• Welcome to the ElgrandOC forum.

    You will find that the majority of the forum is locked, but do not worry. You can unlock more content by registering to the forum completely free. Sign up is automatic, does not require email confirmation and is instant. Feel free to browse through the sections to see what topics have been covered before you register.
    You can register for an account by CLICKING HERE

    Once you have registered, you will unlock more of the forum content. You will not unlock all of the content until you have reached 10 posts. This is to give you an opportunity to chat to existing members and help to integrate you into the forum community.
    We are a friendly and helpful community and there is a wealth of infomation contained within the forum. Please feel free to register, introduce yourself and get to know your fellow members.

    Feel free to look at the Frequently Asked Questions section, the Meets/Events section and the Competition Section without having to register.
    We look forward to getting to know you and help you with any questions or problemd you have with your Elgrand.

Unslippery when wet

J

jboy72

Active Member
Premium Member
E51 Owner
South East
Messages
117
Reaction score
173
Points
173
Location
London
First Name
Joss
Elgrand
E51
Region
South East
As I was out for a drive today; I wondered why my Elgrand was completely unflappable in the wet. I’ve owned cars before with all manner of traction aids and they managed to spin their wheels in the dry. Google then suggested that my Elgrand (series 2 E51) might have VDC - but I don’t have a switch or anything like that. I had always assumed that “snow” mode was the only traction control I had. So two questions really : did any E51s have VDC and if mine doesn’t, how could it never miss a beat leaving a junction at speed on a greasy road?
 
Some E51's have traction control, not sure to what extent we could really term it VDC.

One of my series1 E51's has the traction control, it just reduces throttle when there's wheelspin. There is a button in front of the driver's left knee on the dash to turn it off but it used to reset and turn itself back on again after turning the ignition off/on.

I say 'used to' because the button hasn't worked for a long time, in fact I might've disabled the button by accident when messing about testing what was possible with my Launch Diagnsotics gear... I think at the time I was attempting to turn the traction control off by default but instead semi-permanently disabled the 'off' switch (thus achieving almost the opposite of what I'd intended hehe).

Not sure if any E51's have anything resembling true / full fat VDC (the type that brakes different wheels to prevent the car spinning ot etc), just the type of traction control that backs off the accelerator (not even the type that brakes a spinning driven wheel to give pseudo limited slip diff). That said, those with factory cruise do apply the brakes if the radar detects you're catching up to a vehicle in front, even to the point of almost bringing the car to a complete stop if necessary to maintain the distance.

My S1 E51 that does have the traction control is a 3.5 4x4 XL model, has the factory cruise, curtains, extra footwell lights, etc, so I think maybe the original owner ticked most of the option boxes when it was bought new... But it doesn't have what I'd normally term 'proper' VDC.
 
In Auto mode mine is pretty solid but can still spin up if you're being silly and I always use Auto mode in the wet. In 2WD mode it'll spin up more easily than I would like which can lead to death stares.
 
Lpgc said:
Some E51's have traction control, not sure to what extent we could really term it VDC.

One of my series1 E51's has the traction control, it just reduces throttle when there's wheelspin. There is a button in front of the driver's left knee on the dash to turn it off but it used to reset and turn itself back on again after turning the ignition off/on.

I say 'used to' because the button hasn't worked for a long time, in fact I might've disabled the button by accident when messing about testing what was possible with my Launch Diagnsotics gear... I think at the time I was attempting to turn the traction control off by default but instead semi-permanently disabled the 'off' switch (thus achieving almost the opposite of what I'd intended hehe).

Not sure if any E51's have anything resembling true / full fat VDC (the type that brakes different wheels to prevent the car spinning ot etc), just the type of traction control that backs off the accelerator (not even the type that brakes a spinning driven wheel to give pseudo limited slip diff). That said, those with factory cruise do apply the brakes if the radar detects you're catching up to a vehicle in front, even to the point of almost bringing the car to a complete stop if necessary to maintain the distance.

My S1 E51 that does have the traction control is a 3.5 4x4 XL model, has the factory cruise, curtains, extra footwell lights, etc, so I think maybe the original owner ticked most of the option boxes when it was bought new... But it doesn't have what I'd normally term 'proper' VDC.
Click to expand...
Google suggests that the e51 - or some - may have VDC, but no button or way of turning it off or any way of really knowing you have it. But Google may be totally wrong - interesting that your series 1 has it, or something like it anyway. Or used to have it! Given there is not much weight over the rear wheels with just a driver and an empty boot it seems like it would be useful in some scenarios.
 
LeStempy said:
In Auto mode mine is pretty solid but can still spin up if you're being silly and I always use Auto mode in the wet. In 2WD mode it'll spin up more easily than I would like which can lead to death stares.
Click to expand...
I’m not sure it would make a difference but is yours series 1, 2 or 3?
 
According to this most interesting press E51 press release https://global.nissannews.com/en/releases/020521-01

"The Elgrand comes with a vehicle dynamics control (VDC) system that uses various types of sensors to detect the car's motions and automatically controls the braking force at all four wheels and engine output to improve vehicle stability."

Make of that what you will.....
 
jboy72 said:
According to this most interesting press E51 press release https://global.nissannews.com/en/releases/020521-01

"The Elgrand comes with a vehicle dynamics control (VDC) system that uses various types of sensors to detect the car's motions and automatically controls the braking force at all four wheels and engine output to improve vehicle stability."

Make of that what you will.....
Click to expand...
The VDC system ,if fitted, is on by default and will have a vdc switch , usually under the steering wheel so it can be turned off if you need to ( snow etc)—— no switch usually means no VDC.
Apparently it was fitted to certain 4x4 models and some high spec models, it was also one of those Elgrand things where if buying new you could include it or leave it out etc ;( only in Japan lol)
 
Just “ borrowed “ these pics from “elsewhere “.
One shows a VDC switch in an Elgrand the other shows the slip and VDC off warning lights as would be normal if manually switched off etc
IMG_8988.png
IMG_8990.png
 
Highway Dave said:
Just “ borrowed “ these pics from “elsewhere “.
One shows a VDC switch in an Elgrand the other shows the slip and VDC off warning lights as would be normal if manually switched off etc
View attachment 121074
View attachment 121076
Click to expand...

My black one (that I mentioned above) has that switch.

But I still don't think it's true VDC 'vehicle dynamic control'. That seems a bit of an overstatement if it is really only traction control and traction control that doesn't even brake a spinning wheel (for psedo limited slip diff effect) at that. My black one doesn't seem to brake a spinning wheel but it does back the power off, and it backs the power off too aggresively and for too long. I would hardly call traction control that is as simple as only backing the throttle off VDC. When I think of proper VDC I think of a system that brakes specific wheels of the car to help stability and traction (not just driven traction but also cornering grip) to help keep the car pointing in the right direction and not spinning out if, say, the driver messes with the stability and balance by throwing the car's weight around side to side or in an emergency etc. Any car that has ABS on all 4 wheels is capable of controlling the brakes on each wheel individually and Elgrands with factory cruise are capable of appying the brakes themselves... Elgrands have that, so they could maybe be setup/programmed to have true VDC... But I still don't think any E51's have true VDC or if they have I've never noticed it being applied. I have noticed traction control being applied but I'd rather not have traction control unless if were part of a true VDC system, especially not the over aggresive traction control. The traction control seems a bit pointless anyway in the 4x4 Elgrand because if the driver wanted to ensure no wheelspin pulling out of a junction etc they could just press the auto 4x4 button.

A few little roundabouts near me with lots of HGVs etc using them so plenty rubber on the tarmac, used to be fun in my white Elgrand if turning right on one of these roundabouts in the wet to intentionally get on the power a bit early and too aggresively to cause a bit of a fishtail coming off the roundabout but can't do that in my black one with the 'VDC' (traction control) stuck on. One of these days I'll use the Launch gear again to try to re-enable the 'VDC off' button. Come to think of it the black one wasn't as fun for this (coming off wet roundabouts) as the white one was even before I inadvertently disabeld the VDC off button, which is the only thing that makes me think about potentially second-guessing whether it might have true VDC but still I don't think it has true VDC.
 
Last edited:
My 2006 2.5 doesn’t have it , let’s just say I’m happy with that lol
 
Mine hasn’t got that either, I’m also glad about that- any car I get in to drive, I will always try and turn all driver assist buttons off, and all power or race modes on, especially if it is not my car….
 
Lynda has a fully electric Audi Qtron and it has lane assist and if I forget to turn it off it makes me car sick! I’m with you Peter, turn everything off
 
the BYD Seal I had was an absolute nightmare - totally unsafe in the UK. They do not have mini-roundabouts in China and it showed when driving (or should I say, emergency stopping) on them......
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top