DSC light and accompanying loss of full throttle power(?)

[Jeffy]

Sometimes I have been accellerating onto the freeway at wide open throttle, when the DSC light comes on and I lose power right at the time I need all the power I can get! Why would the DSC have any effect on the accelleration? Do they go to "limp in mode" for losing DSC function? Frankly, I don't feel like I need DSC, so if I can keep the power and lose the DSC, it would be fine with me. Does anyone know how I can either correct the DSC problem, or keep the faulty DSC from robbing me of engine power? This light comes on without any loss of traction, and not when I hit a bump, so it seems random. Any tips are greatly appreciated. -Jeffy.

[2phun]

Have not done this yet, but I have heard that some ECU remaps will allow for a bit more play in DSC before it engages. I'm planning on getting the MTH software sometime soon for this reason, and also because it is supposed to even out the acceleration a bit.

[jwardell]

DSC is doing exactly what it is supposed to. The front tires are losing traction, so it reduces the power to the point that they have traction again.

Of course you can turn it off when you know you are going to do this--assuming you are on dry pavement. When you're in snow you'll be very thankful for it.

The only real way to "fix" or improve the issue is to buy better tires!

[Jeffy]

I have just fitted Yokohama Avs 205 50 ZR16 tires, and they stick like super glue! This car has the CVT automatic transmission, which is too sluggish to transmit enough power to the road to lose traction under accelleration, especially when I'm already doing 50 mph. The real issue is the power loss I experience when the light comes on. I don't just lose power for a second, as if I had broken traction with all 115 hp (I need nitrous oxide injection), but lose normal full-throttle power until I pull off and re-start the engine and the DSC light resets to off. Tonight I ran full-throttle onto the freeway to my "mark" on the road and achieved my normal 72 mph, unlike yesterday, when I could only get 65mph with the DSC light on. I appreciate all responses, reguardless- Thanks! -Jeffy.

[2phun]

Could it be that you are hitting/going beyond your rev limiter? I've heard it said that it will put you in limp-home mode if you do. Haven't done it myself though, so can't comment for sure.

[everythingsablur]

Quote: Originally Posted by 2phun

Could it be that you are hitting/going beyond your rev limiter? I've heard it said that it will put you in limp-home mode if you do. Haven't done it myself though, so can't comment for sure.

Can you really hit the rev limiter on a CVT? Short of going balls out to the electronically limited max speed anyway.

[twouptons]

The engine on the CVT cars can't rev as high as it can in the standard transmission-equipped cars since the transmission is limited to the rpms it can handle.

I wonder if you are hitting the limit of the tranny rather than the engine.
Since the engine can go on up to 6750 before the computer tells it to stop on a standard car (vs 5800 or something on the CVT), maybe the DSC is used to protect the transmission from an overspeed condition...

My own theory is that this is the real reason the CVTs are slower than the manual cars in acceleration – you can't ever get the full 115hp out of the engine.

-Eric