[Z06] Active handling question
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,707
Likes: 285
Active handling question
I brought my '02 over to my wife's office(orthopedic surgery office) last night because one of the doctors asked to get a closer look at it. He owns and races a 2002 Audi RS6. An amaziing car from what I have read: fastest street legal production Audi ever, 450 hp...But he is intrigued by the C6 and the Z06. He dirves at Limerock and has taken some kind of racing school class. Anyway we did a couple of quick bursts which really impressed him and then I let him take the wheel. He loved the Dr. Jeckel and Mr. Hyde personality of my Z06. He was impressed. But when we were taking a left into the office parking lot he goosed it and the rear end broke loose and fish tailed. I've only had the car for a few weeks so I'm still learning. Shouldn't the the Active handling system (which was on) have prevented the fish tail? What does active handling control if not that kind of thing?
thanks,
trebor
thanks,
trebor
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,158
Likes: 4
From: Henderson Nevada
That's the beauty of Active Handling. It doesn't prevent exuberant driving, even to the point of some traction loss or fishtailing, but it will help the driver who is in over his head correct quickly.
In many cases, the Active Handling will intervene so slightly that you'll hardly notice. In contrast, the 'nanny' on a Mercedes will harshly prevent most of the fun.
Also, you can put Active Handling into a competitive mode which pretty much takes it out of the way, except for the most egregious errors.
Enjoy!!
In many cases, the Active Handling will intervene so slightly that you'll hardly notice. In contrast, the 'nanny' on a Mercedes will harshly prevent most of the fun.
Also, you can put Active Handling into a competitive mode which pretty much takes it out of the way, except for the most egregious errors.
Enjoy!!
Racer
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 255
Likes: 0
From: Altus OK
Active Handling (AH) is an all or nothing proposition. The amount of intervention by AH does not change in Competitive Mode. When in Competitive Mode, the only change is that traction control is disabled.
As far as your doctor friend, I doubt he let off the throttle or maybe didn't countersteer when he goosed the tail out. Just a guess, but my bet is that your Active Handling is working perfectly fine.
Check out this Fall 98 GM Press Release: http://corvetteactioncenter.com/tech...ehandling.html
As far as your doctor friend, I doubt he let off the throttle or maybe didn't countersteer when he goosed the tail out. Just a guess, but my bet is that your Active Handling is working perfectly fine.
Check out this Fall 98 GM Press Release: http://corvetteactioncenter.com/tech...ehandling.html
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,661
Likes: 1
He's used to his AWD Audi that understeers if anything. If you get it way out of whack, it's not going to really help all that much. I actually find it to be a nuisance on the track because I end up correcting and the car ends up correcting. I usually get into a kind of tank slapper when this happens.
X
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,058
Likes: 9,820
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
There probably is nothing wrong with it. It seems GM has requested better algorithms from the suppliers than the German makers have. I have AH on the Z and on my Tahoe. They both do some interesting things that you do not expect. Both of them will at times let you hang the back end out further than you would normally do yourself. Other times they will interfere on the slightest hint of something not right.
Bill
Bill
Racer
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 359
Likes: 0
From: Columbus OH
I think it depends on your definition of fishtailing. If you did a 180, with all electronics on, I would be concerned. with both T/C and A/H on, my experience has been that coming around a low speed corner, if I jump on the throttle right at the apex, then absolutely the rear end will come around, but it's very controlled, and comes back in line quickly. The A/H system applies braking to help correct the lateral movement, and the T/C closes the throttle and goofs around with engine spark using millisecond computations, to halt the wheel spin.
I bought my car in May and for the first several months, it was sticking like glue around corners, then I began to get less grip and more rear end stepping out. I think it is the weather.
My experience has been that the F1 SC tires take a while to heat up, and work best in very warm temps. As the weather has cooled around here, I really have to watch the amount of "fun" I have in the turns
If you do have a malfunction, you should have received a SERVICE TCS in your DIC. You might want to check your codes through the DIC just to ensure that you don't have a TCS or A/H code set that you may have missed when it initially hit the DIC display.
I bought my car in May and for the first several months, it was sticking like glue around corners, then I began to get less grip and more rear end stepping out. I think it is the weather.
My experience has been that the F1 SC tires take a while to heat up, and work best in very warm temps. As the weather has cooled around here, I really have to watch the amount of "fun" I have in the turns
If you do have a malfunction, you should have received a SERVICE TCS in your DIC. You might want to check your codes through the DIC just to ensure that you don't have a TCS or A/H code set that you may have missed when it initially hit the DIC display.
Last edited by jnjboc; Oct 17, 2004 at 08:00 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 869
Likes: 0
From: Nashua NH
Originally Posted by jnjboc
I bought my car in May and for the first several months, it was sticking like glue around corners, then I began to get less grip and more rear end stepping out. I think it is the weather.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 645
Likes: 1
From: Hillsdale NJ
Why do you think road racers warm their tires? Why do F-1 teams have tire warmers?
Cold tires means little or no traction. Thus it is road temperature and tire temperature. Note I said road temperature not necessarily ambient air temp. If both are low fishtailing. If both are high grip.
Cold tires means little or no traction. Thus it is road temperature and tire temperature. Note I said road temperature not necessarily ambient air temp. If both are low fishtailing. If both are high grip.
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Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 438
Likes: 0
From: Nesconset (LI) NY
Originally Posted by SimonStern
How do you put the car into Competition Mode?
Last edited by Andy64; Oct 17, 2004 at 07:34 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,612
Likes: 0
From: Streamwood IL
Originally Posted by Andy64
it will stay on the DIC unless you hit the "Reset" button which will clear the message (it will still be in competitive driving mode).
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 438
Likes: 0
From: Nesconset (LI) NY
Originally Posted by SimonStern
Thanks! I figured out how to turn it on, but was wondering if reset turned it off or not. I like seeing the oil temp in the DIC, and thought seeing "Competition Driving" was pretty lame. I appreciate the clarification.