Traction control, VSC, and drifting
 

I list 5 modes below.

1. So there is everything on for normal driving.

2. You are stuck in mud or snow, and push "TRAC OFF" quickly to get full power to the wheels to rock back and forth to get unstuck. "TRAC OFF" turns back on when you go over 31 mph.

3. Push "VSC SPORT" to go into VSC Sport mode.

4. Press and hold "TRAC OFF" to turn trac and VSC off.

5. Pedal dance to turn everything completely off



Modes 1 and 2 are obvious. But what is the difference between 3, 4, and 5?

If I wanted to just power slide slightly and let the back out just a tad, that is possible with mode 1?

What about full on drifting? What mode do the reviewers put the car in for drifting?

here's modes 1-3-4

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8qggahGNH0"]Toyota 86 Traction Control Demonstration [SKIDPAD] - YouTube[/ame]

Edit: For your questions.

You want to play it relatively safe but have a little bit of danger, sport mode (#3) is great. You want to go to a track and truly test the limits of grip turn VSC off (#4), this is the mode for review videos and Clarkson shouting 'powaaaah'. Guys who know this car way better say that you won't get the true dynamics of the car without pedal dance but I wouldn't muck with that until you know exactly what you're doing.

I havent driven this car on a track yet so take this for what its worth. But it seems vsc controls the angle the vehicle slides at by applying individual brakes to leverage the car straight. VSC sport allows more angle. Trac OFF lets the rear tires spin with no regard to vehicle angle and limits throttle input when its on. Both OFF lets you spin the car but is still not 100% off. You can feel it pulse the front brakes. Pedal dance is ment to be a diagnostic mode and truely turns everything off similar to pulling the fuse. Im not sure but i believe it turns off abs as well. Its sometimes used to prevent "Ice mode" on a track wich is when an abs system sees so little traction it thinks youre on ice and severely limits braking pressure. I've only experienced that on chevy trucks personally but someone posted some experiences with it on here recently.

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25494

he has a real world track experience with the ft86 EBD and had the rears lock up, the opposite of what ive seen in other vehicles. He also says it doesnt turn off abs.

I used to like #3 because it allowed some mild drifting. Now that I feel comfortable, #4 is the way to go. It allows wheel slip and what I expect for a decent drift. I never would have thought so a year ago, but, I don't think I could ever go back now.

the lsd is active on all modes?

Correct.

The "Pedal Dance" does NOT turn off ABS.

ABS may be disabled by pulling the fuse, which would then disable all of the nannies, I believe, as they all employ the ABS system to function.

The "Pedal Dance" also disables the EBD. Modern cars no longer employ a mechanical front/rear brake balance control as they once did prior to ABS and all the nannies. Modern cars make use of the ABS and nanny system to apportion brake pressure front to back under varying conditions.

That's my understanding, and I could be wrong. But, if I am correct, then I wonder what I'm left with. Reports are that it's okay to drive the car hard with everything, including EBD, disabled.

However, I have yet to see a sound test showing the effects of EBD ON vs OFF under varying conditions, especially braking hard into a downhill corner in the wet.

If anyone can steer me to a place to learn more about this, I'd be grateful. I'm reluctant to do the Pedal Dance for driving on the public roads. There are no run-offs to speak of, and I sure don't want to run into some innocent victim.

Yes.

Your question suggests a lack of understanding about an LSD. Do your homework to learn what it does and why it's helpful on our sportscars.

@Suberman had a good explanation a while back, describing the operation of the Torsen diff on our cars.

Where'd he go?

I hear you, and I'm with you, Strat, as I generally am.

But, I want to say to the less experienced drivers that if "danger" is applicable here, then maybe you're not quite ready, yet. :D

Thanks for the info! I was wondering, do you turn on everything by doing the pedal dance again? Or how does it work?

Turn it all back ON?

No.

I believe one simply turns the car OFF, and restarts, which will have everything back to normal. It could be unsafe, otherwise.

read the thread i posted.

Decreasing degrees of intervention by the nannies.

Powerslide?

I don't think so; the system is quite intrusive and leaps into action at the slightest provocation.

I assume they turn everything OFF, but not with the Pedal Dance. I can't recall whether any reviewer described exactly what they did. My limited experience sliding the car around (the grip levels are quite high) suggests that even the Sport Mode is intrusive, severely limiting any slip angles. Sport Mode works impressively in the snow and should keep most drivers out of serious trouble, assuming one does not do something truly stupid.

Those wild powerslides you see Chris Harris and other reviewers doing, must surely have everything turned OFF.

Have fun, but don't hurt anyone else, and don't get bent yourself. :)

Quotes the BRZ manual, but FYI: http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18962