alright team, lets settle this once and for all: the legendary "off-road mode"
12-18-2008, 09:30 PM
#1
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alright team, lets settle this once and for all: the legendary "off-road mode"
Some say it is myth, some say it is real. Lets put an end to all the BS, put our minds together, and decide if it is for real.
The Myth: Pressing and holding the ESP button until the dash light turns on, and then off again; switching the car into "offroad mode"
What the manual says(pg 202 in 2001 Allroad manual):<IMG src="http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/3633/dsc07424zf1.jpg">
Is there a difference between "ESP off" and "Offroad Mode"?
Does it actually put the car in "offroad mode"?
The Myth: Pressing and holding the ESP button until the dash light turns on, and then off again; switching the car into "offroad mode"
What the manual says(pg 202 in 2001 Allroad manual):<IMG src="http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/3633/dsc07424zf1.jpg">
Is there a difference between "ESP off" and "Offroad Mode"?
Does it actually put the car in "offroad mode"?
12-18-2008, 10:39 PM
#2
So this page refers only to the braking characteristics found in ESP off....
So, as oppopsed to describing ESP itself, it seems to be just describing the behaviour of abs when ESP is turned off. And, it
also doesn't state that abs is turned off, just that it's "changed".
So, what you've found is a page that describes the behavior that the ABS controller adopts when ESP is turned off.
Does knowing this refine your question?
Best,
Bob
also doesn't state that abs is turned off, just that it's "changed".
So, what you've found is a page that describes the behavior that the ABS controller adopts when ESP is turned off.
Does knowing this refine your question?
Best,
Bob
12-19-2008, 05:33 AM
#6
Well, this feature is also involved with the 40mph re-engagement of ESP for those of us
with suspensoin control module unplugged.
When my car was stock (electronically) I could push the ESP button, get the cluster light, and drive all day with ESP disabled at any speed.
If I take the suspension control module out and then push the ESP button I got the cluster light and ESP was disabled, but as soon as the car hits 40mph the light goes out and ESP goes back to default engaged mode.
So it seems that removing the suspension control module changed the mode created by a single press of the ESP button. Previously I got "regular" disabled ESP. After suspension control module removal it seems that I was accessing "offroad mode" with a single ESP button press.
Any any case, I have never noted any push and hold function of the button.
The book says that the light is on when the special modes is activated so I would say that the myth as outlined in your post can't be right. The light should be on. Furthermore, if you were to access the mode, the light would be on only until 40mph when it would turn off. It seems to me the way to access the mode is to remove suspension control module!
When my car was stock (electronically) I could push the ESP button, get the cluster light, and drive all day with ESP disabled at any speed.
If I take the suspension control module out and then push the ESP button I got the cluster light and ESP was disabled, but as soon as the car hits 40mph the light goes out and ESP goes back to default engaged mode.
So it seems that removing the suspension control module changed the mode created by a single press of the ESP button. Previously I got "regular" disabled ESP. After suspension control module removal it seems that I was accessing "offroad mode" with a single ESP button press.
Any any case, I have never noted any push and hold function of the button.
The book says that the light is on when the special modes is activated so I would say that the myth as outlined in your post can't be right. The light should be on. Furthermore, if you were to access the mode, the light would be on only until 40mph when it would turn off. It seems to me the way to access the mode is to remove suspension control module!
