I had always been under the impression that Traction Control and Active Handling were parts of the same system and standard equipment on all C5's.

Recently however, there have been a few threads that give me the idea that just because my '99 has the Traction Control button on the console, that doesn't mean I have Active Handling.

If this is correct, is there an easy way to determine whether or not my car is equipped with it?

Thanks,
DSTURBD

 

8VETTE7,

Thank you for your reply, but the glove box sticker has all of the ink either rubbed completely off, or smudged beyond recognition.

However, I think I may have answered my own question by burrowing through some searches. I found one that said when you hold down the TC button, if it goes into Competitive driving mode then you have AH, if it will only turn TC on and off, then you don't have AH.

Can someone confirm this? Sure sounds like it would be true.

Thanks guys,
DSTURBD

 

Thank you very much, sir!!!! That is exactly what I was looking for!!!

Thanks again,
DSTURBD

 

Well ... technically there is an easy way ... but I don't think you're gonna like it.

.

 

it will say active handling near the button if you have it if it is the original console

 

My 2000 did not have active handling and there was no lettering above the button on the console. My '99 and '03 both had AH and it had the works "Active Handling" above the button. But the best way is as 8VETTE7 mentioned, look at the RPO listing if it is legible.

 

Put your vin # in the www.compnine.com vin decoder and see if your car came with it.

 

Good info/explanation....

 

I Stole this well written post from another site. It clearly explains the modes for the traction control button and changing modes.

I still have one question:

If the system default upon ignition is TC on/ AH on, then why is it when I press the traction control button once, the DIC message is TC/AH system is warming up?

The traction icon is lit up on the dash upon start up, when I press the TC button once the icon goes off and the message TC/AH is warming up. If the system is on...whats up with the warming up message?

I dont get it?





The system has four modes.

Mode 1 is the default when you turn the car on. Full traction control and full active handling.

Mode 2 is one press of the button which is traction control off Active Handling on.

Mode 3 is two presses in five seconds. This is traction control off and active handling in competitive driving mode which will give you greater tolerances for sliding sideways (what you want on a road course)

Mode 4 is to press and hold for greater than five seconds. This will be traction control and active handling off. No intervention from either system.


Traction control is just that. It senses rear wheel spin (loss of traction) and will take appropriate action to reduce said wheel spin. It will apply braking and pull timing to limit wheel spin. It monitors the ABS sensors and the wheel speed sensors along with RPM.

Active handling takes input from several sensors in the vehicle. It pays attention to wheel spin, rpm, throttle input, brake input and yaw (departure angle of the nose of the vehicle from straight.) The car will take what it believes to be appropriate actions including applying individual brakes and reducing throttle input. The F55 in addition will vary individual shock damping to allow the car to plant an individual wheel to regain better control if it senses the car being loaded in a given direction.

Competition mode is a modified setup for more allowance of rear wheel spin and slip. This is more of what you would want if you were driving your car in a high performance driving event on a road course. It gives you a little more latitude to push your car to the limits while still allowing some safety.

Your manual has some good information in terms of defining the various systems.

Active Handling System
The Active Handling System is a computer controlled
system that helps the driver maintain directional control
of the vehicle in difficult driving conditions. This is
accomplished by selectively applying any one of the
vehicle’s brakes.

Traction Control System (TCS)
Your vehicle has a traction control system called TCS
that limits wheel spin. This is especially useful in slippery
road conditions. The system operates only if it senses
that the rear wheels are spinning too much or are
beginning to lose traction. When this happens, the
system works the rear brakes and reduces engine power
(by closing the throttle and managing engine spark) to
limit wheel spin.

Competitive Driving Mode
The driver can select this optional handling mode by
pressing the ACTIVE HANDLING button on the console
two times within a five second time period.
COMPETITIVE DRIVING MODE 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 maintain directional control of the vehicle
by selective brake application. This involves less
intervention than with both the Active Handling System
and Traction Control Systems on. The instrument cluster
light will not be on. The Traction Control System will not
be operating. Adjust your driving accordingly.

 

Also I believe that in your 99, if you have active handling, the car must be stopped when you push the button in order to engage the competitive driving mode, whereas in later years (2001 and up?) you can select the competition setting when the car is moving.

 

Go around a corner way too fast ... fast enough that you would drift around the corner. If you feel the binders being clamped on the inside rear wheel, you have active handling.