traction control question

[elh0102]

I'm the new owner of an Integra S, and after 2 weeks I'm very favorably impressed with it. Regarding traction control (VSA I guess in Acura speak) I have a question. The little icon light comes on when I press the button to turn the system down to a lower level, as it should. And when I go through the three-step process to fully defeat the system, I get the light again, as well as the "VSA" message, all of which is correct I believe. But I have noticed that, when the system is fully on, I don't believe the icon light flashes on during short periods of intervention. I can feel it, but I don't see the light. Everything seems to work fine, so I'm not concerned, but in other cars I have owned I would see the light flash with any intervention. I believe that the combination of a good front suspension, limited slip transaxle and good tires is doing a very good job of managing traction, and VSA may simply not be activating much. In fact, most of what I feel may be the LSD action rather than VSA. Anyway, I'm curious if most folks are seeing a flashing light with even very short VSA engagement? Thanks for any input.

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[ABPDE5]

I'm the new owner of an Integra S, and after 2 weeks I'm very favorably impressed with it. Regarding traction control (VSA I guess in Acura speak) I have a question. The little icon light comes on when I press the button to turn the system down to a lower level, as it should. And when I go through the three-step process to fully defeat the system, I get the light again, as well as the "VSA" message, all of which is correct I believe. But I have noticed that, when the system is fully on, I don't believe the icon light flashes on during short periods of intervention. I can feel it, but I don't see the light. Everything seems to work fine, so I'm not concerned, but in other cars I have owned I would see the light flash with any intervention. I believe that the combination of a good front suspension, limited slip transaxle and good tires is doing a very good job of managing traction, and VSA may simply not be activating much. In fact, most of what I feel may be the LSD action rather than VSA. Anyway, I'm curious if most folks are seeing a flashing light with even very short VSA engagement? Thanks for any input.

I don't believe it displays an icon when it engages.

 

[StingertimeNC]

same, never seen the icon come up during an intervention.

 

[elh0102]

Thanks folks. I think my car is perfectly normal based on your feedback. I have a reasonably good feel for handling dynamics, with over 10 years track experience before retiring and needing to cut back on the budget. But all my experience is in high hp rear-drive cars, so this is quite different. The front-drive thing is an experiment for me, and I was frankly not optimistic. But I have to admit that they have done a good job with the Integra S, and I'm really enjoying it.

 

[whtciv2k]

The vsa light only flashes when traction has engaged. I just saw the light flash in my type s for the first time recently.

 

[elh0102]

The vsa light only flashes when traction has engaged. I just saw the light flash in my type s for the first time recently.

I guess that puts me back where I started, because I don't believe mine has ever blinked with VSA engagement.

 

[whtciv2k]

I wouldn’t be concerned. If there was a bigger issue you’d know

 

[optronix]

Never noticed the light, and I've done a few runs with it on in the rain at an autocross. It is VERY intrusive though so I turn it off any time I'm "driving with intent".

This car was an experiment for me too and it is fantastic for what it is. I miss RWD though. In an ideal world I'd have both.

 

[whtciv2k]

This is why I’m keeping my other weekend car, it’s a rwd and I knew I’d miss it. But dam, this type s is too fun.

 

[elh0102]

It is interesting that folks seem to have different experiences with VSA/traction control. Today I was able to determine that under a specific loss of traction, VSA did intervene. I could definitely feel it, but no light came on. I then went through the 3-step process to fully disable it and drove through the same turn again. It is a slightly uphill and off-camber turn, so perfect to lose traction. With the system off, I was able to control the throttle and maintain a little slip, but under good control, a much more comfortable experience. If I had induced greater spin the first time and for longer, maybe the light would have come on. Anyway, the system seems to be working.

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