How do we completely disable VDC/Traction Control?

[zRedBaron]

PFA - A couple shots of my new Z at Willow Springs International Raceway during ZCON 2023 in So Cal.

If you're new to owning a modern Z you may not know that the VDC button does not completely disable traction control on your car.

The 370z required splicing a wire/switch to a yaw sensor, which would allow you to completely disable VDC/TC leaving only the ABS active and functioning.

I've seen and read that you can do the same with the RZ34 and the VR30 equipped Q50/60 but it's a little different.

Method 1: Some claim you can hold the VDC button down for like 10 seconds and that should do it. After doing so you will notice that toggling the button does nothing and does not indicate if VDC is enabled or disabled.

Method 2: With your foot on the brake pedal, reach down under the dash to where the brake pedal is and find the brake light switch on the pedal assembly. Hold it down for about 10 seconds or so until a light on the dash turns on.

Disclaimer: I DO NOT recommend inexperienced drivers or drivers who are unfamiliar with handling a car at the limits of traction to try this.

I'm asking this in the tracking section of this site because drivers who are seeking to get the most out of the car are going to need to disable the nannys. Nothing kills your lap times like an invasive OEM TC system

 

[Jah_Happy]

Nice!

@rocksandblues here's someone you can hit the track with

 

[rocksandblues]

Nice!

@rocksandblues here's someone you can hit the track with

opposite side of country, but yeah I'm all for it. I don't have the answer for OP though

 

[trackratZ]

@zRedBaron I'll see you sometime, come out with Speed Ventures, local track for us.

 

[Mr&Mrs]

I have not messed with the brake pedal switch yet, but I watched a Youtube video that says even doing that it sometimes still kicks in. Not sure how I could mess up holding the button in but when I have tried nothing happens. So I would also like to figure this out.

 

[zRedBaron]

@zRedBaron I'll see you sometime, come out with Speed Ventures, local track for us.

I missed pretty much all of 2023 with Nissan Challenge this year, one way or another I'll be back either in my 370z or the RZ34. If I'm not out there driving I'll probably be coaching Mike Zuniga, he has a supercharged automatic 370z with a black and green livery.

 

[zRedBaron]

I have not messed with the brake pedal switch yet, but I watched a Youtube video that says even doing that it sometimes still kicks in. Not sure how I could mess up holding the button in but when I have tried nothing happens. So I would also like to figure this out.

I'll take a video or photo of it, my gut tells me this might be the surest way to disable VDC because the light that shows up on the dash is the same light I get when I flip the yaw sensor kill switch in my 370z.

 

[Mr&Mrs]

I'm sorry I just read my post again and it is confusing. I meant when I hold the VDC button in it doesn't seem to do anything. The brake pedal method does work from what I know, but not sure if it stays off, or actually turns everything off. Again this is according to a YouTube video. I have not personally tried yet. A picture or video of the process wouldn't hurt though to have as a resource for the forum.

 

[toki]

Bumping this thread to see if anyone found an answer or a solution?

 

[D2M]

If you hold the button down for a few seconds it will disable TC but leave the stability control on in sort of a sport mode. It will let you get a decent amount of slide but you will feel it kick in when getting too sideways. The brake pedal switch method does turn EVERYTHING OFF until you shut the car off and restart, it will let you put the car in a ditch backwards if you want. I personally turn off the TC every time as part of my start up procedure. I only did the brake pedal switch method a few times but found it to be unnecessary for street driving as you can get decent slides going with just the TC off.

 

[toki]

If you hold the button down for a few seconds it will disable TC but leave the stability control on in sort of a sport mode. It will let you get a decent amount of slide but you will feel it kick in when getting too sideways. The brake pedal switch method does turn EVERYTHING OFF until you shut the car off and restart, it will let you put the car in a ditch backwards if you want. I personally turn off the TC every time as part of my start up procedure. I only did the brake pedal switch method a few times but found it to be unnecessary for street driving as you can get decent slides going with just the TC off.

I finally had a chance to test this out some. 2024 Sport MT w/ aftermarket LSD, for reference.

The brake light switch method by itself only got me part of the way there (slip indicator light, AEB off light, dash notification of malfunction) but traction control was definitely still kicking in. I only needed to hold the brake light switch up for about 1 second before this condition was triggered, though only the slip indicator light came on until I put it in gear for the first time. I tried holding the brake light switch up for as long as 20 second but nothing else happened.

Edit: The combination of VDC off + brake light switch does not disable the pedal misapplication protection.

 

[zRedBaron]

Good info @D2M and @toki, lets keep it coming!

 

[ChrisD]

I'm a bit confused because all I did was tap the TC button once and it seems like that fully disables everything. See video below for a few examples from two track days I did this week where I was expecting the TC to start interfering because I'd seen you guys saying you need to hold the button under the brake pedal (which I didn't do because when I tried it at home absolutely nothing happened no matter how long I held it for). You can see in one clip it even lets me do transitions from drifting one way to the other, which is what usually upsets ESC systems the most in my experience.

Maybe my car is different because its a Japanese import (the only way we can get them in the UK) but that would be odd as I've had a JDM 350Z in the past and that needed a lot of messing around unplugging all sorts of things to fully turn the TC and ESC off.

So yeah just wondering if anyone can confirm if your cars would let you do these kinds of slides with just one quick press of the TC button or would you have to do the brake pedal thing to allow it to do this? If you can do this kind of thing with just a press of the TC button then what is it that you can't do that requires the brake pedal thing to be done?