New Camaro - Speed Limiter and Traction Control

[SilverTurtle]

Originally Posted by maxdmax

OK, I just ordered a new 2SS/RS.
Let me start with the 2 items below that truly need to be changed. I am sure we will need to go to the aftermarket for this, but I hope someone is working on it NOW! I am sure you will have others.

#1 My other 2 Chevy's top out at 97 MPH. The speed limiter MUST go all together (just increasing it is not an option)

#2 The traction control needs to default to OFF!

speed limiter is set to 155mph on the SS models... the LT with the upgraded wheels is, I believe, also set to 155mph... and I believe the LS is set to 115mph... but that might be wrong... but both of these limiters can be raised by computer tuning.

the traction control is set to be on all the time for a reason... you can turn it off... if you cannot accept that you have to turn safety features off, perhaps you should consider buying a first or second gen Camaro instead... trust me when I say that you want to have the TC/AH on almost all of the time... and its better to have it when you need it than to try and turn it on when you need it... anyone who has ever raced a car will tell you that its almost impossible to be pushing buttons while you're trying to balance a 3000lb. machine in a decreasing radius turn at 100+mph.

[SilverTurtle]

Originally Posted by fbodfather

A couple of things.........

The speed is limited based on the tire rating put on the car at the factory...it's done as a safety measure. (ever have a blowout at 100? ....trust me, you don't want to experience it.......)

yes, I have... and you're right, its not fun... especially if it happens when you're coming into a chicane at 120mph when the blowout happens at Road Atlanta

Originally Posted by fbodfather

...which begs the question: where are you going to go to drive the car over 150mph??? (and -- next question -- and I don't mean this to be a put-down -- but have you been thru an in-depth defensive/performance driving school.....I say this because many cars can go fast - but we tend to forget that you cannot override the rules of physics........)

when nobody is watching... and by that, I mean EVERY time nobody is watching... but, to my credit, I'm a former SCCA competition licensed driver :P

Originally Posted by fbodfather

As to defaulting the traction control to 'off' -- my question is "why?"
It's there for a reason - and the biggest one I can think of is to protect the driver from accidents. (.....and I should also add -- '...and anyone unfortunate enough to be near said driver when they do something to lose control of their vehicle.........)

this man speaketh the truth... its there for a reason... let it save your a$$ once and get back to us.

[Rodrunner]

Need some enlightenment, guys.

I thought traction control sensed faster rotation of one rear wheel than the other and applied the brake to that wheel. Would it not engage when doing a burnout if not disabled-turned off? Is it also applied to the front wheels? And what is AH?

2SS/RS Black/Black w-Cyber Gray stripes/Auto ordered-10/18/08

[SilverTurtle]

Originally Posted by Rodrunner

Need some enlightenment, guys.

I thought traction control sensed faster rotation of one rear wheel than the other and applied the brake to that wheel. Would it not engage when doing a burnout if not disabled-turned off? Is it also applied to the front wheels? And what is AH?

2SS/RS Black/Black w-Cyber Gray stripes/Auto ordered-10/18/08

TC = Traction Control

AH = Active Handling... also known as Stability Management


Traction Control does exactly what you suggested... with the new Camaro, there is a special feature called "Launch Control" which will let just a little bit of wheel slip happen to get the car started and then it grips and keeps the car planted... this is, basically, a drag race mode that allows for faster times at the track.

Active Handling takes a measurement of the speed of each wheel and senses whether the car is going too fast at one wheel vs. the other three wheels... on more sophisticated versions, a gyrometer is used to determine if there is excessive increase in lateral g's that warrants applying the brakes at one corner, or more, of the car to keep it from spinning... Corvettes use this system and I'm not sure, but kind of think that the new Camaro will use it, too.

[Supermans]

Originally Posted by fbodfather

A couple of things.........

The speed is limited based on the tire rating put on the car at the factory...it's done as a safety measure. (ever have a blowout at 100? ....trust me, you don't want to experience it.......)

...which begs the question: where are you going to go to drive the car over 150mph??? (and -- next question -- and I don't mean this to be a put-down -- but have you been thru an in-depth defensive/performance driving school.....I say this because many cars can go fast - but we tend to forget that you cannot override the rules of physics........)

As to defaulting the traction control to 'off' -- my question is "why?"
It's there for a reason - and the biggest one I can think of is to protect the driver from accidents. (.....and I should also add -- '...and anyone unfortunate enough to be near said driver when they do something to lose control of their vehicle.........)

If I'm running a few minutes late and need to get to work early, getting it up to 180 would help . Kidding, I totally agree with you on this one, there is no point unless you are on a race-track with an ambulance there at your service for you to be going beyond 100 MPH for extended periods of time when you all know what the speed limit is...

[GTAHVIT]

Originally Posted by SilverTurtle

TC = Traction Control

AH = Active Handling... also known as Stability Management


Traction Control does exactly what you suggested... with the new Camaro, there is a special feature called "Launch Control" which will let just a little bit of wheel slip happen to get the car started and then it grips and keeps the car planted... this is, basically, a drag race mode that allows for faster times at the track.

Active Handling takes a measurement of the speed of each wheel and senses whether the car is going too fast at one wheel vs. the other three wheels... on more sophisticated versions, a gyrometer is used to determine if there is excessive increase in lateral g's that warrants applying the brakes at one corner, or more, of the car to keep it from spinning... Corvettes use this system and I'm not sure, but kind of think that the new Camaro will use it, too.

Standard....

That rocks!

[The_Blur]

Originally Posted by gtahvit

Standard....

That rocks!

I'm still blown away by the standard performance-oriented components of the upcoming Camaro. It's really a remarkable machine.

[TainoWarrior316]

Okay didn't answer the key question here! Does having Traction Control ON effect Burnouts in a negative manner?

[Mike Grasso]

Originally Posted by fbodfather

A couple of things.........

The speed is limited based on the tire rating put on the car at the factory...it's done as a safety measure. (ever have a blowout at 100? ....trust me, you don't want to experience it.......)

...which begs the question: where are you going to go to drive the car over 150mph??? (and -- next question -- and I don't mean this to be a put-down -- but have you been thru an in-depth defensive/performance driving school.....I say this because many cars can go fast - but we tend to forget that you cannot override the rules of physics........)

As to defaulting the traction control to 'off' -- my question is "why?"
It's there for a reason - and the biggest one I can think of is to protect the driver from accidents. (.....and I should also add -- '...and anyone unfortunate enough to be near said driver when they do something to lose control of their vehicle.........)

Having been in and currently still in, the Law Enforcement field for 28 years, I have been the graduate of many driving schools from Secret Service to Bondurant. That said, the number one cause of high speed error is not the car, but the inexperienced driver. Every Traffic Officer will quote you "Too much car, Too little driver."

The Camaro is going to be a brand new car to every driver here, including me. It will handle and operate differently than anything else youv'e owned. So before changing factory programing or modding up spend a day or two on the track and get to know your car intimately.

Back in 2000 when I started the SSOA, SLP invited me and my SS to a Press Day here in California at a local track, a lot of people drove my car, with me in it, a lot of them were very good and I learned a lot. Was the best 8 hours spent in that car and I'll repeat it with the new SS.

Mike Grasso

[StuMac]

Originally Posted by TainoWarrior316

Okay didn't answer the key question here! Does having Traction Control ON effect Burnouts in a negative manner?

Yes! Burnout starts, computer sees tires spinning and stops the tire spinning, and thus the burnout stops.

[radz28]

Originally Posted by TainoWarrior316

Okay didn't answer the key question here! Does having Traction Control ON effect Burnouts in a negative manner?

If the TC is on, you won't be able to do a burnout.

[Chewy]

Originally Posted by TainoWarrior316

Okay didn't answer the key question here! Does having Traction Control ON effect Burnouts in a negative manner?

traction control will keep ur car from burning out - it traction CONTROL, its entire job is to maintain traction - no wheels should be spinning faster than others.

if u press the button and take it off, u can burn out all day

[sykb47l]

This reminds me of my GTO. Its the LS2 version with a procharger. Several and I do mean several people have asked me what the speedometer goes up to??!!?? I always say 300 because if they are asking that question they have no clue about cars.

The higher the number the faster the car. People want to be able to say that there car doesnt have a speed limiter. Personally I'd prefer it to be set much lower than 155. If your that into racing your car you'd 99.9% of the time have a custom tune anyway.

[fastball]

Originally Posted by fbodfather

As to defaulting the traction control to 'off' -- my question is "why?"
It's there for a reason - and the biggest one I can think of is to protect the driver from accidents. (.....and I should also add -- '...and anyone unfortunate enough to be near said driver when they do something to lose control of their vehicle.........)

Just playing devil's advocate here, but I certainly can see the reasoning behind anyone's desire to have the traction control default to 'off' upon ignition.....

If you are just driving down the street, and some poor sap in a Mustang eggs you on to race him, you may just be so deep in thought about beating him that you forget to turn off the traction control, which in turn bog you down off the line, and you - GASP - loose a race to a Mustang

Or, it could be just the fact that human nature is to turn things 'on' when they want them 'on', and inherently in their mind it's off to begin with.