Active Handleing. ON or OFF?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 5,403
Likes: 31
From: Allentown PA & Elk Twp NJ HPDE Addict
I leave mine on. I brought her home at the end of last year and have only put 500 miles on her, hence I've little experience with the car. The other reason is that my past experience with F1s in the cold is that you can't get heat into them & the grip isn't there. I've read too many posts of guys looping the car with a full throttle dump and the AH off. April I'm heading to Spring Mountain and after 3 days there I'm sure it will be a different story. At 49 yrs old, I've finally learned patience.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 785
Likes: 1
From: Middletown PA
Here's a quote directly from my 04 owner's manual:
“Competitive Driving Mode
The driver can select this optional handling mode by pressing the ACTIVE HANDLING button on the console for more than five seconds. A chime will sound and COMPETITIVE DRIVING will be displayed in the DIC. Competitive driving mode allows the driver to have full control of the rear wheels while the Active Handling System helps steer the vehicle by selective brace application. The instrument cluster light will not be on. The Traction Control System will not be operating. Adjust your driving accordingly.
When you press the ACTIVE HANDLING button again, or turn the ignition to ACC, the Active Handling and Traction Control Systems will be on. The TRAC/ACT HNDLG-ON message will be displayed temporarily in the DIC and a chime will be heard.”
Doesn't sound like you can turn active handling off. The only thing that is slightly confusing is when they say in the second paragraph "When you press the ACTIVE HANDLING button again, or turn the ignition to ACC, the Active Handling and Traction Control Systems will be on." If it was never off, why do they say it like that?
Another question I have is if Active Handling is always on, what is the difference then between plain old Traction Control OFF and Competitive Driving Mode?
Very confusing.
“Competitive Driving Mode
The driver can select this optional handling mode by pressing the ACTIVE HANDLING button on the console for more than five seconds. A chime will sound and COMPETITIVE DRIVING will be displayed in the DIC. Competitive driving mode allows the driver to have full control of the rear wheels while the Active Handling System helps steer the vehicle by selective brace application. The instrument cluster light will not be on. The Traction Control System will not be operating. Adjust your driving accordingly.
When you press the ACTIVE HANDLING button again, or turn the ignition to ACC, the Active Handling and Traction Control Systems will be on. The TRAC/ACT HNDLG-ON message will be displayed temporarily in the DIC and a chime will be heard.”
Doesn't sound like you can turn active handling off. The only thing that is slightly confusing is when they say in the second paragraph "When you press the ACTIVE HANDLING button again, or turn the ignition to ACC, the Active Handling and Traction Control Systems will be on." If it was never off, why do they say it like that?
Another question I have is if Active Handling is always on, what is the difference then between plain old Traction Control OFF and Competitive Driving Mode?
Very confusing.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 494
Likes: 0
Off.
On C5's I've driven and when I purchase my own. None of the sports cars/GT's I've owned have had them. The less computer control, the better. I don't have to worry about foul weather so really isn't an issue there either.
On C5's I've driven and when I purchase my own. None of the sports cars/GT's I've owned have had them. The less computer control, the better. I don't have to worry about foul weather so really isn't an issue there either.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 3,495
Likes: 0
From: Paducah Ky
Originally Posted by rwsr50
Here's a quote directly from my 04 owner's manual:
“Competitive Driving Mode
The driver can select this optional handling mode by pressing the ACTIVE HANDLING button on the console for more than five seconds. A chime will sound and COMPETITIVE DRIVING will be displayed in the DIC. Competitive driving mode allows the driver to have full control of the rear wheels while the Active Handling System helps steer the vehicle by selective brace application. The instrument cluster light will not be on. The Traction Control System will not be operating. Adjust your driving accordingly.
When you press the ACTIVE HANDLING button again, or turn the ignition to ACC, the Active Handling and Traction Control Systems will be on. The TRAC/ACT HNDLG-ON message will be displayed temporarily in the DIC and a chime will be heard.”
Doesn't sound like you can turn active handling off. The only thing that is slightly confusing is when they say in the second paragraph "When you press the ACTIVE HANDLING button again, or turn the ignition to ACC, the Active Handling and Traction Control Systems will be on." If it was never off, why do they say it like that?
Another question I have is if Active Handling is always on, what is the difference then between plain old Traction Control OFF and Competitive Driving Mode?
Very confusing.
“Competitive Driving Mode
The driver can select this optional handling mode by pressing the ACTIVE HANDLING button on the console for more than five seconds. A chime will sound and COMPETITIVE DRIVING will be displayed in the DIC. Competitive driving mode allows the driver to have full control of the rear wheels while the Active Handling System helps steer the vehicle by selective brace application. The instrument cluster light will not be on. The Traction Control System will not be operating. Adjust your driving accordingly.
When you press the ACTIVE HANDLING button again, or turn the ignition to ACC, the Active Handling and Traction Control Systems will be on. The TRAC/ACT HNDLG-ON message will be displayed temporarily in the DIC and a chime will be heard.”
Doesn't sound like you can turn active handling off. The only thing that is slightly confusing is when they say in the second paragraph "When you press the ACTIVE HANDLING button again, or turn the ignition to ACC, the Active Handling and Traction Control Systems will be on." If it was never off, why do they say it like that?
Another question I have is if Active Handling is always on, what is the difference then between plain old Traction Control OFF and Competitive Driving Mode?
Very confusing.
If you press and hold the button for 5 sec or so you are in competition mode, no traction control but A/H still works. If you just push and release the button then you turn both off. After you turn the car off they will reset and both will be on again.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 5,407
Likes: 1
From: HONOLULU HAWAII
Originally Posted by MY1STPEWTER
If you press and hold the button for 5 sec or so you are in competition mode, no traction control but A/H still works. If you just push and release the button then you turn both off. After you turn the car off they will reset and both will be on again.
Yep, thats how it works. Not all that confusing...
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 305
Likes: 0
From: Ventura California
I think I have only turned it off a couple of times just to see what it would do. One time I turned it off and got sideways out of a parking lot for about half a block. I got alot of thumbs up 
from people who saw me. I was just wondering what it would take to clean my seat.
from people who saw me. I was just wondering what it would take to clean my seat.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 785
Likes: 1
From: Middletown PA
Originally Posted by WWK888
Yep, thats how it works. Not all that confusing...
Sorry, and thanks for keeping ME straight guys. Maybe I had my brain's traction control off when I read it the first time, ha, ha.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,136
Likes: 7
From: queens Newyork
The first time i took it off i let off the clutch nice and slow then floored it sideways 1block full throttle, threw 2nd hard and kept it sideways until i almost lost it saw a big tree sh**, let off the gas cut the wheel and straightened out, that was the last time the traction was off...BUT summer is a comin
