View RSS Feed

Today at Atelier Kaz - Private NSX Enthusiast, ex-Honda R&D engineer with F1, Indy/CART background

Snow... Part 3

Rate this Entry






I’m glad the owner managed to make his way to my place yesterday.


I have driven my NSX on the snow many times but
with proper snow tyre and
as long as the front nose can clear the snow,
our NSX is quite good on these conditions.

The engine weight on the rear drive wheel with
mechanical LSD is helping a lot.

I have disabled my TCS many years ago as the TCS on
non-DBW model was so primitive that
it was like On and Off control.


More snow for this week.

Kaz

Tags: snow Add / Edit Tags
Categories
Personal View/Self Talk

Comments

  1. m666 edd's Avatar
    Hi Kaz

    What method did you use to disable your TCS? I press the button each time I start the car but sometimes I forget and get reminded when it cuts the power completely on and off like you say.

    Ed
  2. Kaz-kzukNA1's Avatar
    Hi, Ed.

    Presuming that your NSX is non-DBW model, then just disconnect all connectors from the TCS unit behind the left side seat.
    No TCS warning light on the dash. Basically, it’s the same configuration as NA1 Type-R.

    In fact, it will completely disable the TCS light on the dash so neither warning light nor bulb check mode when you turn the IG key to P2.

    By disconnecting the TCS controller from the system, there will be no more communication link between the ECU and TCS.
    This means that from now on, whenever you short the SCS terminal for any diagnosis purpose, you will always get error code #35 for the ECU even when you are dealing with other issues such as ABS, EPS, etc.

    Just to be clear, you won’t trigger CEL on the dash for code #35 under this condition.

    This is because ECU must detect two consecutive loss of signal from TCS in one cycle that is impossible because there is no TCS connected. It can only detect it once at the power up of system and the signal will never recover so no further detection until you switch off the engine.


    If you want to get rid of the ‘TCS’ logo on the dash plate, you can just replace it with the one for Type-R/NSX-R if you don’t have EPS.

    If you want to go further, you can also replace the TCS On/Off switch at the lower left side of the dash with the blanking cover from Type-R/NSX-R.

    Never had problem with MOT but if required, you can always re-connect the connectors back into the TCS controller.

    Kaz

    Updated 06-04-2013 at 09:00 AM by Kaz-kzukNA1
  3. greenberet's Avatar
    Just as a data point, I unplugged the three connectors on the right side of the TCS control unit behind the left seat of my 1991 USDM NSX as well as the TCS fail-safe relay on left side of the TCS control unit. Unfortunately, the TCS light in the instrument cluster came on a second or so after I started the car.

    I turned the car off again and plugged in the TCS fail-safe relay. Unfortunately, the TCS light still came on when I started the car. I turned it off again, plugged in the three connectors on the right side of the TCS control unit (so that everything was plugged in again) and then when I started the car, the TCS light didn’t come on. Oh well, I guess I’ll keep the TCS active in my 1991 USDM NSX.
  4. Kaz-kzukNA1's Avatar
    Interesting.

    As far as I know, there is no difference in the driver circuit for the TCS warning light between the different country models.

    It’s probably too late but does your TCS warning light illuminate when you turn the IG key into P2 (lots of lights on the dash before cranking) even without the TCS controller connected?
    If so, your warning light is going through the light bulb check mode and you have GND circuit somewhere on your TCS warning circuit.

    Kaz
  5. greenberet's Avatar
    Yes, it is too late but the next time I remove the rear firewall trim panels I'll unplug the TCS control unit again and check whether the TCS warning light illuminates when I turn the ignition key to position 2, before starting the car.
  6. m666 edd's Avatar
    Thanks for the info Kaz.
  7. greenberet's Avatar
    Better late than never... the rear firewall trim panels are off and I tried unplugging the TCS again. This time, my car reacted as Kaz said it would.

    With everything plugged in, the warning lights in my 1991 USDM Acura NSX light up like a Christmas tree when I turn the key to position 2. After a few seconds, all the lights go off except those for low oil pressure, charging system, ABS indicator, and TCS indicator. If I start the car, those four go off as well.

    When I unplug the three connectors on the right side of the TCS control unit and then turn the key to P2, the warning lights come on except the one for the TCS indicator - that stays dark. After a few seconds, most of the warning lights go away and only the low oil pressure, charging system, and ABS indicator lights remain on. If I start the car, those three lights go away as well and now the TCS indicator never lights up.

    Since the last time I disconnected the TCS control unit, one of my wheel speed sensors died, generated a CEL, and was replaced. Maybe it was already starting to generate a dirty signal the last time I unplugged the TCS and maybe that impacted TCS indicator light. In any case, if I unplug the TCS control unit now, the TCS indicator light stays off.