I searched and sorry if this has been brought up before but....

I know for you automatic drivers that VSA should be turned off before zooming off from a stand-still point, but i was wondering...

Should 6-speeders turn VSA off as well from stand-still befor a race to have a good launch?

it's a noob question but im new

 

Yea.

 

yeah always the vsa will rob the car of some power when you are tring to launch the car.

 

I have tried both and have noticed little difference (keep in mind I was not dropping the clutch though). My question is whether the VSA turns off the LSD on the 6MT when it is disabled? Anyone know for sure?

The LSD is what most people mistake for torque steer as it is quite active and will pull the car left or right depending upon road conditions.

 

I agree with caball88 as I notice a difference between spirited driving with VSA on and spirited driving with VSA off.

Just experiment with it on your own and I'm sure you would agree.

 

you can not turn off the LSD.

 

sorry, i had to laugh at that...

 

If you turn off the VSA and drop the clutch you will have excesive wheel spin and LSD "torque steer" . For the best launch turn it off but don't rev higher than 2500 RPMS. This is only necesary for racing conditions, normally just leave it on.

 

If you are planning to race the car, turn your VSA off. No question, it will cost you a measure of performance. Your LSD will still work just fine, but expect to spin the tires, so a burn out or judicious applications of throttle and clutch are needed to gain maximum traction. In other words, practice.

 

After all, it is a front wheel drive car and FWD is notorious for poor traction under these conditions and even for cars with relatively low torque like our TLs.

 

Well the VSA works by applying breaking to the faster spinning wheel. Applying the breaks slows you down. Dont drive with VSA.

 

I wrote about this difference long time ago.

 

I am glad I was able to amuse you.

 

I must have missed it during my 6 month hiatus......I've been driving alot.

 

I usually have it off when the pavement's dry. When the pavements wet, definitely keep it ON!

 

Im not buying any used TL's from you guys.

 

Why, you can rest assured that they are well broken in and will perform significantly better than any of other grandfathered TL's.

 

Definitely! Turn VSA off when you want all the power you can get. But, you better be holding on to the wheel with both hands when in 1st and 2nd gear.

 

I live in New hampshire so it snows allot up here. I want to buy a used car that has FWD with either LSD or Traction control (I think Acura calls it VSA?). What years and models of Acura have traction systems??

 

I believe the 1999 TL was the first Acura to have it, but I could be wrong.

 

The TL with manual transmission has a limited slip differential, vehicle stability assist, AND traction control. Plus you should read about all of the systems connected to the braking on this car. It has more than just power assist and ABS.

 

How can you keep both hands on the wheel while launching a 6 speed?

 

It's not bad at all.. torque steer, that is, with the VSA off. As long as you are headed in a straight direction on a level, smooth road with no sand or similar debris. As in racing someone or just getting into it. The car pulls straight and true under these conditions with virtually no torque steer. Now alter these conditions a little and even with the VSA on, you WILL get torque steer.

 

I'm not talking about when shifting, I'm talking about using both hands when launching and then placing the right hand back on the wheel asap after shifting.

I don't know about you guys, but I've expereienced massive torque-steer from time to time when the VSA was turned off, especially when hitting the accelerator in a turn while at high rpms in 1st or 2nd gear.

 

Those are not normal, every day conditions...at least not around here. They probably are at a track...but that's where you're supposed to be. Right?

 

To jmn4667;

You wrote; "Those are not normal, every day conditions...". Never said they were. I was simply pointing out that under those conditions, torque steer is not an issue. Vary them a little, such as sand or debris or a corner or a crowned road surface and you will introduce torque steer.

As for "They probably are at a track...but that's where you're supposed to be. Right?", not really, IF you are careful and cautious about your activities. For example, whenever I get the urge to get into it, there are plenty of good roads very close to my home on which I can play a little and put no one else in danger. I don't run it up to 80 or 100 MPH on these 55 MPH two-lane roads, but then again, I don't need to do that to satisfy a basic urge to enjoy my car.

As for being on a track, if you're planning to do some racing, I fully support and encourage doing it in a safe environment such as a race track. But let's face it.. most all of us who have grown up with cars and call ourselves gearheads have done our share of street racing. I know I have in past years. But I don't sanction it and stopped that practice a long time ago. Now if I get it on with someone, I'm MOST careful of the surrounds beforehand.

 

I wasn't preaching, I was being facetious.

 

Oh, Ok. Hope you don't think I was flaming or chastising you. I will admit to having done a serious amount of street racing in my earlier 20's. Like nearly every weekend for several years. Also had some track time in there, too.

I did lose one street race.. to another '66 396/360 Chevelle. That was when my 396 was bone stock. He beat me by 1/3 of a car length. He had a fresh tune and it was just the way it went. I won all of the others I ran.

 

And no, they weren't grocery getters I beat.

 

Cool I am looking into geting a used Acura was '99 the first year the TL had traction control, AND LSD or did Acuras have LSD's earlier???

 

I believe the LSD is new and only on the 6MT model.

 

Was '99 first year for the traction control? Did it come on manual cars also?

 

Yes, I believe that the '99 TL was the first, but I could be wrong. If prior year models had it, I don't thnk it was the same type or had the same name.

VSA comes with the 6MT and 5AT.