Hi Chaps,

anyone help me out without me resorting to referring to my vRS manual?

Is the ABS permanently on, or does it only work with the ASR button on, along with the traction control and electronic brake distribution system?

Also I had my ASR on and managed to spin my wheels....that shouldn't happen should it?

I also can easily spin my wheels with the ASR on or off. :confused: I have never been in any situation where I have thought, "God, I'm glad I had my ASR on!" - I'm not sure what it does, and I normally just leave it off.

The ABS I believe is on 24/7. I've had to make use of it a few times and the ASR does not appear to relate to it. However, the Octy vRS is a different car, so I'd await some vRS owner replies first

Yes ABS is on all the time..

ASR - Anti Slip Regulation -- Only comes in when both wheels have lost traction, It 'tells' the ECU to reduce engine power..

EDL - Electronic Diff Lock -- stops one wheel spinning..

TCS -- uses these two systems but also uses the ABS system to do the braking to stop an individual wheel spinning...

:cheers:

Dazz

Hmm, curious.... When I get decent front wheelspin, that little yellow triangle on the speedo flashes a bit, but I've never noticed it lower the power. Or, at least I've never thought it reduced the power in comparison to doing it with the ASR off. (plus the ASR triange flashes with wheelspin whether or not its on or off)

More recently I've not seen the ASR flash much at all because my new wider wheels have increased the traction quite a bit. As for EDL and TCS, I'm fairly convinced my Fab does not have them. The ride-on mower, I use sometimes has a diff-lock lever. Does that mean its better than my car. :(

I've always found the the little ASR warning 'triangle' flickers on and off if you do manage to spin a wheel or two...

Having said that - on my fab at least - the ASR does quite a good job of killing any form of wheel spin... very noticeable as it's like I've lifted my foot off the gas.

Worst prob I've found with it is when I have to pull over to let buses/tractors get past (my drive to work involves some great windy country roads!) - if I end up with one wheel in a patch of mud, the ASR almost totally kills the power when I try to get going again...

Maybe only one wheel has lost traction, used to notice it more in my Cupra, changing from 1st to 2nd under hard acceleration it cut in and there was a split second delay that felt like a week 'tum de tum' then the power would come back in........

Try it, with both wheels pointing the same way... high revs and drop the clutch... you will notice some wheelspin then the power will be cut, thats if your car has ASR fitted, My 110TDI Passat did not have it...

:cheers:

Dazz

Incidentally, the ASR system actually applies the brakes to the driven wheels, which explains why the car will judder violently when very excessive power is applied on accelleration from standstill.

I guess its just me not being able to properly "feel" what the car is doing. I'm glad the ASR doesn't affect the back of the car else I'd never be able to manage all those handbrake turns

As for changing from 1st to 2nd, I have never, ever, ever been able to get wheelspin at that point. Its only the 0 - 5mph interval that anything happens. The car just ain't quick enough :( If I won the lottery you could not imagine the hell I would put my car through at a tuning garage, just for fun of course.

ASR! What ASR??!! Humph!

More on ASR and EDS/EDL here.

Did some experiments with the ASR when we last had some snow...

Deliberately got the wheels spinning at very low speeds in gears 1-4 with the ASR light flashing away at me. I found the system doesnt seem to do much at first, but it slowly reigns in the power alowing a certain amount of wheelspin and allow you to continue on your way. I think thats why the ASR doesnt seem to have much effect on brief amounts of wheelspin.

At one point i had my foot flat to the floor in 2nd gear (slightly uphill and very icy) and the car made steady progress although the wheels were still slipping quite a bit. The ASR was stopping the engine from revving over about 2500 rpm.

Also tried out the ABS at the same time. Its a bit scary when the ABS cuts in on icy roads. You get the feeling the car would stop alot quicker without it! It seems a bit too sensitive at times.

btw all 16v and TDi Fabias have ABS, EDL and ASR.

devonutopia said:

As for EDL and TCS, I'm fairly convinced my Fab does not have them.

Jason, according to the 02 and 03 Fabia brochures, the 1.9TDi Hatch and Estate come with ABS + EDL + ASR as standard. As for TCS, I believe that this is just another name for ASR, and should not be confused with ESP which is fitted to the Octavia 4X4.

... ESP on or ESP off ? :smile-l: