Traction control almost killed me!!!!!!!
Racer
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 473
Likes: 0
From: Jeffersonville Indiana
Drifting
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,822
Likes: 2
From: San Clemente CA
I'm not saying I couldn't have recovered without it, but knowing it was there made it a simple matter of relax and steer where you want to go. When I'm really pushing the limit in good conditions in the twisties, it lets me slide around enough to have some fun.
It's for the unexpected that the AH system can be a real sweet insurance policy.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 228
Likes: 1
From: eustis FL Saved and blessed; what else matter?
A LOT of conflicting opiniopns here. Does anyone KNOW how to diable active handling? I suspect that turning off traction control does NOT totally diable active handling.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 786
Likes: 21
From: I need more money TX
Cruise-In IV Veteran
So I'm driving the other day on the highway, at about 75mph, and all of a sudden the car just pulls hard to one side and sort of felt like it was braking at the same time!!! I looked at the display and it was reading that the traction control had been engaged. Has this happened to anyone else. Or does anyone know what it is?? Thanks
Barry
Barry
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 7,875
Likes: 254
From: Hillsboro OR
Mine does this, it pulls to the right a time or two before the "service active handling" message comes on. It has given me pucker factor in the past, now I turn it off as soon as I start to move. The "service active...." message will come on eventually during my drive. Sure missed it the other day when it was pouring.
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Instructor
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 228
Likes: 1
From: eustis FL Saved and blessed; what else matter?
Mine does this, it pulls to the right a time or two before the "service active handling" message comes on. It has given me pucker factor in the past, now I turn it off as soon as I start to move. The "service active...." message will come on eventually during my drive. Sure missed it the other day when it was pouring.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 720
Likes: 2
From: Walnut Creek CA
For me personally, I've had a few situations where the back end decides to step out while cornering under throttle (particularly wet-weather) and the A/H saves my butt. I keep it on unless I'm at an HPDE or practicing car control. I guess I might feel differently if it went the other direction and tried to kill me. The cool thing about the programmers is that you can switch it when you get to the track and then switch back when you're ready to go home.
It seems like this would warrant a recall if it happened much. I'd cerainly need to toss my shorts if it happened to me. Does anyone know if this is a function of a sensor just going bad over time/mileage/use? or if it's more likely that the sensor was damaged by user-error or excessive vibration, etc.? Are there certain years or models that are more prone to it?
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 228
Likes: 1
From: eustis FL Saved and blessed; what else matter?
That's good advice after the fact. But when you're in heavy traffic and it throws you into another lane or into oncoming traffic, it is obvious that is the WRONG way to find out the sensor is bad. The system is dangerous because it has no fail-safe mode. When a sensor malfunctions, a properly-designed system would deactivate itself. I will deactivate mine every time I drive simply because I don't want to die in the process of finding out I have a bad sensor!
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 228
Likes: 1
From: eustis FL Saved and blessed; what else matter?
The "button" disables the T/C but not the A/H (at least on mine). You can permanently disable both through the use of one of many hand-held tuners or by taking it to a shop.
For me personally, I've had a few situations where the back end decides to step out while cornering under throttle (particularly wet-weather) and the A/H saves my butt. I keep it on unless I'm at an HPDE or practicing car control. I guess I might feel differently if it went the other direction and tried to kill me. The cool thing about the programmers is that you can switch it when you get to the track and then switch back when you're ready to go home.
It seems like this would warrant a recall if it happened much. I'd cerainly need to toss my shorts if it happened to me. Does anyone know if this is a function of a sensor just going bad over time/mileage/use? or if it's more likely that the sensor was damaged by user-error or excessive vibration, etc.? Are there certain years or models that are more prone to it?
For me personally, I've had a few situations where the back end decides to step out while cornering under throttle (particularly wet-weather) and the A/H saves my butt. I keep it on unless I'm at an HPDE or practicing car control. I guess I might feel differently if it went the other direction and tried to kill me. The cool thing about the programmers is that you can switch it when you get to the track and then switch back when you're ready to go home.
It seems like this would warrant a recall if it happened much. I'd cerainly need to toss my shorts if it happened to me. Does anyone know if this is a function of a sensor just going bad over time/mileage/use? or if it's more likely that the sensor was damaged by user-error or excessive vibration, etc.? Are there certain years or models that are more prone to it?
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,720
Likes: 38
From: Colorado
Steering wheel position sensor going out.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 175
Likes: 21
From: Santa Monica Ca
So I'm driving the other day on the highway, at about 75mph, and all of a sudden the car just pulls hard to one side and sort of felt like it was braking at the same time!!! I looked at the display and it was reading that the traction control had been engaged. Has this happened to anyone else. Or does anyone know what it is?? Thanks
I took it to the dealer and they said that all was well; that my yaw sensor showed that I had lost control; and that I must've hit an oily patch - which was BS. Essentially, they couldn't tell me which came first, the chicken or the egg.
Later on, the traction control module went out and it was replaced under warranty (the part alone costs $1800).
I have a feeling that this is something GM knows about but has kept quiet. It's rare, but one of these days someone's going to get seriously hurt.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 7,875
Likes: 254
From: Hillsboro OR
That's good advice after the fact. But when you're in heavy traffic and it throws you into another lane or into oncoming traffic, it is obvious that is the WRONG way to find out the sensor is bad. The system is dangerous because it has no fail-safe mode. When a sensor malfunctions, a properly-designed system would deactivate itself. I will deactivate mine every time I drive simply because I don't want to die in the process of finding out I have a bad sensor!
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 228
Likes: 1
From: eustis FL Saved and blessed; what else matter?
Competitive Driving Mode
"The Corvette Active Handling system will be the first of its type to offer dual mode operation. In addition to an "OFF" mode, in which Active Handling is disabled, the system also allows the driver to select a "COMPETITIVE DRIVING" mode for autocross or gymkhana competitions. In this mode, the Active Handling system remains fully-functional -- measuring steering, yaw rate and lateral acceleration inputs as well as applying individual wheel brakes as required -- but the traction control system is disabled, allowing for some wheelspin and oversteer that skilled drivers often find beneficial in competitive driving."
-GM press release
"The Corvette Active Handling system will be the first of its type to offer dual mode operation. In addition to an "OFF" mode, in which Active Handling is disabled, the system also allows the driver to select a "COMPETITIVE DRIVING" mode for autocross or gymkhana competitions. In this mode, the Active Handling system remains fully-functional -- measuring steering, yaw rate and lateral acceleration inputs as well as applying individual wheel brakes as required -- but the traction control system is disabled, allowing for some wheelspin and oversteer that skilled drivers often find beneficial in competitive driving."
-GM press release
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,157
Likes: 5
From: Eastern PA
Had it happen to me on the track @ VIR (forgot to turn all that traction control suff off when I went on the track). Crested the rise on the back straight doing better than 140 mph and had braking kick in on each wheel in quick succession. Weird experience. Guess the computer thought I was in an out of control situation when the car "got light". (Maybe the sensors were also at fault, old, etc.) Never actually lost control, but it still made my heart skip a few times! It's one of the reasons I no longer try to push it past 140 on the track. 
In comparrison and when only 3000 miles new, I had the car on one of the German Autobahns (had it delivered to me in Germany when I was stationed there with the USAF) with all the electrons on and reached an indicated 172 mph before I figured it was time to slow down. No problems there.
Have fun...be safe!
In comparrison and when only 3000 miles new, I had the car on one of the German Autobahns (had it delivered to me in Germany when I was stationed there with the USAF) with all the electrons on and reached an indicated 172 mph before I figured it was time to slow down. No problems there.
Have fun...be safe!
Heel & Toe
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 18
Likes: 1
From: Vancouver BC
Just to confirm I have had some heavy pulling on my 2004 coupe. It would last a few seconds and back to normal. I just checked th codes and I have C1228H and c1283H.
As I understand it the button on the console will keep that from happening??
Will I also get messages even if I fix the wheel sensor for the C1228 code? IE I will still get the message : Service TC ABS etc???
The fix? Clean up of connections, grounds etc?
As I understand it the button on the console will keep that from happening??
Will I also get messages even if I fix the wheel sensor for the C1228 code? IE I will still get the message : Service TC ABS etc???
The fix? Clean up of connections, grounds etc?