Anti stall

[the2ems]

Just wondering if my car, detailed in signature, has an anti stall setting, and if so, can it be deactivated?
If I drop down to 20mm in 3rd gear and try to brake, I can feel the engine dragging me on. It’s quite alarming at times.

[GiveMeABreak]

I believe it does - I got caught out with this a few times when the engine apparently stalled on a 3-point turn with the 6 speed manual - (sometimes it's easy to hit third gear instead of first) - engine appeared to stall, so I dipped clutch and pressed the star button to restart it, but the car seemed to have restarted itself and my action on the starter button actually switched the engine off! Confusing to say the least and this has happened a few times now.

Another odd thing I've noticed a few times was when dropping down a gear to overtake a vehicle, on dipping the clutch to change down, I've had the engine revs increase with my foot off the accelerator...

So not sure what exactly is going on here, but I suspect it has something to do with the Anti-Stall. I know it's a feature on the 2022 C3 with 6 speed box.

I suspect it can't be disabled though, but maybe worth checking with a dealer.

[the2ems]

Thanks for the reply. Yes I’ve also had that where you think it’s stalled but actually hasn’t. I’ll probably mention it when it goes in for the next service.

[the2ems]

I’ve not been for a service yet, so not discussed this issue with the dealer, but today I decided to carry out an experiment. I disabled stability control, and the car seemed to drive much smoother, with none of the issue described in my original post.

[the2ems]

Anyone got any thoughts on turning off traction control, good or bad. I wouldn’t have had it on any of my cars for at least the first 30 years of driving

[PaulC5]

You might want to turn it off if setting off on snow, otherwise it is meant to help.

[GiveMeABreak]

Anyone got any thoughts on turning off traction control, good or bad. I wouldn’t have had it on any of my cars for at least the first 30 years of driving

Personally it has been a life saver.

I live in the country and we have very steep hills - I was saved by the ESP system kicking in on black ice at the foot of a steep hill with a junction at the end. The vehicle wouldn't stop as you know with black ice, there's very little possibility on a steep descent, so preparing for a head on with a brick wall, I just hoped there was no traffic at the junction and just steered right and hoped for the best.

As it turned out, the car did exactly what it was supposed to do and engaged selective braking and engine torque on the front wheels to turn the vehicle to the right at the junction and it perfectly steered into a right angle and I was on my way. By turning the steering wheel in the direction you want to go, the car's ESP system (on a C5 MK II), allowed the rear end to slide round to the left while maintaining the direction at the front, and applied the necessary corrections to 'right' the car in the direction I wanted to go.

I'd never experienced that particular feeling before with an impending accident, but it totally gave me faith in these systems and their ability to correct trajectory when needed (within the laws of physics of course).

Since then, I've looked at the workings of them and they are very sophisticated systems that have a lot programming and algorithms to make the vehicle safer.

I can't ever think why anyone would want to turn it off - what benefit would that provide? The only exception as Paul notes is if you are in a particular slippery situation like snow and need some traction by allowing the wheels to spin. This is why the ESP button / option can be pressed to allow temporary disabling of the system for such an occasion, but after a certain speed it will automatically re-engage. Some vehicles like mine have the ORM system or often referred to as 'Grip Control', which provides user selectable modes for situations like Snow / Ice, Mud, Sand, Normal operation, so can provide additional programmes for these specific conditions.

As far as I'm aware it can't be disabled anyway - only temporarily as I mentioned.

[the2ems]

Interesting to read that it turns itself back on over a certain speed. I obviously haven’t reached that speed whilst tootling about locally. But if it does do that, then it negates the reason for me wanting to turn it off in the first place

[GiveMeABreak]

Yes it will re-enable as it's a proven safety system. One of the best and most useful, practical features a car can have IMO.

I should add that for the most part it does it's job silently and you won't even normally notice it is doing what it's supposed to - a testament to the system. Only in severe situations you feel the pulsing through the brake pedal of the ABS element kicking in and out, but the selective braking and release / torque control just happens magically in split seconds.

[the2ems]

Thanks

[myglaren]

I wasn't aware that my Mazda had it until pulling up at and angled junction on ice a few weeks back and there was a 'beep' and an orange light on the dash.