So...I keep hearing about the VSA from other TL owners - can you guys clarify if the VSA uses more "gas" in normal driving? My friends insist that it uses an excessive amount of gas, so they turn their's off in normal driving...is this true?

 

I thought the VSA automatically turns on when the road is bad....and it turns off when the road is smooth...

 

It's by default on at all times. I guess you could say it saves gas because it wont decrease the amt of torque you have when you are lifted or skidding?

 

VSA is not on at all times. It only comes on when you see the little caution light appear in your dash. The VSA is constantly monitoring driving conditions but isn't always actively on. So, in normal driving there is no difference with having it on or off. People turn it off because they don't want a computer adjusting for their driving if they are racing someone and want to have complete control over the throttle.

 

He knows what he's talking about.

 

Im pretty sure its always on by default when you start the car, and the switch by the driver's side is to turn the system off.

the exclamation point that comes up and blinks on the display is when it "intervenes", but if the system is off, that symbol is on all the time. the VSA when turned on seems to be in a passive mode until something happens, then it switches to a more active role.

 

I heard the VSA also reduces torque steer, which means it would be on all the time even when the light is off or doesnt blink, but then again, this is what I heard. I've noticed that with the VSA off you can notice a bit more torque steer while accelerating hard.

 

To answer the question asked: It has no affect on gas mileage.

 

I tried driving with it "on" and with it "off" at normal driving speeds and taking corners and turns at safe speeds. I didn't notice a thing different except the exclamation point was on while VSA was "off" and vise versa. When the indicator is on at all times it's to let the driver know he/she is driving without any assistance, by pushing the button again doesn't mean now assist is on, it just means that it will be there when you need it. And when you need it and it kicks in the exclamation point icon will flicker as it sparatically kicks in. I've never seen it come on solidly as I was accelerating through a turn or spinning out on wet roads. The best way to see what i mean is to floor it on a wet road. You'll feel the throttle give way so your wheels will stop spinning out so you can regain traction. Also, the next time you're out shopping and are about to turn onto a highway from a complete stop, floor it and turn the wheel. Under those conditions it will vary the wheel speed between the front 2 tires to reduce oversteer (or is it understeer, not sure with FWD). Otherwise VSA does nothing.

 

Hmm. This topic comes up about once a week.

VSA is only "active" if you have it switched on AND the exclaimation mark turns on or starts blinking while you are driving. Otherwise IT IS DOING NOTHING BUT MONITORING. Therefore it does not affect ANY of the following while it is JUST MONITORING: gas mileage, handling, performance, etc. ONLY when the light blinks or or flashes is the VSA system doing ANYTHING than just WATCHING.

 

Good Topic! I was wondering about the VSA myself. I tried driving without it, and really did not feel/notice a difference. Like others said here, it's good to have, especially in those "unexpected" moments, when you have to make a sudden move. It kinda gives you that extra "sense of security".

 

For those you with 6MT, can you guys detect a difference in shifting from when VSA is on to when VSA is off. When I drive with VSA on, it feels like the RPM drops slower and I have to take longer to shift for a smooth drive. When VSA is off, I can shift a lot quicker for the same results. I wonder if it's in my head or if VSA creates a difference for 6MT.

 

I don't notice a difference. However, the revs drop way slower than in the RSX Type-S I owned prior to the TL. I think we can thank the drive by wire throttle and California Air Resources Board for that.

To answer the question about VSA and gas mileage, VSA has no effect on mileage. VSA uses the drive by wire throttle to reduce fuel delivery to the engine, which, if anything, would burn marginally less gas. VSA doesn't increase fuel flow at any time. It also uses the ABS system to brake wheels to limit spin, but that also has no effect on gas mileage and would not occur under normal conditions with the VSA armed, but not on.

 

Just like ABS, VSA is always "on", but 99.999% it's not actually engaged. If the VSA light isnt' on, it's not doing anything. Just leave it on, unless you want to have a little fun; it might save your life one day. That's what it's really for.

 

"If the VSA light isnt' on, it's not doing anything."

Not entirely true. Under WOT shifts (at least, in the MT) the VSA works to reduce torque steer by adjusting engine parameters and limiting power to the front wheels. While no light comes on, there is a noticeable reduction in power while shifting at or near red-line will a full right boot of throttle compared to the same parameters with VSA turned off.

 

All I know is that with the frozen precipitation that we get here in Kansas City it works very well if you start spinning or sliding. Having experienced it kicking in first hand many times this winter it is a wonderful technology.

 

I had a thread a while back about the slow RPM drop. VSA wasn't brought up. I'm going to give this a test. Thanks!

 

You need to stop listening to your friends about cars. Turn VSA off if you are at a track or something where if you go out of control you'll only wreck yourself.

As for what is using the excessive gas, ask your friend to check how heavy his/her right foot is.

 

I hope this is sarcasm.

 

That's odd, when I take off WOT as you describe, my light does blink on when the VSA is doing it's thing.

 

Wait wait wait, are you guys saying that when I push the VSA button and the exclamation point comes up that it is actually on? I used to own a G35 Coupe and you had to push the VDC button to turn it off. Correct me if I'm wrong, but when you start the car the VSA is on automatically.

There's a huge difference IMO when turning it off and having it on. I feel that it's more throttle restrictive when it's on. I actually know that because I raced my buddys RX8 and forgot to turn it off, but when I pushed that button WOT was night and day.

 

You are correct. VSA is on automatically. Pushing the button deactivates it. Once the car is re-started, VSA is on again and must be deactivated manually.

VSA should have no effect on MPG in normal driving since it only activates when the car senses low traction/extreme conditions. Basically, VSA is supposed to intercede and save you if you overdrive the car a little, but physics will win out over VSA if you really overdrive the car's limits. You get 0 MPG when the car is on its roof.

 

Notice I said at WOT shifts. On takeoff at WOT the VSA light comes on concurrent with trying to overcome the wheel spin that is taking place. The light comes on to indicate the traction control function being engaged. When VSA in the MT engages during high rpm WOT shifts to reduce torque steer the light does not come on, unless you break the tires free when you shift, in which case the traction control function is engaged again and the light illuminates again.

 

Well Shhhhh....oot, "is this true?" I do not know, but if they say they turn it off in normal driving I guess they do turn it off....