The "fun control" on my car is really starting to ***** me off. I keep forgetting to turn it off and so it cuts the power just when I need it (accelerating hard from roundabouts etc)

Is there any way to permanently turn it off?

Yep...

Press the button every time you start the engine...

It's not exactly permanent though.

I really wouldn't turn it off permanently if I were you... as a RWD car, any time it gets too wet, you'll be in a ditch/lampost etc.

I drive sometimes with it off, when its damp, as I like to drift sometimes, and commonly i drive with it off in the dry, but in the wet, it's definately saved me some scary moments....

[quote name='Kavey' date='May 30 2003, 11:17 AM']I really wouldn't turn it off permanently if I were you... as a RWD car, any time it gets too wet, you'll be in a ditch/lampost etc.

I drive sometimes with it off, when its damp, as I like to drift sometimes, and commonly i drive with it off in the dry, but in the wet, it's definately saved me some scary moments.... [/quote]
well said Kavey

[quote name='Kavey' date='May 30 2003, 11:17 AM']I really wouldn't turn it off permanently if I were you... as a RWD car, any time it gets too wet, you'll be in a ditch/lampost etc.

I drive sometimes with it off, when its damp, as I like to drift sometimes, and commonly i drive with it off in the dry, but in the wet, it's definately saved me some scary moments.... [/quote]
You seem to be confusing me with someone who can't drive.

I've never had TC before, driven lots of RWD cars, and have never ended up in a ditch.

My other car doesn't have TC and I manage to handle that in the wet very nicely.

[img]http://www.furtive.co.uk/westfield/closeup-thumb.jpg[/img]

Maybe you should consider getting RaceLogic Traction Control, you won't find it as invasive, but lets be honest, traction has saved all our skins once or twice in winter.

i always drive with the traction control off - even in the wet. i've got into the habbit of pressing the trac off button everytime i get in the car. if you want to do something more permanent:

Disabling TRAC by default (from is300.net), I don't agree with the knife bit - you don't need it but anyway:


Use a knife to pry the TRAC switch out of the plastic panel.

Once the TRAC button is removed use your finger to pull the three switch panel out. This will expose the bolts that hold the stereo head unit in.

The TRAC switch has four conductors: two are used to power the internal light when the headlights are on, and the other two are triggered by the TRAC disable switch. This switch is a normally open switch. Buy a normally closed switch and swap that for the normally open switch.

Note that the dash indicator lights may be slightly brighter than normal.


Please note that this modification will default your TRAC to off when the car is started. The factory default is for TRAC to be on when the car is first started.

[quote name='furtive' date='May 30 2003, 12:38 PM']You seem to be confusing me with someone who can't drive.

I've never had TC before, driven lots of RWD cars, and have never ended up in a ditch.

My other car doesn't have TC and I manage to handle that in the wet very nicely.[/quote]
hmmmm.....

75% of the Uk's drivers class themselves as 'above average'....

Now I'm not disputing your driving ability, but I've driven loads of cars without ABS without an issue... but I'm not going to switch it off, because you never know when you might need it...

But it's your car mate, and your choice.

[quote name='dark_is200' date='May 30 2003, 11:39 AM']Disabling TRAC by default (from is300.net), I don't agree with the knife bit - you don't need it but anyway:[/quote]
not going to comment on the turning of the TC.


but - would be very interested in what your insurance company would think (and maybe the police) if you were to be involved in an accident with a major safety feature turned off.


you would defintely have to inform your insurance company if you did this - their pricing will be factoring in the fact that you ar driving a RWD car with traction control - removing that from the equation would have to be notified to them.

why do lexus provide a button so that we can turn it off ?????

[quote name='bazza' date='May 30 2003, 12:56 PM']why do lexus provide a button so that we can turn it off ????? [/quote]
So that Top Gear presenters can powerslide and doughnut them....

[quote name='bazza' date='May 30 2003, 11:56 AM']why do lexus provide a button so that we can turn it off ????? [/quote]
as there may be legititimate situation where you choose to not use the trac.


Why do you think Lexus have it turned on by default - and only provide you with a button to turn it off?

Out of curiousity... what does the snow button do??

I guessed it made it more sensitive or something? but if anyone knows..

[quote name='Fidgits' date='May 30 2003, 12:04 PM']Out of curiousity... what does the snow button do??[/quote]
I believe it reduces the amount of power delivered when you press the go pedal - by about 15% I think.


Its to help reduce wheel spin in ice - *** knows you need all the help you can get at the merest suggestion of ice

[quote]as there may be legititimate situation where you choose to not use the trac.[/quote]

like.........

[quote name='bazza' date='May 30 2003, 12:07 PM']like.........[/quote]
driving like a nutter on private land?

track days?


I dunno - I only said [b]may[/b]

i think that the standard traction control is dangerous since its too agressive, it doesn't really behave like a progressive system its just on or off - once wheelspin starts it totally kills the revs rather than reducing the power slightly.

I dont find that, I find it just cuts the revs back by about 1,000RPM.....

[quote name='dark_is200' date='May 30 2003, 12:14 PM']i think that the standard traction control is dangerous since its too agressive, it doesn't really behave like a progressive system its just on or off - once wheelspin starts it totally kills the revs rather than reducing the power slightly.[/quote]
Totally agree

Why have a system that is so intrusive as to take control AWAY from the driver.

If you are pulling away from a junction and suddenly lose power, because the traction control has kicked in to prevent the wheels spinning, you are exposed without sufficient power for a longer time than if the wheels spun and you controlled it with a moderate lift of the accelerator to get grip (or just nail it to keep the power slide going!!)

I was always taught that you should feel what the car is telling you and act accordingly - if you do this and suddenly an intrusive traction control system cuts in without warning how can you tell what to do? More gas or less and when to apply it ? You just don't know because you haven't a clue when the system is going to cut in or out. Pathetic system

I always turn off the TRC as soon as I get in the IS300 becuase I like the car too much to have my driving enjoyment spoiled by it.

By the way you shouldn't be driving fast enough in the wet for the TRC to be cutting in.

And, I can't see why you would have to tell the Insurance comapny if you turned it off permanently - if this was the case then you would have to phone them every time you chose to push the button and turn it off

Just my 2p's worth

Agree with above about the traction control being very intrusive.

HOWEVER......you have to remember that we are an owners club.....consequently everyone here loves driving, and has a better understanding of driving (irrespective of whether they're a good driver or not) than the rest of the population.
The TRC being so limiting is....and this really is just me making loads of guess work......to help out those who do not understand driving theories, for example. How about Mr. Sales Rep who has a Lexus. His wife drives it. This is not in the slightest having a go at women drivers, but what I'm trying to prove is that for that lady, the TRC will stop her power sliding (accidentally) out of a junction which a lorry's spilt some diesel on.

My point here is that I think the TRC was designed to help out people such as I mentioned above, rather than the equivalent of TRC in a E46 M3 which is designed to allow long flowing powerslides while still keeping traction.


Did that make sense !?!?

Hope so !!!!

makes sense to me...

thats why their is an option.. but if the TRAC was modified at the switch then the insurance company still need to know.

thing is if you had an accident and the TRAC is on by default everytime you start the engine , how are the insurance company gonna know that TRAC was turned off?

if the TRAC was modified to be permanent then your asking for trouble. They obviously are not gonna pay out!

[quote name='Fidgits' date='May 30 2003, 12:04 PM']Out of curiousity... what does the snow button do??[/quote]

I believe it does reduce the sensitivity of the accelerator pedal, taking advantage of the fly-by-wire throttle linkage.

I tend to use the Snow mode in heavy stop/start traffic as it gives smoother starts.

Without it I find the take-up a bit abrupt and requires more clutch control - which is probably more wear on the clutch than can be achieved when in Snow mode.

YMMV,
Nige

[quote name='NigeSt' date='May 30 2003, 02:29 PM']YMMV,
Nige[/quote]
what's that mean ?!?

[quote name='tony_hetherington' date='May 30 2003, 03:29 PM'][quote name='NigeSt' date='May 30 2003, 02:29 PM'] YMMV,
Nige[/quote]
what's that mean ?!? [/quote]
He sneezed while typing???

[quote name='Fidgits' date='May 30 2003, 04:06 PM']He sneezed while typing??? [/quote]
ohhhhhhh.........


[b]bless you!!![/b]

I have to say that in the dry, I drive with TRC off - but in the wet, it's always left on...

[quote name='tony_hetherington' date='May 30 2003, 02:29 PM'][quote name='NigeSt' date='May 30 2003, 02:29 PM'] YMMV,
Nige[/quote]
what's that mean ?!? [/quote]
Your mileage may vary

[quote name='Zee007' date='May 30 2003, 10:15 PM']I have to say that in the dry, I drive with TRC off - but in the wet, it's always left on...[/quote]
can I ask why?


purely because I don't know the difference it makes - surely if it's dry and you don't "need" it, there is nothing wrong with having in on.


Does it make a difference?

[quote name='Matthew_McNally' date='May 31 2003, 12:07 AM']can I ask why?[/quote]
Sure you can Matt!

I personally think it can be intrusive (as mentioned previously in this thread). I do not want it TRC kicking in when I least expect it on a dry day taking a corner. I'm not saying I thrash the pants off my car - because I don't. However, I also want to be able to drive the car to the limits I am comfortable with, based on conditions, without having to worry about TRC cutting in.

Anyway, with my S/C fitted by this time tomorrow, I won't be able to move without it switched off.........

[quote name='Zee007' date='May 31 2003, 11:11 AM']Anyway, with my S/C fitted by this time tomorrow, I won't be able to move without it switched off......... [/quote]
Why's that then Zee ?

I am totally confused by this one 'TC' is not a legal requirement to have on any car so there fore has nill effect to your insurance premiums. When the ignition is switched off and then on again it defaults to 'ON' so how would anybody know you were driving with it swiched off at the time of an accident as the first thing that happens after accident is 'You turn off the igintion' or someone arriving at the scene turns it off, They don't check to see if your TC light is on.

Wheel spinning and power sliding is great fun in the right place and that is not on public roads and if you do you deserve all you get.

[quote name='Risky3301' date='May 31 2003, 12:08 PM']I am totally confused by this one 'TC' is not a legal requirement to have on any car so there fore has nill effect to your insurance premiums. When the ignition is switched off and then on again it defaults to 'ON' so how would anybody know you were driving with it swiched off at the time of an accident as the first thing that happens after accident is 'You turn off the igintion' or someone arriving at the scene turns it off, They don't check to see if your TC light is on.

Wheel spinning and power sliding is great fun in the right place and that is not on public roads and if you do you deserve all you get.[/quote]
exactly what i said.. who is gonna know.

but do you know for sure that modding the traction control to be permanently off isnt gonna affect your insurance?

Do you have solid proof that if it was modded to be off at all times that the insurance company will pay up?

[quote name='Chris Shipley' date='May 31 2003, 12:45 PM'][quote name='Zee007' date='May 31 2003, 11:11 AM'] Anyway, with my S/C fitted by this time tomorrow, I won't be able to move without it switched off.........  [/quote]
Why's that then Zee ? [/quote]
It would be forever kicking in when I release the clutch Chris.... have a go yourself once yours done - both with and without....

[i]Depends on how you drive the car Zee, I'm not always going to be racing away from lights etc[/i]

[quote name='Chris Shipley' date='May 31 2003, 02:03 PM'][i]Depends on how you drive the car Zee, I'm not always going to be racing away from lights etc[/i][/quote]
very good point chris........

[quote name='Administrator' date='May 31 2003, 01:28 PM'][quote name='Risky3301' date='May 31 2003, 12:08 PM'] I am totally confused by this one 'TC' is not a legal requirement to have on any car so there fore has nill effect to your insurance premiums. When the ignition is switched off and then on again it defaults to 'ON' so how would anybody know you were driving with it swiched off at the time of an accident as the first thing that happens after accident is 'You turn off the igintion' or someone arriving at the scene turns it off, They don't check to see if your TC light is on.

Wheel spinning and power sliding is great fun in the right place and that is not on public roads and if you do you deserve all you get.[/quote]
exactly what i said.. who is gonna know.

but do you know for sure that modding the traction control to be permanently off isnt gonna affect your insurance?

Do you have solid proof that if it was modded to be off at all times that the insurance company will pay up?[/quote]
I don't know for sure as I don't work in the car insurance industry. If someone wanted to permanently disconnect the 'TC' one way is to remove the 'FUSE' very simple process but could be very stupid, as I would check first that the 'ABS' is not effect by this. The only other way is through the 'PCM' again not a good idea unless you know what you doing and have access to some very expensive piece of kit and know what parameters to change. Dealers can't even do IT.

The silly thing is that there's a switch you can just press to switch off the 'TC' why would anyone want permanently disconnect it.

OKAY BACK TO THE QUESTION...


yes, there is a way to reverse the TRAC Button so when u turn the car on, it will be off and when u want it on, just push the button. PM me if you want to know how.

-ADVANCE

Many, if not all insurance companies have this catch-all called "duty of disclosure". An example of this is:

"...you (or your agent) must provide the (insurance) Company with all material information that is likely to influence the acceptance and/or assessment of your proposal. If you are in doubt whether a particular item of information is material in this respect you should include it. Your failure to do so may give the Company the right to refuse the claims which you make, and in certain circumstances to void the (insurance) Policy altogether. It is an offence under the Road Traffic Act to make any false statement or withold any material information..."

If you modify a safety feature that is designed by the manufacturer to be "on" by default, to be "off" by default, then you are altering the default operating parameters of the car, and my money is on the fact that the insurance company WILL want to know (any excuse for them to bump up your premium!)

If you disable TRC and have an accident as a result, the chances of the insurance company finding out are pretty slim, BUT if they do find out you slid your £20K beauty off the road and totalled it because you re-wired the TRC to be off by default, then my guess is they'll refuse or significantly reduce your claim (to something like 3rd party). I for one don't see the point in paying them hundreds of quid a year and then giving them an excuse to not pay a claim. Better to leave it wired "on" and just switch it off for those fun days

And another thing, it's pretty easy to get my IS to "tramp" when pulling away quickly, even on dry roads, and especially when pulling out of a side road. So I agree - the system is somewhat crude.