I was surprised but I actually had to turn off my tcs to get out of my parking spot today. Otherwise it would kick in and limit my rpms to 1500 or so.

At least I got to drive with no tcs for the first time for a whole 5 feet

 

I've been stuck before but never had to turn TCS off, i kept my foot down (on glare ice w/summer tires) until the tires got traction by the brakes pumping. In my situation turning TCS off would just spin my tires even faster. In this car its a really good system!!

 

Yea in most cars, its better to turn off any traction control to help launch. Some even recommend launching in 2nd with the TCS off.

In my DD Grand Prix, I always switch the TCS off when I come to a stop in the snow. Habit I guess

 

I remember leaving school last yaer once in the snow, traction control hindered me. It would feel the wheel spin, right as I'd go it'd kick on.

 

Usually with getting out of a snowy/icy parking space you will need to rock the car back and forth a bit, and DSC will probably get in the way of this since it's likely that you will induce a little tire spin in the process. However, once you get moving, I find that DSC is invaluable in keeping the car under control in slippery conditions.

 

I know i don't compare to some of the guys who live up in Canada but I live in northern Mi and no one in my area drives rear wheel drive cars in the winter except me. The traction control and stability control are great for winter driving.

Front wheel drive car sitting in the ditch on my way home today. Rwd all the way!!

 

do you mean tcs?

 

Alot of people confuse the two

For those that do:
DSC = controlling oversteer or understeer through use of the brakes independantly on wheels
TCS = electronic limiting of the engine RPM to prevent detected wheelspin
They work independantly of each other, though it is certainly possible for TCS to cut wheelspin if you are kicking the back out under power, and through that cutting of power, help bring the car under control.
Another way to look at it is, TCS corrects overspin on the rear wheels, DSC generally corrects underspin on any of the 4.

Tapping the DCS/TCS button turns off TCS, and enables a greater amount of directional rotation before it kicks in (30 degrees I think?)

Doing the 7 second turnoff cuts both completely. I don't think that any of the 3 settings affects ABS, though I have never tested it.



I've never tried leaving it on and also pumping the brakes, will have to see how that works. Normally I get a bit of a smile when I am 'forced' to turn off the TCS

 

This shouldn't be a surprise. Have you read your owner's manual?

 

Nope, just tapping the DSC button once turns off DSC and TSC completely, holding for 7 sec. trips the switch, it gets confusing. And ABS cannot be disabled unless the fuse is pulled. A lot of people seem to get confused with this, there's a complete description in the manual.

 

I just try to drive through the ice slowly. Usually a good smell of burning rubber afterwards.

Damned ice + balding summer tires.

 

I get the burning smell as well when driving in ice or snow, I wasnt sure if its normal, I assume so since it only does it during ice or snow, it worried me a bit at first haha

 

I dont' have TCS so I never had the experiece to drive with it.....just learn to drive without it even in the snow!

 

So what is it?

 

probably wet slush/ salt/ sand winter bullshit burning off the exhaust.

 

Neglecting to turn off the traction control was one of the bone-headed mistakes that I made that wore my clutch out by 40K miles. Just trying to keep the engine from stalling as the TCS would drop the revs, I'd slip the clutch far more than was healthy for it. If the conditions call for it, disabling the TCS to get rolling isn't the worst thing one could do.

 

Haha, I remember the first time it iced here. I was like, "wtf? MOVE!!!" After 10 seconds of my tail wagging I turned off the TCS and slid sideways up the street.

 

The combination of TCS and DSC in this car provide so really great safety factors when driving in snow/ice. I was trying to get home over Christmas, and I was driving through freezing drizzle. TCS/DSC saved me at least twice from loosing control. I also learned on that trip how Mazda originally came up with 24 mpg highway. In order to get 24 mpg highway, you have to drive like 40 mph in 6th gear along an expressway. I know because that is about as fast as I could go in the freezing drizzle without the car wanting to go out of control.