of exuberance you can display, but it will also save your *** until you become more familiar with the car.

But at the drag strip or for clowning around (straight line stuff), definitely disengage the ASR function. Its value on corners and on damp days is exceptional.... :yesnod:


[Modified by BaseballDude, 1:55 PM 9/13/2002]

 

Yea... thats why the ASR almost got me kiled within 2 weeks of owning the car.

Taking a left at an intersection... oncoming traffic is a fair distance away, I hit a small bump in the road as I give it gas and the ASR kicks in, basiclly stopping the car in it's tracks with traffic now getting closer at 55 MPH. If ASR wasn't on, it would of gone over the bump without an issue.

If you want to learn to drive the car... keep your foot off the gas and the ASR off.

 

Sounds like your ASR needs work...it shouldn't do that. :nonod:

For "most" people new to these cars, the ASR is a good training tool to explore the limits of the car. That's why the engineers put it there to begin with.

 

The ASR has gotten more sophisticated over the years. The version in the 95-96 C4 is the Bosch 5 unit which replace the Bosch 2U unit that started in 1992. Only the ZR1 still used the Bosch 2U in 1995.

It's a pretty neat system once you get used to it. The 95 version is much better than the earlier version and the improved version in 1998 is even better.

If you are unsure of your driving skills leave it on.

I think it's easier to control in a six speed car rather than an automatic which may be part of Jim's problem with it. Hard to explain in text.

 

I have it in my LT4 and I think it comes in handy sometimes. You dont realize sometimes how much power the car has...I havnt had any problems with it slowing me down to that extreme....all it ever does for me is just straighten the car out, which can save your butt if the roads are a little slick or sand or gravel on the road. I take it off only when im playin around or racing in a straight line. I have no idea though how it handles with an auto...but with my 6spd its fine.
vr,
volt

 

I've had my LT4 for a week now and only turned off the ASR once.... the car almost got away from me going to 2d... :eek: I'll leave it on for a while till I make the adjustment from my F-150.

 

It's the first thing I do on my 92 after I start it up. It's 100% automatic just like the seat belt. Having the system off has saved me more times than having it on.

Friday night, coming out of a restauraunt. Ok, here's a hole in traffic, a small one but easy enough to make it. I start to go but wait! I forgot to turn off traction control and I happened to be sitting on a few pebbles.

Monday morning, going to work, HEAVY fog. I approach an intersection, behind one car. Our light turns green. The car in front of me goes through the intersection, turning left. I KNOW that some dippoopie is going to run the light, so I creep out so I can see as much as I can. I proceed to go, half way through the intersection I see a delivery truck traveling at 60 mph and he's 5 feet from my driver's side door! Meanwhile his light is still red. In the next 2 seconds my heart stopped! I hammered the gas and made the rear end break loose which slid out of his way FAST. I cut the wheels back to the right and let off the gas to avoid smacking the bridge with the rear end of my car. With my car now straight and parallel to the truck I turned my head and saw smoke boiling off of his tires, all 4 of which were locked up, and I saw the frame of his truck bouncing as he skidded to a stop SOMEWHERE on the other side of the intersection. If my ASR had been on I WOULD be dead right now.

My point is that it will get you in trouble a lot more than it will save you in daily driving. Now if you're driving on ice it's a nice tool, but that's all I'll use it for. I MIGHT leave it on in the rain if I'm really tired and don't feel like I'm as alert as I should be. Basically I've got my own traction control, it's my right foot!

The 92 system is simply WAY too sensitive, and there is no adjustment. I left it on for months after I first bought my car, but I gradually started turning it off. It's a good learning tool, but once you get used to it not being there it will bite you in the butt if it's on.

 

Wow, scary story.
I agree the ASR is lame. I have a shift kit and even at 1/4 throttle the ASR kicks in at the 1-2 gear change. Leaving it off is like driving a whole new car.

 

did they refine it over the years? my '96 ASR doesn't seem very obtrusive at all. i really have to screw up for it to kick on. i can do it on purpose, like sand gravel acceleration while turning, but the car doesn't stop, just goes without fish-tailing.

 

Yes, over the years they have supposedly made it a whole lot less sensitive. I'd like to drive a newer model just to see, but in 92 it's a royal PITA. It'll even kick in if I shift from 1st to 2nd fast enough, which then of course kills your acceleration.

 

it sucked in my 95 with an auto...

but just to be fair i'll give it a go in the 96 6 spd and post my findings.

 

ASR saved my (_l_) one time also. I was on a slick road and I passed a car that was traveling at 25 mph, well it was the first day that I owned the car and I didn't know how much power it had till I stepped down on the gas :eek: . Thankfully it just straightened my car out instead of letting me fish tail off in a ditch. I agree with those that said that its a good feature till you get used to the car, in fact I keep mine on until I get to playing around.

 

I agree w/ Bigdan here. I really don't notice it on my 96. It really puts the power to the road and no wheelspin. When I punched my 85 it would spin like crazy. When I punch this thing , it just goes. Can you say"whiplash?" Guy

 

The older ASR does stink. I can't count the number of close calls I've had with ASR on and can't think of a single instance it saved me. One of the closer calls was by a bus in Jersey City. The roads there are really bad and I pulled out of a gas station, hit a bump and it shut down my acceleration and started braking. 1 full second later it started to move again only to hit a second bump and have it shut down again. Took me close to 3 seconds, which is a very long time driving, to start accelerating in traffic with a bus practically skidding behind me. I turn it off unless the road has snow or there is enough rain that I am also worried about the optispark. If I could have it removed I would as I forget to turn it off sometimes when I start. Much better traction control is my pilots. I have outhandled '97 C5s with their stock tires with me having no other handling mods than the rims and tires. One actually skidded off the road behind me and totaled going slower. I'd keep it off if I were you. To me it really didn't become a good system until '98. :yesnod:

 

I belong to the remove ASR club. It worthless in the dry for a driver like me. It can actually cause me to lose control of the car with it on, not keep the car in control. Hanging the rear out is actually part of how i keep control of the car in certain instants. With traction control on, it will send me into a gaurd rail or off the road.
It's only good in the snow for me at take offs.
I guess for some people it works.

 

I push my traction control button to shut it off and nothing happens no lights no smoking tire fun

 

My car has a fresh golen 396 stroker makes 540hp (now) 499t dyno approved . Soooo I’m making my first data hit for my tuner . Green light regulated freeway on ramp , zero traffic , laptop plugged in 😎 bam , out like a beast 1-2 tire spin perfectly manageable , 70 mph , stay in it looking at the laptop wot , bam 2-3 shift kicks me sideways at 122mph full on posi sideways , real it back in , ( a little pee lol) got back into it good hit . The 122mph kick out has had me using the ASR in this gear wot rpm’s range while I learn the motors edges and boundaries !!! Just saying .
GOD bless ,
Rob