STC v DSTC

[dtjames]

Hi,

1. What are the differences between STC and DSTC please?
   
2. Was it a worthwhile upgrade on a 170bhp 2004 V70 SE?
   
3. How much did it cost?!

Thanks.

[Missing Lincs]

STC is essentially traction control, if a drive wheel slips, power is reduced and brakes applied to make more traction go to the non slipping wheel if there is one.
DSTC takes this a stage further and uses sensors to detect sideways movement, it acts in a similar way but on all four wheels, not just driven wheels (assuming 2 wheel drive). Its a whole lot more sophisticated.
Adding DSTC added quite a bit to the price of new cars so adding it, if you can do it, isn't going to be cheap.

[Codhead73]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8mniiBdHik

[Jim314]

Originally Posted by dtjames

Hi,

1. What are the differences between STC and DSTC please?
   
2. Was it a worthwhile upgrade on a 170bhp 2004 V70 SE?
   
3. How much did it cost?!

Thanks.

My wife bought a US base model 2004 V70 170bhp from dealer inventory and it did not have DSTC. DSTC is a yaw control system which controls 'fishtailing' and maybe controls oversteer in turns.

In 2004 in the US DSTC was not available as a separate item on the base model V70, but was part of an optional luxury package costing ~ US$1500 (or more), if I recall correctly. DSTC may have been standard on some higher trim levels. At the same time VW offered DSTC as an option for some modest amount like US$300.

I doubt that DSTC can in practice be retrofitted to a V70 which didn't have it installed at assembly at the factory, but this doesn't seem to me to be what you asked. I interpret what you wrote to mean you want to know the incremental cost of DSTC for a new base model V70 in 2004.

The Volvo ESP, called DSTC by Volvo, evidently can also take over the engine power via the electronic throttle module.

Good explanation of operation of DSTC or ESP here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1qt8...eature=related and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIxeI...eature=related and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmCJt...eature=related.

[Jim314]

Also see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7oqI...eature=related. So DSTC also controls understeer on turns.

[Bernard333]

Originally Posted by dtjames

Hi,

1. What are the differences between STC and DSTC please?
   
2. Was it a worthwhile upgrade on a 170bhp 2004 V70 SE?
   
3. How much did it cost?!

Thanks.

DSTC was included in all 2004 MY V70 SE spec cars so it was part of the price and not available as an upgrade , maybe it was an option on the basic S model ?

I know what its meant to do but I cant seem to make the car behave much differently with it on or off .

[Jim314]

According to this* you cannot turn off the yaw control feature with the control on the stalk. You would pull a fuse and evidently pull it with the ignition on. Personally I would not do something like that just to test the operation with DSTC disabled.

*http://www.volvoxc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17383

[dtjames]

I recently bought a 2004 V70 SE and it has DSTC and so I wondered if it was an extra or standard.

Curious what it did and how much it would have cost.

[Bernard333]

Originally Posted by Jim314

According to this* you cannot turn off the yaw control feature with the control on the stalk. You would pull a fuse and evidently pull it with the ignition on. Personally I would not do something like that just to test the operation with DSTC disabled.

*http://www.volvoxc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17383

The European models have a button under the heater controls labelled ' DSTC ' which lights up or can be switched off . I have always assumed when the light is off that the DSTC is switched off but on mine I cannot see it makes any difference .

On page 19 of the handbook it says that AYC cannot be de activated except on the V70R , this is the first time I have read this page after 8 years of driving the car so now I understand why it makes no difference , its only the stability control thats deactivated by this button and the AYC function reduced - now I am really confused .