What went wrong?
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Joined: Jun 2005
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From: Fairhaven MA
What went wrong?
The other day I was driving my C6 and had an opportunity to get on it in first gear after a short rolling start. Shifted into 2nd quickly and low and behold the back of the car passed the front and then the front passed the back. I then got control and went down the road without a scratch. 
But as a experienced driver of Corvettes, I was baffled as to what happened. As I didn't expect it, seeing I had the traction control ON and the road was clean and dry.
Could it be my stability control isn't working? And how do you check it ?
But as a experienced driver of Corvettes, I was baffled as to what happened. As I didn't expect it, seeing I had the traction control ON and the road was clean and dry.
Could it be my stability control isn't working? And how do you check it ?
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Austin TX
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St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05
Active handling and traction control are reactionary. Once you start losing control, that's when they kick in. If things kick out of control too quickly, they can't help. I've had my modded C5 very sideways before with tc/ah on. I've never had my C6 that out of whack.
I did have some major electrical gremlins where ah/tc were improperly correcting. It felt very, very wrong when it was happening. It started as a very minor fishtail, just kicking out to the left a little while hard accellerating and turning to the right. Then it was fighting against me trying to regain control; the front and rear end were starting to fishtail pretty bad. It was completely different from how it felt when it couldn't react quite as quickly as the rear end was kicking out.
I did have some major electrical gremlins where ah/tc were improperly correcting. It felt very, very wrong when it was happening. It started as a very minor fishtail, just kicking out to the left a little while hard accellerating and turning to the right. Then it was fighting against me trying to regain control; the front and rear end were starting to fishtail pretty bad. It was completely different from how it felt when it couldn't react quite as quickly as the rear end was kicking out.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2005
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400 Hp mishandled can overwhelm any stability comtrol system. You really didn't tell us much about what you did to contribute to this situation. Your description sounds rather harmless but to spin one of these babies in 1st or 2nd gear probably indicates a very, very heavy foot on the "go pedal".
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
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From: Florida
There have been at least 10 reported instances of MAJOR loss-of control issues on the C6 reported here on this forum, which can only be attributed to TC/AH malfunctions. Two people on here have wrecked cars as a result. My C6 behaves normally, just like my C5 did. Yours did not.
Take it to the dealer and make them replace the system. This will become a major issue with the NTSB, I guarantee it.
Take it to the dealer and make them replace the system. This will become a major issue with the NTSB, I guarantee it.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Austin TX
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St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05
Originally Posted by TTRotary
...Take it to the dealer and make them replace the system. This will become a major issue with the NTSB, I guarantee it.
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Drifting
Joined: May 2005
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From: Ft. Liquordale Florida
Nailing it hard on a gearshift ('specially first-to-second) if you're not running totally straight at the time if the shift is a recipe for disaster. Nailing a gear shift IN a turn - fuggetaboutit, this thing will break loose so fast neither you or AH is gonna get it back.
Take it from one of those who wrecked by under/over-estimating the capabilities of the AH/TC system to operate consistantly under all situations - as it DOES NOT.
Drive it like it (AH/TC) doesn't exist, stay off the hi-rev shifts in turns, and you should stay out of the situation you've described. If it happened on a dead-straightaway, and there was no steering involved, then you may have an issue that needs to be examined.
I drive with alot more respect for the 400 ponies since my wreck.
Rick
Take it from one of those who wrecked by under/over-estimating the capabilities of the AH/TC system to operate consistantly under all situations - as it DOES NOT.
Drive it like it (AH/TC) doesn't exist, stay off the hi-rev shifts in turns, and you should stay out of the situation you've described. If it happened on a dead-straightaway, and there was no steering involved, then you may have an issue that needs to be examined.
I drive with alot more respect for the 400 ponies since my wreck.
Rick
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,311
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From: Los Angeles CA
Originally Posted by C6PASSENGER
What does tc/ah stand for?
As far as the TC/AH being broken and "causing" you to loose contol .. well I just dont buy it... maybe some "rely" on it to keep control but the root cause of the control loss wasnt the system but the driver....
I've had my C6 sideways twice and the AH/TC alone would not have recovered it if I had kept the foot planted on the floorboard. Bottom line is if you turn that wheel 45 degrees and floor it your rear end WILL slide on you even with AH/TC on... keep the pedal to the metal thru the slide and the AH/TC may not save yer ***...
Having said that if you "think" the tc/ah is not working properly just the thought of it will end up spoiling your fun so take it to the dealer and have them inspect it..
Enjoy your ride
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2005
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Hey, remember when cars did not have traction control and/or active handling? Those were the days when you actually had to DRIVE the car yourself!
I strongly suggest to drive the car as if it did NOT have any of these fancy controls. It might even be good practice to turn all the controls OFF and practice driving your car in various conditions so you get a good feel for what it can and cannot do. Then turn the controls back on for regular everyday use. The idea is that those controls are there for times when you are half asleep behind the wheel in a rainstorm. Otherwise, if you know how to drive, those controls should rarely ever come into play. JMHO.
I strongly suggest to drive the car as if it did NOT have any of these fancy controls. It might even be good practice to turn all the controls OFF and practice driving your car in various conditions so you get a good feel for what it can and cannot do. Then turn the controls back on for regular everyday use. The idea is that those controls are there for times when you are half asleep behind the wheel in a rainstorm. Otherwise, if you know how to drive, those controls should rarely ever come into play. JMHO.
Navigator
Joined: Sep 2005
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Thanks.
Z51 C6 delivered with 1st to 4th gear change only after 2000 revs. In city with frequent stop streets and not enough time to rev this was a real pain and dangerous as no ability to move out of danger's way if necessary. Purchased $20 add-on allowing normal change from 1st to 2nd gear. Were the car crashes forum members had a result of on-road normal driving or wild blow outs testing speed of vehicle between 1st & 2nd? Interested to know what caused the crash.
Z51 C6 delivered with 1st to 4th gear change only after 2000 revs. In city with frequent stop streets and not enough time to rev this was a real pain and dangerous as no ability to move out of danger's way if necessary. Purchased $20 add-on allowing normal change from 1st to 2nd gear. Were the car crashes forum members had a result of on-road normal driving or wild blow outs testing speed of vehicle between 1st & 2nd? Interested to know what caused the crash.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: Montreal Qc
Originally Posted by mrdcars
What went wrong?
Hard to say, if the car did not react properly...have it checked, if for nothing else a little peace of mind!
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
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From: stafford country, va. Avatar: Me on turn 3 @ Bristol (The World's Fastest Half-Mile)
Originally Posted by aero400
Hey, remember when cars did not have traction control and/or active handling? Those were the days when you actually had to DRIVE the car yourself!
I strongly suggest to drive the car as if it did NOT have any of these fancy controls. It might even be good practice to turn all the controls OFF and practice driving your car in various conditions so you get a good feel for what it can and cannot do. Then turn the controls back on for regular everyday use. The idea is that those controls are there for times when you are half asleep behind the wheel in a rainstorm. Otherwise, if you know how to drive, those controls should rarely ever come into play. JMHO.
I strongly suggest to drive the car as if it did NOT have any of these fancy controls. It might even be good practice to turn all the controls OFF and practice driving your car in various conditions so you get a good feel for what it can and cannot do. Then turn the controls back on for regular everyday use. The idea is that those controls are there for times when you are half asleep behind the wheel in a rainstorm. Otherwise, if you know how to drive, those controls should rarely ever come into play. JMHO.
except the concept I think of for the ah/tc controls is for 'slight' conditions that would/could cause an issue, not for aggressive spirited driving. agressive spirtited driving still requires the driver to handle the car but if something slight may happen during the spirited driving then it will help correct but don't rely on it to take complete control and save the car. it is simply an aid just as a cane is an aid for walking, you still need to be able to walk but the cane is there to help a bit. Although I do wish tc wouldn't kick in as quickly as it does when pulling out into traffic, i've been using comp. mode lately - just wish the memory would save the setting so i wouldn't have to switch it to comp. mode each time.in summary, I don't think anything went wrong, I think you exceeded the threshold at which ah/tc would do any good.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 26,714
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From: Houston, TX
Originally Posted by SickRick
Nailing it hard on a gearshift ('specially first-to-second) if you're not running totally straight at the time if the shift is a recipe for disaster. Nailing a gear shift IN a turn - fuggetaboutit, this thing will break loose so fast neither you or AH is gonna get it back.
Take it from one of those who wrecked by under/over-estimating the capabilities of the AH/TC system to operate consistantly under all situations - as it DOES NOT.
Drive it like it (AH/TC) doesn't exist, stay off the hi-rev shifts in turns, and you should stay out of the situation you've described. If it happened on a dead-straightaway, and there was no steering involved, then you may have an issue that needs to be examined.
I drive with alot more respect for the 400 ponies since my wreck.
Rick
Take it from one of those who wrecked by under/over-estimating the capabilities of the AH/TC system to operate consistantly under all situations - as it DOES NOT.
Drive it like it (AH/TC) doesn't exist, stay off the hi-rev shifts in turns, and you should stay out of the situation you've described. If it happened on a dead-straightaway, and there was no steering involved, then you may have an issue that needs to be examined.
I drive with alot more respect for the 400 ponies since my wreck.
Rick
Great post!
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I routinely disabled the Active handling and traction control on my C-5. I have alot more respect for the power of the C-6. I leave it on in the C-6. It has enough power to get you in trouble if you don't respect it. I got it a bit sideways the other day with a hard shift into second at about 5500 RPM while going around a moderate curve. The car got a bit sideways and the active handling kicked in. I came out of the throttle a bit and the Active handling really worked well. As the earlier poster stated, you really need to be going straight to do any kind of hard acceleration and power shifting.
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Joined: Jun 2005
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From: Fairhaven MA
Thanks to all who replied, I even feel comfortable with the one that said it was the driver. Having been around since the muscle car days and having the good fortune of owning a few of them I can truely say that I have a whole lot more respect for the 400HP's after this experience. 
I think I will have the system checked as suggested and you can be dam sure I will be going perfectly straight the next time I shift into second gear. That's if I grow some in the near future.
This thing is a wicked fast car and it seems to get even faster the more you drive it. Does anyone else feel the same ? I have 3400 miles on mine.
Thanks,
I think I will have the system checked as suggested and you can be dam sure I will be going perfectly straight the next time I shift into second gear. That's if I grow some in the near future.
This thing is a wicked fast car and it seems to get even faster the more you drive it. Does anyone else feel the same ? I have 3400 miles on mine.
Thanks,
