VDC off, but slip light blinks

Pharmacist · 09-28-2009, 08:10 PM

Today, it was raining, so I turned VDC off and did a few minor drifts through corners and turns. I noticed occasionally the slip indicator light would come on and blink momentarily. According to the user manual the light blinks only if the VDC is on and it has activated to prevent loss of control just to warn the driver that the car is at its traction limit. That being said, why would the indicator light come on if I had the VDC off? I didn't notice any vdc activity, so it seems that it was off. But the slip light came on. What does it mean? Is it just a warning light to the driver or does it indicate that part of the vdc traction control system is still functional?

G37Sam · 09-28-2009, 09:05 PM

It simply means you fail at drifting..

Slip lights up to indicate that you almost lost it and traction still kicked in to save your Z

tooohip · 09-28-2009, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by G37Sam

It simply means you fail at drifting..

Slip lights up to indicate that you almost lost it and traction still kicked in to save your Z

Ah, that's not good. VDC off should mean NO TRACTION Control! I've seen the same thing when trying to kick out the back end and it's starting to piss me off!

G37Sam · 09-28-2009, 09:23 PM

And remember, drifting in the rain is fun, until the front end loses traction.

import111 · 09-28-2009, 09:54 PM

I don't think with the VDC off the traction control is kicking in when the light blinks. With the VDC on, when the light blinks I feel a big loss in power. With VDC off and the light blinking, I feel no loss in power and I can spin the tires all I want. I think it still blinks to let you know traction control would be kicking in if it was enabled. Just what I think, I could be wrong.

kenchan · 09-28-2009, 09:56 PM

you cant shut off VCD completely, i dont think. you can only shut off traction control but dynamic control is still active to keep you from spin outs off throttle.

Modshack · 09-28-2009, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenchan

you cant shut off VCD completely, i dont think. you can only shut off traction control but dynamic control is still active to keep you from spin outs off throttle.

Accordng to the manual you can. You CANNOT turn off ABS though and that's what is causing the slip light to illuminate..

AK370Z · 09-28-2009, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenchan

you cant shut off VCD completely, i dont think. you can only shut off traction control but dynamic control is still active to keep you from spin outs off throttle.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Modshack

Accordng to the manual you can. You CANOT turn off ABS though and that's what is causing the slip light to illuminate..

100% with ModShack. Once you turn off VDC button, your Dynamic control AND traction control both turns off completely. It has been verified by Nissan USA Technology Manager
Hello from sunny North Carolina -- 370Z Traction control vs VDC issue

If I were to guess, the light OP saw is simply a warning light. If he turned off the VDC button properly, there's no assistance from the system.

DinoJ · 09-29-2009, 12:23 AM

I think there was a post somewhere, but this relates to this thread as well, did anyone notice that if you actually hold down the VDC button for around 10 seconds the VDC light goes away all together, and then if you press VDC again nothing happens?

jimClark53 · 09-29-2009, 02:30 AM

VDC re-activates when brake pedal is used, does not switch off until car stable again.

AK370Z · 09-29-2009, 03:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DinoJ

I think there was a post somewhere, but this relates to this thread as well, did anyone notice that if you actually hold down the VDC button for around 10 seconds the VDC light goes away all together, and then if you press VDC again nothing happens?

As discussed here VDC question, turning off VDC quickly or holding it down for xx seconds equates to same result. NO SPECIAL benefit/feature for holding it down extended period.

chief_Roka · 09-29-2009, 05:32 AM

I don't get it?
So u can't control vdc and tcs seperately like on the g35 n altima?
Its integrated into button?

chief_Roka · 09-29-2009, 05:33 AM

I don't get it?
So u can't control vdc and tcs seperately like on the g35 n altima?
Its integrated into button?

kenchan · 09-29-2009, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Modshack

Accordng to the manual you can. You CANOT turn off ABS though and that's what is causing the slip light to illuminate..

Cool, that's good to know. There's this one off-camber turn in my area where my G's VCD would turn on despite turning it off and so I had to keep appling a tad bit of throttle.

I ran that same turn on my Z a while back with VCD switched off (and took my foot off the pedal mid-turn on purpose to induce slight oversteer) and the VCD did not turn on... So I thought Nissan improved the program or the threshold but I guess it was off.

kannibul · 09-29-2009, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by G37Sam

It simply means you fail at drifting..

Slip lights up to indicate that you almost lost it and traction still kicked in to save your Z

Funny, when I'm being stupid with my Z with VDC off, it slips quite easily and no traction control was there to save my ***.

1st time I was messing around I thought it was a fluke...
2nd time I messed around, I knew it was me...

I don't mess around any more...it stays on unless I'm going in a (mostly) straight line.

At least until I can find a nice quiet parking lot with no obstacles or obstructions that I can learn a bit more about controlling it...

09-28-2009, 08:10 PM	#1 (permalink)
Pharmacist A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 1,249 Drives: 09 370z Sport 6MT Rep Power: 19	VDC off, but slip light blinks Today, it was raining, so I turned VDC off and did a few minor drifts through corners and turns. I noticed occasionally the slip indicator light would come on and blink momentarily. According to the user manual the light blinks only if the VDC is on and it has activated to prevent loss of control just to warn the driver that the car is at its traction limit. That being said, why would the indicator light come on if I had the VDC off? I didn't notice any vdc activity, so it seems that it was off. But the slip light came on. What does it mean? Is it just a warning light to the driver or does it indicate that part of the vdc traction control system is still functional?

09-28-2009, 09:05 PM	#2 (permalink)
G37Sam A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Dubai, UAE Posts: 1,507 Drives: RB'd G37 Rep Power: 21	It simply means you fail at drifting.. Slip lights up to indicate that you almost lost it and traction still kicked in to save your Z __________________ '14 Viper GTS '08 RB'd G37S - Sold

09-28-2009, 09:23 PM	#4 (permalink)
G37Sam A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Dubai, UAE Posts: 1,507 Drives: RB'd G37 Rep Power: 21	And remember, drifting in the rain is fun, until the front end loses traction. __________________ '14 Viper GTS '08 RB'd G37S - Sold

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09-28-2009, 09:54 PM	#5 (permalink)
import111 Track Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Tucson, AZ. Posts: 622 Drives: 09 Nissan 370Z Rep Power: 192	I don't think with the VDC off the traction control is kicking in when the light blinks. With the VDC on, when the light blinks I feel a big loss in power. With VDC off and the light blinking, I feel no loss in power and I can spin the tires all I want. I think it still blinks to let you know traction control would be kicking in if it was enabled. Just what I think, I could be wrong.

09-28-2009, 09:56 PM	#6 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	you cant shut off VCD completely, i dont think. you can only shut off traction control but dynamic control is still active to keep you from spin outs off throttle.

09-29-2009, 12:23 AM	#9 (permalink)
DinoJ Base Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 87 Drives: 09 Nissan 370Z MB M6 Rep Power: 263	I think there was a post somewhere, but this relates to this thread as well, did anyone notice that if you actually hold down the VDC button for around 10 seconds the VDC light goes away all together, and then if you press VDC again nothing happens?

09-29-2009, 02:30 AM	#10 (permalink)
jimClark53 Base Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: uk Posts: 7 Drives: Ford Anglia TC Rep Power: 17	VDC re-activates when brake pedal is used, does not switch off until car stable again.

09-29-2009, 05:32 AM	#12 (permalink)
chief_Roka Base Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: BKLYN,NY/DFW,TX Posts: 166 Drives: '10 370z7at B.C. Rep Power: 16	I don't get it? So u can't control vdc and tcs seperately like on the g35 n altima? Its integrated into button?

09-29-2009, 05:33 AM	#13 (permalink)
chief_Roka Base Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: BKLYN,NY/DFW,TX Posts: 166 Drives: '10 370z7at B.C. Rep Power: 16	I don't get it? So u can't control vdc and tcs seperately like on the g35 n altima? Its integrated into button?