Hey y'all. I have a 2005 MCSa without DSC.

I approach an intersection and want to make a left turn. I need to gun it when I take off to make sure I clear traffic. Why is it when I am turning and gunning it I am always losing power? I want to say it's the ASC that is always on but I'm not sure. If ASC is the cause would it be safe to turn it off before I do a move like this and then turn it back on after. It may not be safe to spin the tires but it's no better to lose power in the middle of an intersection.

Smartassers need not reply.

Thanks!

Matt

 

Do you notice if the traction control light comes on? I am most often in manual mode with the DSC left on and I don't really have that problem, I may spin but if applying the power smoothly the burst needed works fine - perhaps try it in manual mode in first gear and see if it feels different to you?

As a thought, I also have lightweight wheels and sticky tires so that may also play a factor in it.

 

Do you see the ASC light flash when you're losing power? If so, it's the ASC, and you can just turn it off. Do you hear wheels spinning? Does it feel like you're losing traction, or just not getting the power out of the engine? If it's not ASC, it could be the tranny shifting down. Have you tried the same maneuver using the sportshift and shifting down yourself?

 

if you have ASC.... TURN IT OFF!!!

all it does is cut your power and leaves you with no way to move... If you turn it off... you may spin your tires BUT you can adjust and actually GET OUT of the situation vs being stuck with NO power and your foot to the floor..

I drive my car without ASC all the time, unless heavy rain or bad conditions...

-Josh

 

ASC and the traction control function in your owners manual.It gives you recmmendations on its use and what happens when on/off

 

Wow, from the sound of the ASC is way more intrusive then DSC

 

It shouldn't be. DSC just adds yaw sensors and electronics to brake each wheel individually. Still has ASC 'underneath' it. Seems kind of hit and miss. Some people say it is ungodly intrusive. I haven't found that to be the case.

 

If I forget to turn it back off while normally driving, I will go to pass someone and get cut off and be powerless... putting myself usually in a bad situation

-Josh

 

That's the ticket DSC/ASC off on dry pavement, then you get to really drive the car. When it's wet / snowy out leave it on for little or no worries driving. just my thoughts. I like as many bugs on the side of my car as on the front.:impatient Now that's fun!!!!

 

we leave the ASC/DSC for most everything in our 05 MSCa. I do also notice that when the wheels are cranked pretty good & i get on it that it's fairly easy to trip the ASC, esp now that it is a bit colder out. (stock 16" runflats).

I have yet to find myself in a spot where i felt in danger due to it, but that does not mean it can't happen. If i do see that it is going off, i try to give a little less gas or straighten out the wheel a little...those two front tires can only do so many things at once!

-jac

 

Yep, just listen to Josh (Battle Cattle). I've been in that "Holy Crap.. Go" mode, and it isn't fun. Merging into fast traffic, and the darn thing falls on its face. I'd rather adjust with my foot then have everything shut down in time of need. I've actually had my foot on the floor, realize I ain't going, and had to flip the switch. Feels like you hit a nitrous button or something.

 

ASC is what most people ***** about, including me sometimes. I have the full DSC though, because I believe the "extra stuff" with DSC is good stuff...

I just wish there was a way to disable the ASC features while still leaving the extra DCS features fully intact. Instead, I have to be content with disabling ALL of it in good 3-season weather, and leaving it enabled during wet conditions and all winter long (since my snow tires don't bite dry pavement all that well anyway, I don't mind ASC interfering then, since otherwise I'm just wearing out my snows faster).

 

1. shouldn't be the tranny because this is all in first gear.
2. I haven't noticed the ASC light coming on but I wasn't looking at the gauges either. Had my eyes on the road.
3. Sounds like the ASC isn't a big deal except in poor road conditions (whether they be rain, snow, ice, gravel, sand, etc) so if its bright and sunny on a dry road I should be good with it off.
4. It's definitely a power issue. I can just barely ever spin the wheels. But in those turn/acceleration moments the engine power gets CUT. There's no mistake about that. Obviously it feels its a bad situation and cuts power but all its doing is creating a worse situation by leaving me sapped of power.

I think I'll try a few of these turns (with no traffic around) with the ASC off and see what happens.

Thanks for all the info and feel free to keep posting in this thread about this topic. It's interesting.

 

I find that the ASC threshold is set very low and is very intrusive. I'm sure that's your problem.

Michael

 

sometimes when I need to make a dash for it i turn off the DSC just
in case.

but in wet conditions i usually keep it on as the computer can better
sense slippage and control throttle especially while turning from
a standstill.