Competion Mode (Active Handling)
Thread Starter
Terminal Vette Addict
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,634
Likes: 46
From: Philly PA
Competion Mode (Active Handling)
I'm always amazed at how many people have never heard of the "Competition Mode" on the active handling. If you are reading this for the first time and have no clue what I mean, several models starting in 2001 if you hold the button to disengage the traction control for apx. 5 seconds without releasing you will see a display on the DIC:
This bascially has all the advantages of letting the wheels loose at take off like traction control is off.. but you maintain the advantages of active handling.
If you never tried it before, get your keys.. run out to the car.. be careful to bring your wallet and your shoes.. and in your excitement don't forget to thank me for telling you.
My question is this to the more experienced vette guys:
CAN YOU somehow reprogram or upgrade the PCM on pre'01 vettes to get this feature added on a 97, 98, 99 or 2000 model?
Thanks.
COMPETITION MODE
This bascially has all the advantages of letting the wheels loose at take off like traction control is off.. but you maintain the advantages of active handling.
If you never tried it before, get your keys.. run out to the car.. be careful to bring your wallet and your shoes.. and in your excitement don't forget to thank me for telling you.
My question is this to the more experienced vette guys:
CAN YOU somehow reprogram or upgrade the PCM on pre'01 vettes to get this feature added on a 97, 98, 99 or 2000 model?
Thanks.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 5,933
Likes: 13
From: The Beautiful Inland Empire WA.
Actually some of the earlier year models that you mention have this feature -- you just need to be completely stopped to engage it.
My 1998 is that way.........don't know about the 97's, but I am sure that every year after my 98 has it -- just depends on whether you need to be at a stop or not........
My 1998 is that way.........don't know about the 97's, but I am sure that every year after my 98 has it -- just depends on whether you need to be at a stop or not........
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 201
Likes: 0
From: Moreno Valley California
I used 'COMPETITION MODE' just the other day when I decided to peel out while making a 90 degree turn from out of a parking lot exit (this can be very tricky sometimes)....the car burned the tires hard and swung the rear end of the vette 90 degrees and lined it up in the same direction I had aimed my steering wheel!.......Felt great!!! 
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Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Monticello MN
As mentioned, Traction Control is deactivated in Competitive Driving while Active Handling still functions. There are actually two distinct versions of Active handling. And, no, Generation I Active Handling cannot be upgraded to Generation II Active handling as much of the actual hardware, and programming, is different.
Generation I Active handling became an option in late 1998, and remained an option through the 2000 model year. Beginning in 2001, Generation II Active Handling became a, no-cost, standard feature on all Corvettes.
Generation II Active Handling is less intrusive than Generation I and Competitive Driving can be activated while the car is moving. With Generation I, the car cannot be moving at the moment of Competitive Driving engagment. In other words, you can push the button down rolling up to a light, but at the moment of timeout, the car must be stopped or it will not engage. Also, Generation II Active Handling will allow you to powerbrake the car, and Generation I will actually downpower the car if you try to powerbrake it.
Ed
Generation I Active handling became an option in late 1998, and remained an option through the 2000 model year. Beginning in 2001, Generation II Active Handling became a, no-cost, standard feature on all Corvettes.
Generation II Active Handling is less intrusive than Generation I and Competitive Driving can be activated while the car is moving. With Generation I, the car cannot be moving at the moment of Competitive Driving engagment. In other words, you can push the button down rolling up to a light, but at the moment of timeout, the car must be stopped or it will not engage. Also, Generation II Active Handling will allow you to powerbrake the car, and Generation I will actually downpower the car if you try to powerbrake it.
Ed
Thread Starter
Terminal Vette Addict
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,634
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From: Philly PA
It's either on or off.
Race Director
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From: "It's 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-‘18-'19
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Your car then only has traction control which was standard on the early C5's. To reiterate - the Active Handling (RPO JL4) was an option on mid year 98's and remained an option until the Generation II came out in 2001, when it became standard equipment.
Here's a quote from a press release that came from Chevrolet introducing the '01 Corvettes in July 2000;
"In mid-1998 a new feature called Active Handling was introduced on Corvette. It is a sophisticated stability control system that utilizes on-board sensors to measure yaw, lateral acceleration and steering wheel position, then brings into play the capabilities of Corvette's standard ABS brake and traction control systems to smoothly assist the driver in maintaining vehicle control in oversteer or
understeer situations.
For 2001 a Second-Generation Active Handling system, much enhanced over the original, becomes standard equipment on all Corvettes. With a new Bosch brake pressure modulator and many new or revised calibrations, Second-Generation Active Handling provides even more assistance to the Corvette driver.
Corvette engineers know how Corvette owners like to drive their cars, so a stability control system that would shut the car down too severely during enthusiastic driving was out of the question. Second-Generation Active Handling calibrations have been carefully developed to limit such intrusiveness. Aside from an "Active Handling" message on the instrument panel, drivers will not even realize they've been assisted in most situations.
Average drivers will find themselves capable of producing even lower elapsed times in autocross competitions. Above-average drivers will appreciate Active Handling's Competitive Mode, which allows them to switch off the traction control part of the system.
In addition to making all Corvettes more agile, Second-Generation Active Handling adds a cushion of safety given its ability to help out in emergency situations. It deftly senses both over- and under-correction on the driver's part and adjusts to help bring the car back into balance.
As good as it is, Active Handling cannot overcome the laws of physics. It is offered only as an assist - albeit an assist that makes Corvettes a lot more agile, and even safer - but it is not a cure-all for every situation. Ultimately, drivers must still take full responsibility for control of their vehicle."
As far as I know - with the complexity of yaw sensors and the other related hardware, not to mention software involved - this is not a feature that can be added after the fact. Though - I suppose if someone was absolutely determined to add this to an early model car, with enough money and determination it could be done. Why anyone would go through all that trouble when it would just be simpler to buy a newer ('01 or newer) car is beyond my comprehension.
Here's a quote from a press release that came from Chevrolet introducing the '01 Corvettes in July 2000;
"In mid-1998 a new feature called Active Handling was introduced on Corvette. It is a sophisticated stability control system that utilizes on-board sensors to measure yaw, lateral acceleration and steering wheel position, then brings into play the capabilities of Corvette's standard ABS brake and traction control systems to smoothly assist the driver in maintaining vehicle control in oversteer or
understeer situations.
For 2001 a Second-Generation Active Handling system, much enhanced over the original, becomes standard equipment on all Corvettes. With a new Bosch brake pressure modulator and many new or revised calibrations, Second-Generation Active Handling provides even more assistance to the Corvette driver.
Corvette engineers know how Corvette owners like to drive their cars, so a stability control system that would shut the car down too severely during enthusiastic driving was out of the question. Second-Generation Active Handling calibrations have been carefully developed to limit such intrusiveness. Aside from an "Active Handling" message on the instrument panel, drivers will not even realize they've been assisted in most situations.
Average drivers will find themselves capable of producing even lower elapsed times in autocross competitions. Above-average drivers will appreciate Active Handling's Competitive Mode, which allows them to switch off the traction control part of the system.
In addition to making all Corvettes more agile, Second-Generation Active Handling adds a cushion of safety given its ability to help out in emergency situations. It deftly senses both over- and under-correction on the driver's part and adjusts to help bring the car back into balance.
As good as it is, Active Handling cannot overcome the laws of physics. It is offered only as an assist - albeit an assist that makes Corvettes a lot more agile, and even safer - but it is not a cure-all for every situation. Ultimately, drivers must still take full responsibility for control of their vehicle."
As far as I know - with the complexity of yaw sensors and the other related hardware, not to mention software involved - this is not a feature that can be added after the fact. Though - I suppose if someone was absolutely determined to add this to an early model car, with enough money and determination it could be done. Why anyone would go through all that trouble when it would just be simpler to buy a newer ('01 or newer) car is beyond my comprehension.
