Weird DCCD Problem with an '05 STi

[MdTitansFan]

I have a new '05 STi (3K miles on it now), and recently (within the
past 2-3 weeks) started experimenting with the DCCD Controls.
Normally, I leave it set on Auto, but this morning I switched it over
to manual, and had it set in the Lock position. As I was backing out
of the parking spot I was in, the car was moving fine, until I was just
about completely out of the spot. Then, it started to feel like
someone pulled the hand brake (which didn't happen), and like gears
slipping from directly under the car. I stopped the car, and put it in
first, and started to pull forward, with the same result. So, I
stopped the car, took it out of gear, and flipped the DCCD switch back
to Auto. The car handled fine again. Later, once I reached my work's
parking lot, I stopped the car again, and switched the DCCD back to
manual, in the Lock position again. I pulled around the lot (no more
than 10 mph), and it felt okay. I stopped the car, and started to go,
and it felt like gears slipping from directly under the car again. So,
I stopped, and switched back to Auto, and the car felt fine.

Has anyone experienced anything similar to this? I just wanted to
check if it was a known issue, before I scheduled an appointment with
the dealer.

 

[Dave Morrison]

I have a new '05 STi (3K miles on it now), and recently (within the
past 2-3 weeks) started experimenting with the DCCD Controls.

Maybe you should read up a bit on how it works

http://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/jk/031210.htm

 

[JD]

I have a new '05 STi (3K miles on it now), and recently (within the
past 2-3 weeks) started experimenting with the DCCD Controls.
Normally, I leave it set on Auto, but this morning I switched it over
to manual, and had it set in the Lock position. As I was backing out
of the parking spot I was in, the car was moving fine, until I was just
about completely out of the spot. Then, it started to feel like
someone pulled the hand brake (which didn't happen), and like gears
slipping from directly under the car. I stopped the car, and put it in
first, and started to pull forward, with the same result. So, I
stopped the car, took it out of gear, and flipped the DCCD switch back
to Auto. The car handled fine again. Later, once I reached my work's
parking lot, I stopped the car again, and switched the DCCD back to
manual, in the Lock position again. I pulled around the lot (no more
than 10 mph), and it felt okay. I stopped the car, and started to go,
and it felt like gears slipping from directly under the car again. So,
I stopped, and switched back to Auto, and the car felt fine.

Has anyone experienced anything similar to this? I just wanted to
check if it was a known issue, before I scheduled an appointment with
the dealer.

Its supposed to work that way. If you are not on slippery surfaces, you
should leave it fully open or on auto. You only use full lock if you are
headed in a straight line and on slippery surfaces. What it does is lock
the differentials so all wheels turn at the same speed. It disables the
stuff that the differential is supposed to do. In fact, going around
corners on dry road with it locked can do serious damage if you do it long
enough or often enough.

I would have a look at how the locking center diffs are supposed to work
before you start playing with it.

 

[k. ote]

I have a new '05 STi (3K miles on it now), and recently (within the
past 2-3 weeks) started experimenting with the DCCD Controls.
Normally, I leave it set on Auto, but this morning I switched it over
to manual, and had it set in the Lock position. As I was backing out
of the parking spot I was in, the car was moving fine, until I was just
about completely out of the spot. Then, it started to feel like
someone pulled the hand brake (which didn't happen), and like gears
slipping from directly under the car. I stopped the car, and put it in
first, and started to pull forward, with the same result. So, I
stopped the car, took it out of gear, and flipped the DCCD switch back
to Auto. The car handled fine again. Later, once I reached my work's
parking lot, I stopped the car again, and switched the DCCD back to
manual, in the Lock position again. I pulled around the lot (no more
than 10 mph), and it felt okay. I stopped the car, and started to go,
and it felt like gears slipping from directly under the car again. So,
I stopped, and switched back to Auto, and the car felt fine.

Has anyone experienced anything similar to this? I just wanted to
check if it was a known issue, before I scheduled an appointment with
the dealer.

Don't bother going to your dealer. This is normal: when the arc of the curve
you're turning around is so tight like that, that weird feeling you're
experiencing is actually the tires scrabbling along.

Here's something else a little freaky, but apparently normal:

.. Turn DCCD on.
.. Turn it so it's just one notch up from wide open.
.. Take a really, really right corner, steering at maximum, at the slowest
speed you can, in a parking lot.
.. Freak out with the weird grinding/squealing noise.

That's apparently normal too.

Leave it in Auto at all times unless you know what you're doing, can live
without the auto-mode assistance (auto-mode senses when you're in a sharp
turn and actively supports control of the vehicle with a touch of
understeer) and are either going in a straight line, or are on extremely
slippery surfaces.

(FWIW, I own an '04 STi and it does the exact same thing. How do you like
your new purchase?)

 

[k. ote]

JD wrote:

Its supposed to work that way. If you are not on slippery surfaces, you
should leave it fully open or on auto. You only use full lock if you are
headed in a straight line and on slippery surfaces. What it does is lock
the differentials so all wheels turn at the same speed. It disables the
stuff that the differential is supposed to do. In fact, going around
corners on dry road with it locked can do serious damage if you do it long
enough or often enough.

I would have a look at how the locking center diffs are supposed to work
before you start playing with it.

In a way, I think it's our job as been-there STi owners to educate him. BTW,
I did that ECU reflash and it eliminated all ping. I'm a much happier
camper, although it feels just a tad less powerful in my daily commute. I'm
sure it's my imagination.