Disabling Stability and traction control. - Smart Car of America Forums : Smart Car Forum

Robbovius · 11-20-2008, 10:43 AM

Does any info exist about disabling the stability and traction control functions?

**jwight** · 11-20-2008, 10:44 AM

Just install the area 451 cruise control!

Sorry, couldn't help myself.

grwhitaker · 11-20-2008, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robbovius

Does any info exist about disabling the stability and traction control functions?

Please explain why you would want to. I do not understand disconnecting safety features.

SylenThunder · 11-20-2008, 10:47 AM

Pull fuse 11. It will also disable the hill assist and the ABS system. I did that once and then drove in the rain. never will again. braked a bit hard on the freeway and went spinning into the median. lucked out and was on a paved emergency crossing.

I'd like to know how to turn off the hill assist and leave everything else working.

forestacademy · 11-20-2008, 10:51 AM

Disabling ESP?

Long discussion here

**jwight** · 11-20-2008, 10:53 AM

Bad idea, IMHO, for reason stated in post #4. Maybe for track use exclusively, but on the street it's just asking for trouble.

**rfernatt** · 11-20-2008, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwight

Just install the area 451 cruise control!

Sorry, couldn't help myself.

I'm not that familiar with the A451 CC. Does it have some function to disable TCS and ESP? Might be fun in a big, empty, snow covered parking lot...

Robbovius · 11-20-2008, 10:56 AM

well, I do like to do the occasional donut. and burnout.
I don't own a Smart currently, but am very much a potential customer. A dealership had one on display at my work yesterday and I find that, in size and character, it reminded me very much of the Fiat 850 Coupe I had as my first car.

I've owned several what could be called tiny vehicles over the years, including another Fiat 850 (Spyder) and a Triumph Spitfire, adn the Smart appeals to me in the same way, especially because of it's rear engine/Rear wheel drive configuration...

But, I also come from motorsports competition ( I competed in SCCA Solo2 Autocross an WKA Alcohol 4-stroke karts for several years) and would like to be able to push the car a bit, including willfully spinning the tires and sliding the thing around.

of course, when my kids drive it itd be nice to turn the controls back on to prevent just such shenaningans...

;-)

**jwight** · 11-20-2008, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rfernatt

I'm not that familiar with the A451 CC. Does it have some function to disable TCS and ESP? Might be fun in a big, empty, snow covered parking lot...

Sorry, sorry, sorry - knew I shouldn't have tried for a little humor. The area 451 cruise control absolutely does NOT disable any of the smart safety features.

**rfernatt** · 11-20-2008, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwight

Sorry, sorry, sorry - knew I shouldn't have tried for a little humor. The area 451 cruise control absolutely does NOT disable any of the smart safety features.

No good deed goes unpunished!!

Seriously, though, I could see a not-easily-accessed 'custom function' that could disable those features for competition/other reasons. Unfortunately, our legal system and the I-won't-take-responsibility-for-my-own-stupidity populace would likely make that impractical.