Retrofit VSC?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(John Phillips @ Aug 30 2006, 01:56 PM) [snapback]311760[/snapback]</div>

I'm not aware of any dealers that have added VSC to a car after it's been delivered. I suspect it's more than a single module that would need to be installed - likely sensors and wiring that may not be in the vehicle you have.

If you really want it, you may want to bring your car back to the dealer for a different model.

Dave

 

So... you paid for a package 4 and got a package 3? sounds like it's up to the dealer to fix the problem.

And it's been discussed before, adding VSC is most likely expensive and difficult, so i wouldn't want to try to have someone add it. Take it back, tell them to correct their mistake.

 

This came up not too long ago in another thread. The brake ECU is
the same in VSC and non-VSC cars. We were nattering about what
enables the VSC functionality in said ECU for the higher packages,
and for lack of any additional information [even after grubbing
through the service manuals for any hint of magic "enabling" bytes
sent in via a tech's test tool] I proposed that the simple presence
of the yaw sensor and steering-angle sensor [both CAN devices, so
they can simply announce themselves on the bus if installed] would
cause the brake ECU to go "oh, so I've got VSC functionality out
there" and just turn it on.
.
Thus, it would be an interesting experiment if someone with a VSC-
enabled car [mine isn't] was willing to dig in a small amount and
unplug the yaw sensor [under the center console] and the steering
angle sensor [somewhere along the inside steering column], and see
what happens. An unplug/replug cycle of the ECU itself may be
necessary. The big question as far as testing for results is, how
can you actually TELL if you have VSC or not, without going spinning
around parking lots in a snowstorm or something?
.
_H*

 

the brake actuator is different, skid control computer, wiring harnesses, engine ecu, hv ecu, gateway ecu, possibly power source control ecu, probably some other junk too.

we're talking several thousand dollars in parts alone.

H:
to satisfy your curiosity, by disconnecting the yaw and angle sensors you'd be setting codes for the brake system. given the system you'd probably also see regen malfunction codes, b2286 runnable signal malfunction code and maybe 10 or so others. would basically disable the abs system.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hobbit @ Aug 30 2006, 08:00 PM) [snapback]311893[/snapback]</div>

Well, of course, the "official" VSC cars have the little "slipping car" warning light, which will be apparent among the array of warning lights displayed upon start. Is the "slipping car" present, but dormant, in non-VSC cars? There's also the "beep" tone you get along with the flashing light when the VSC system actually asserts itself.* I don't know if either indicator is present in cars that are "VSC capable," but don't have it officially installed. Without one, or both, you'd be hard pressed to detect the system being active, short of triggering a full-blown VSC engagement (at which point, you'd definitely know for sure...).

* I have the dubious honor of having been saved once by VSC in my old V-6 Camry, and another time by the VDC (Nissan/Infiniti's name for what's basically the same thing) in my G35. The Camry incident was a classic example of how the system can (note my use of "can"...) save you. I took a shaded interstate off-ramp that, unlike the highway, was still rain slicked, just a little too fast. Just as soon and as surely as I could feel the car breaking away and departing control, the VSC was there working its magic, keeping me barely pointed in the intended direction and on the pavement. Of course, it's not magic, and it doesn't overcome physics -- if I'd been going 10 mph faster, I'd have been toast (or at least up to my floorpan in muddy grass) with or without VSC. Gee, maybe I should like, drive better or something...

 

I would bet it could be done if you had the parts, time and inclination to dig deep in to the car. It would be as one of my professors in medical school said " a non trivial task". Sometimes that is fun. If you ordered a 4 thought you were getting a 4 and no one said this is a 3 will you take it, then go after the dealer they deserve all the shxx you can shovel at them including but not limited to "lawyers". If that does not work there are a couple of guys in NJ, name of Guido and Nuncio, who could help for a price.

 

If you paid for a #4 and got a #3 return to the dealership immediately and demand to see the manager. Or owner. Highest ranking person on lot.

Why should you go through trouble and expense of installing it *IF* it can be done? You didn't get what you paid for. You certainly didn't get what you ordered.

Their problem to fix it, not yours.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(John Phillips @ Aug 30 2006, 04:56 PM) [snapback]311760[/snapback]</div>

Definately take it back.

I had a similar problem when I bought my Explorer about 13 years ago. I had requested one with the towing package that included a different gear ratio and a larger radiator. They wrote down all that information on a quote sheet, told me they found one at another dealer and would do a dealer exchange and have it for me the next day. They wouldn't let me have the quote sheet (they didn't want me taking it to another dealer), but they did fax it to my bank for my loan.

Well, I took it home the next day, and then the day after that, as I was reading the manual cover to cover, I found the page that described the codes located on the identifcation plate on the end of the driver's side door. Out of random curiosity, I looked at the plate and decoded all of the codes and discovered that I did not have the towing package after all. The towing package raises the towing capability and additional 1200 pounds to 5200 pounds, and I was hopping mad that the truck they sold me didn't have it.

I first went to my bank where I got the loan (because it was right down the street) and they told me they couldn't do anything for me, but then I remembered that the dealer had faxed the quote sheet to the bank. So I asked for a copy and drove over to the dealer.

So I showed the quote sheet to the salesman, showed him the identification plate on the door, and demanded that they get me the right car. He disappeared into the back, and came out 10 minutes later with the manager, who told me they had located another Explorer and would have it for me the next day. Additionally, they told me that the new Explorer had the step bars along the sides, which was usually an additional $500 add on, but I would not be charged with it and they would simply swap the cars.

They next day I had the right Explorer.

However, I'm not sure how far I would have gotten if I didn't have their own quote sheet to show them. They were pretty accomodating, so maybe they would have treated me right anyhow, but I am glad I had that quote sheet.

 

I realized after my last post that there are, of course, two warning lights associated with VSC, the "VSC" light, which would warn of a system problem, and the "[skidding car icon]" light. Are these present in any cars that don't have VSC from the factory?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ekpolk @ Aug 31 2006, 07:19 PM) [snapback]312522[/snapback]</div>

The "skidding car" light isn't a VSC light. Rather, it's the traction control light.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Aaron @ Sep 2 2006, 03:08 AM) [snapback]312975[/snapback]</div>

I believe that the VSC light indicates that there is a problem with the VSC system. The "skidding car" light indicates that either the traction control or VSC is engaged. VSC engagement is accompanied by a beep and seeing your life flash before your eyes.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(deh2k @ Sep 2 2006, 07:38 AM) [snapback]313013[/snapback]</div>

. . . exactly what I got in the highway off-ramp incident described (including the life flashing before eyes part...). But yeah, good clarification. It's the beeping and skidding car light that indicate an actual VSC engagement.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(John Phillips @ Aug 30 2006, 04:56 PM) [snapback]311760[/snapback]</div>

so did you take the car back and get one with package #4?

 

I was interested in adding VSC to my base 2007 (I have the parts from a wrecked one) and I found that attaching the yaw sensor and steering angle sensor is actually not sufficient to enable VSC. While the skid control ECU is the same physical part, it seems to have different firmware or a different configuration loaded. If you attach a non-VSC SCECU to a canbus that has the sensors, it ignores them. Conversely if you attach a VSC SCECU to a canbus where one or both sensors is missing, it sets some codes about it and shows the ECB/ABS/VSC warning lights until the sensors come back.

Also, the combination meter is different. If you look closely at a CM in bright light, you can see the unlit "VSC" letters and this is true of CMs from non-VSC cars too. However, in CMs from cars without VSC, the warning light itself is either missing or disabled in software. Someone who has opened up a non-VSC CM (I haven't) could report whether the LED is physically there. It makes me wonder if the independent CM repair services have to keep separate stock for VSC and non-VSC cars, or if there's a danger of sending a VSC CM and getting a non-VSC CM back when you hire one of those services.

Strange post, especially coming from galaxee who usually has good info. Often when people do this you can tell they're just making shit up because they'll refer to parts that don't exist, list the same part twice with different names, and so on, but these are all real gen2 parts by their proper names so it's a compelling statement. Still, this was baseless speculation and most of it is probably wrong. All you have to swap in for VSC is the yaw and angle sensors, SCECU, and some instrument panel wiring. Plus CM if you want the warning light.