I never really want to be in a situation that VSA has to kick in (better to avoid situations like that, in my opinion), but if it has to, is there a way to determine that VSA does work?

In other words, I've never seen the lighted yellow exclamation mark contained in a triangle turn on. Sometimes my wheels slip, but only through launches or fast right or left turn. Is VSA supposed to turn on during these cases?

I guess I just want to make sure that VSA will turn on when its necessary. Is there a *safe* way to determine that its operational?

 

I'm very interested in this answer as well. I too have never seen the exclamation mark come on. I've definitely felt the tires slip ever so slightly on a wet road, but never seen the light.

 

Wimps.

 

Rev your engine up and pop it in gear to make your wheels spin and the light will come on or if it's raining, punch it from a stop, that will get your wheels spinning and get your VSA to kick in.

 

From Hondanews.com -

Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA)
The TL is equipped with 4-channel VSA that helps the driver retain control of the car in the event the vehicle reaches its dynamic traction limits, for example through aggressive cornering, encountering ice or dirt on the road, or entering a decreasing-radius corner too fast.

In the event of understeer (where the front tires lose grip), the system applies the inside front and rear brakes to increase yaw (vehicle "rotation"), slowing the vehicle and enabling it to complete the turn. Engine torque may also be reduced by coordination of the Drive-by-Wire Throttle System and Engine Controller.

The 4-channel system controls all four brakes independently. In the event of oversteer (where the rear tires lose grip), the system applies the outside front and rear brakes to decrease yaw, slowing the vehicle and enabling it to stay on its intended path.

An indicator light on the instrument panel alerts the driver whenever the VSA system is actively enhancing the vehicle's stability.

The traction control component of VSA uses sensors that monitor each of the wheels and a computer-controlled modulation of engine power and front brakes to help prevent wheel spin when starting out or accelerating. If the sensors detect wheel spin, traction control reduces engine power and applies brake force to the affected wheels. This helps the TL maintain traction during acceleration and helps the driver retain steering control, even when accelerating on slippery surfaces.

A cockpit switch is provided to disable the vehicle stability and traction control aspects of the system while leaving the ABS system fully functional.

 

I like to randomly test my VSA just for kicks... usually while i'm driving, but I see you dont wanna do that - so... on a rainy day, in an area where there are NO OTHER CARS (empty parking lot, dead end road, w/e) find a puddle an uneven ares in the wet road and then floor it. VSA light will come on and flash like a motherfu**er, depending on how well you handle the car while it attempts to steer back onto it's intended path.

 

The easiest way would be to hit the gas from a stand-still when it's wet out.

Some systems allow SOME wheelspin before kicking in, but I'm not sure if Acura's VSA does. The VSA switch allows you to turn it off for more spirited driving.

 

One day I went to Home Depot with the wife's Ody and the parking space I was to back into I decided to pull in and this lot had a little incline and it had snowed the nigh before and the sun had melted most of it forming a frozen area just were the front tires of the Ody ended up.
When I decided to back out of the spot I was just spinning my tires, the VSA tried to lock one or the other and I could not move an inch, I just moved sideways back and forth up until the guy parked next to me decided to help me and he pushed me enought o grab a section of dry pavement and I was freed.
This was last Winter so now I know that the VSA works but I will take on ice and snow with the VSA off and use my own driving skills to avoid an accident, it has worked since 1975, the year i got my license........

 

Every now and then when I launch my auto TL from a dead stop, if the road conditions are right (like a bump in the intersection), the bright orange VSA light will come on for a split second, the car will correct itself, and it turns off. Just keep launching from stop lights until you see it come on

 

I guess there is some slip allowed before it really will turn on... My concern was that it wasn't operational...

 

i punched the type s from a dead stop today. Lets just say my wheels were slipping past 40 mph. wow, but yeah the exclamation mark is on for me. i think you have to be under power for the light to go on (might explain why it might not have been on during the turns)

 

Wait for a rainy or drizzly day. Accelerate hard on a diagonal over some wet leaves or diagonal over the wet wide white stripe used at intersections. I say go at a diagonal so the front tires will try to spin at different times. Best to do this late at night. Foolish driving needs lots of space.

 

Turn the wheels all the way to left (or right). Floor the accelerator. You will see the VSA in action.

You may want to do that only in an open parking lot.

 

Hmm, no snow in San Jose?

In the wintertime, safely drive north to Oregon or Washington State. Ask a local for an empty snowy, unplowed parking lot, with no cement tire blocks, and go to town.

Its excellent practice for the emergency situation when you really need your VSA and when you need to know what the VSA feels like.

Good luck and drive safely.