ABS Question?
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 10,036
Likes: 346
From: Anaheim CA
You can turn it off? Not an option on my car...
My ABS got exercised today when I made a fast left turn into my driveway (oncoming traffic) and when I hit the brakes with the front tires in all the dirt and trash along the curb the left front ABS kicked in. I would NEVER be without ABS. It's kept my front end from being crumpled several times over the years.
The only situation I ever heard of when ABS is a liability is driving in snow. Without ABS the tires snow plow and build up a pile of snow in front of them that helps stop the car.
My ABS got exercised today when I made a fast left turn into my driveway (oncoming traffic) and when I hit the brakes with the front tires in all the dirt and trash along the curb the left front ABS kicked in. I would NEVER be without ABS. It's kept my front end from being crumpled several times over the years.
The only situation I ever heard of when ABS is a liability is driving in snow. Without ABS the tires snow plow and build up a pile of snow in front of them that helps stop the car.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 486
Likes: 3
From: el cajon ca
You can turn it off? Not an option on my car...
My ABS got exercised today when I made a fast left turn into my driveway (oncoming traffic) and when I hit the brakes with the front tires in all the dirt and trash along the curb the left front ABS kicked in. I would NEVER be without ABS. It's kept my front end from being crumpled several times over the years.
The only situation I ever heard of when ABS is a liability is driving in snow. Without ABS the tires snow plow and build up a pile of snow in front of them that helps stop the car.
My ABS got exercised today when I made a fast left turn into my driveway (oncoming traffic) and when I hit the brakes with the front tires in all the dirt and trash along the curb the left front ABS kicked in. I would NEVER be without ABS. It's kept my front end from being crumpled several times over the years.
The only situation I ever heard of when ABS is a liability is driving in snow. Without ABS the tires snow plow and build up a pile of snow in front of them that helps stop the car.
, its really important to have it working, if u brake hard in a curve without it u will drift just like me when my abs wasnt working!! 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,079
Likes: 1
From: Niagara Falls ON
I live in an area that gets tons of snow every year. I have never heard of snow building up in front of a tire to help it stop. ABS is great in snow and ice. When ABS kicks in it helps to keep the vehicle going in the correct direction...if the wheels lock up in snow and ice then the vehicle can slide in undetermined directions. Lots of video of that on the internet. Lots of video of Porsches with ABS on the snow and ice.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,660
Likes: 22
ABS is NOT an option to use as needed.
Its working
or
its defective.
I'd truely HATE to be sitting in a courtroom facing criminal charges (vehicular manslaughter) for tampering with motor vehicle safety equipment when you rear end somebody and the investigation finds that YOU disabled the ABS....tampered with the brake system...
Don;t drop the soap.
Traction Control is a different story. THAT is optional.
Its working
or
its defective.
I'd truely HATE to be sitting in a courtroom facing criminal charges (vehicular manslaughter) for tampering with motor vehicle safety equipment when you rear end somebody and the investigation finds that YOU disabled the ABS....tampered with the brake system...
Don;t drop the soap.
Traction Control is a different story. THAT is optional.
Last edited by leesvet; Aug 24, 2012 at 08:56 AM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 201
Likes: 10
From: Kennewick WA
Well! Put me down as the south end of a northbound horse. I was looking at the ASR switch and saw the squiggley line under it and had read elsewhere it had to do with rainy conditions (The ASR button is not listed in the OM index except for location) and ASSuMEd it activated the ABS if you were on wet pavement. That's when I wondered why you wouldn't just have it on all the time? Duh!
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 11,768
Likes: 175
From: Rolla Missouri
2021 C4 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist
St. Jude Donor '10 thru '25
Well! Put me down as the south end of a northbound horse. I was looking at the ASR switch and saw the squiggley line under it and had read elsewhere it had to do with rainy conditions (The ASR button is not listed in the OM index except for location) and ASSuMEd it activated the ABS if you were on wet pavement. That's when I wondered why you wouldn't just have it on all the time? Duh!
As you have discovered, you have a button to turn ASR off though.
ASR is your "traction control".
By default, ARS is on. If you push the button, you will (should) have a light come indicating that ASR is off.
And unless your a very experienced driver (used to driving a lightweight rear wheel drive car), I highly recommend you don't turn that off for normal everyday driving.
Go out to a flat open parking lot and "play" with it if want though.
You need to get a feel for how your car drives when the rear tires break lose.
It is very easy to spin out and it happens so fast, that unless you have experience with it you will end up against a curb or in the ditch.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 3,752
Likes: 190
From: Indiana PA
As mentioned, you can't turn ABS off (Antilock Brakes).
As you have discovered, you have a button to turn ASR off though.
ASR is your "traction control".
By default, ARS is on. If you push the button, you will (should) have a light come indicating that ASR is off.
And unless your a very experienced driver (used to driving a lightweight rear wheel drive car), I highly recommend you don't turn that off for normal everyday driving.
Go out to a flat open parking lot and "play" with it if want though.
You need to get a feel for how your car drives when the rear tires break lose.
It is very easy to spin out and it happens so fast, that unless you have experience with it you will end up against a curb or in the ditch.
As you have discovered, you have a button to turn ASR off though.
ASR is your "traction control".
By default, ARS is on. If you push the button, you will (should) have a light come indicating that ASR is off.
And unless your a very experienced driver (used to driving a lightweight rear wheel drive car), I highly recommend you don't turn that off for normal everyday driving.
Go out to a flat open parking lot and "play" with it if want though.
You need to get a feel for how your car drives when the rear tires break lose.
It is very easy to spin out and it happens so fast, that unless you have experience with it you will end up against a curb or in the ditch.
You learn throttle control, steering inputs,etc...really quick. I've only ever spun my car once in auto-x and it was dry out. Too much throttle and it was no surprise when it went around, the car warned me. I could feel it start to break away, I just said, screw it and kept my foot planted. 
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Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 13,942
Likes: 705
From: WI
I believe it's in gravel you wouldn't want ABS so the pile builds up in front of the tire.
In general ABS is a crutch for poor driving (avoiding a panic stop is tough!). I think it depends on the advancement of the system these days though. The system on my year was pretty bad. When the tire skids you lose braking traction making your stopping distance longer. If you can learn to modulate braking near lock up without skidding, you will stop in less distance.
In general ABS is a crutch for poor driving (avoiding a panic stop is tough!). I think it depends on the advancement of the system these days though. The system on my year was pretty bad. When the tire skids you lose braking traction making your stopping distance longer. If you can learn to modulate braking near lock up without skidding, you will stop in less distance.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 486
Likes: 3
From: el cajon ca
I believe it's in gravel you wouldn't want ABS so the pile builds up in front of the tire.
In general ABS is a crutch for poor driving (avoiding a panic stop is tough!). I think it depends on the advancement of the system these days though. The system on my year was pretty bad. When the tire skids you lose braking traction making your stopping distance longer. If you can learn to modulate braking near lock up without skidding, you will stop in less distance.
In general ABS is a crutch for poor driving (avoiding a panic stop is tough!). I think it depends on the advancement of the system these days though. The system on my year was pretty bad. When the tire skids you lose braking traction making your stopping distance longer. If you can learn to modulate braking near lock up without skidding, you will stop in less distance.