STC/DSTC traction contol

[Gen_Billy]

Whats its all about?
Its always on for me.
If you turn if off does it effect handling? Only tried it once and I felt the steering is more lose. Does people drive it with it off?

[imac]

STC is traction control, DSTC is traction control plus dynamic stability control.

In basic terms the traction control stops you wheelspinning and dynamic stability control uses computers to help keep you on the road. Unless you're driving hardish or in extreme conditions you wouldn't notice if it was on or off so you might as well keep it on.

[AClough]

There's two parts to it; Dynamic stability & Traction control.

First Traction control: This is the only part you can turn off. It stops (mostly) your wheels spinning under power. Don't see why you should turn it off unless you like buying new tyres. You shouldn't notice any difference in steering etc. with it off however.

Secondly Dynamic Stability: This is always on and can brake individual wheels to negate oversteering/understeering and stuff. Helps to keep you on the road if you do something silly.

Cheers,

Alistair

[neek]

I think pressing the button for a couple of seconds turns it all off, not just the traction control.
Could be wrong though.

[Viper_7]

No, I belive DSTC is always on even if you push the button for a few seconds - it only turns off Traction control. Reason for this is snowy/icy conditions - it can be impossible to set off!

the DS part is integral to Volvo's Safety design - it's clever stuff, constantly analysing throttle/steering input / current direction and angle of the steering, speed/acceleration braking force of each individual wheel, analysing yaw rate

if it decides it's about to lose control in any shape or form, no matter what the driver is doing it corrects it - it not only brakes individual wheels to regain control but also reduces throttle input when necessary. It's also built into the ABS / EBD / Emergency brake assist systems

big thing about it on the news the other day - apparently in mass production it will only cost manufactures about £50 to add these kind of systems to every car made - they made soon be forced to do it by default not just as an extra.

It's especially usefull with the D5 and R due to the huge amounts of Torque
easy to spin the wheels in first,second,third gears!

It summary leave it turned on!
Vipes

[Viper_7]

Hmm been looking about, on the R - hitting it 5 times, totally disables it.

Also seen that hitting it onece for a few seconds turns off the TC, hitting it again turns it on, hitting it again turns off the TC, hitting again turns it on, then hitting again turns it all off!!

The responses are "DSTC REDUCED" or "DSTC OFF"

I know when I hit mine just one for a few seconds it says "DSTC OFF"

I may have been thinking about the Emergency brake assist than you can't turn off - seeing lots of different answers though?! The R is deffo different Kown that, maybe that is where you can place it into "reduced" and the other models it's just completly on or off.... anyone?!!?

[TJMurphy]

The 'R' is the only one to need the five stabs of the button. On a normal S60 you just hold it down for a second or two and it goes off (until you hit it again or it's automatically on when you restart the car).

In normal driving you'd never notice the difference*. I had a play with it on / off on an airfield once on an advanced driving course. Was quite interesting as you could feel it grab / release / grab / release the car to keep it from spinning. That was the DS bit of it.

I've never quite been sure about the traction control - you can still spin the wheels - does it just kick in if they're spinning at a different rate?

Tony

* Having said that, on my remapped T5 the little orange light does flash more than it used to - can't think why

[imac]

Originally Posted by TJMurphy

I've never quite been sure about the traction control - you can still spin the wheels - does it just kick in if they're spinning at a different rate?

They will still spin but the power should be cut shortly after to bring things back in check. I found it a great help in the snow/ice in Switzerland & France last winter.

[T5JAS]

an excellent system.. when it works. my ecu that controls it packed up so have to live without it for now.. a pain with new pirellis on cos they wear down!
i could just take the lead out of my right shoe but hey where's the fun in that!!
Jason

[neek]

So are we saying that on the S60 you can turn the DSTC off or not?? just to clarify like