Volkswagen ASR Button

Scream · 1 Mar 2006 at 23:45

In my passat I have the ASR button. When its pressed, a icon is lit-up on the dash representing it.

Does this mean the traction control is switched off or I've just switched it on?

There is no mention of ASR in my manual.

I'm assuming ASR is always on but when I spin the wheels, the light on the dash lights up which confuses me. In that spin scenario, does it just comes on to warn me of wheel spin or its not working when it should be.

Cheers for any help.

megakid · 1 Mar 2006 at 23:51

The way I understand it (in my dad's passat a few years ago) is that when you pressed it and the light came on, it was warning you that you had disabled the traction control.
When you spin the wheels and it lights up, it means it's being "used" and is warning you that you have lost grip at the wheels.

MagicBoy · 1 Mar 2006 at 23:53

ASR is ON by default. The light will flash when ASR detects wheelspin and is intervening. When you press the button and the light on the dash stays on the ASR is OFF.

My Fabia vRS will quite happily spin the wheels for a good second before the electronic nanny kicks in.

Velocity · 2 Mar 2006 at 08:26

It's like a toned down version of ESP

ASR - Anti Slip Regulation IIRC

Lashout_UK · 2 Mar 2006 at 08:28

or, Acceleration Slip Regulation, depending on who you work for

Maz · 2 Mar 2006 at 09:31

Just stops you from wheelspin thats all.

Scream · 2 Mar 2006 at 13:24

Then, why would you need a button to turn it off apart from having fun on a snow covered large yard?

Rikk · 2 Mar 2006 at 13:50

If your attempting to go up a slippery slope covered in say snow or mud, you'd turn it off otherwise you'd just gring to a halt. In the above situation your better having slight wheelspin to cut through the surface onto better grip below.

GlasgowTitan · 2 Mar 2006 at 14:29

Rikk said:
If your attempting to go up a slippery slope covered in say snow or mud, you'd turn it off otherwise you'd just gring to a halt. In the above situation your better having slight wheelspin to cut through the surface onto better grip below.

Did you watch an episode of 5th Gear where Tiff was testing the benefits of Traction control? He planted the car on a man made sheet of thick ice on a slope. Then tried to go up it, obviously the tyres just spinned. As soon as TC was switched on, the car drove straight up this road of pure ice no problems.

Unluckyalf · 2 Mar 2006 at 15:29

Yeah, i saw that episode. Quite impressive. I certainly wouldnt consider turning OFF the ESP on my car to go up a slippery hill. I would have thought that it was just the kind of event it was designed for

Clarkey · 2 Mar 2006 at 15:42

Unluckyalf said:
Yeah, i saw that episode. Quite impressive. I certainly wouldnt consider turning OFF the ESP on my car to go up a slippery hill. I would have thought that it was just the kind of event it was designed for

bingo, some people need to read their manual's

MagicBoy · 2 Mar 2006 at 18:11

It works great on an icy car park. Just plant your foot to the floor and let the electronic overlord work it's magic.

masterk · 2 Mar 2006 at 18:30

ASR and ESP are also incompatible with snow chains, and in Germany these can be used quite often, i guess thats why theres a button.