CAMARO6 - View Single Post

HSLdriver · 06-30-2023, 02:54 PM

I’ve read the ice mode posts with concern in the past and then encountered it (i.e., what felt like a loss of brake boost—but not loss of brakes—during hard braking right after WOT) for the first time.

I’ve always been skeptical of “ice mode” as A.) it made no sense from an engineering perspective (why would one want to lose brake boost just because the tires might slide on the ice—what’s the benefit of this, especially as this is already addressed by ABS?), B.) why isn’t ice mode listed anywhere but blogs (i.e., it’s not in the owner’s manual), C.) why does it happen only to some drivers (e.g., Bill Wise brakes later and harder than any of us but he was able to fly around the ‘Ring with a Camaro), and D.) why would Chevy have such a dangerous mode for use on a car that is sold with a track package (i.e., 1LE) and comes with a High Performance Supplement explaining how to use their car on a racetrack? Ice mode makes no sense. I’ve concluded ice mode does not exist and is simply someone’s fabrication.

But something is happening, at least to some of us.

So what was different in my ice mode encounter? To be sure I get the Race throttle map and everything else off, I normally run Track, then press the “skidding car” button twice, select Race, then hold down the skidding car button for five seconds to turn off traction control. For some reason on one session, I wasn’t able to select “Race” (or any specific track mode) after selecting “Track.” I suspect track junkies encountering ice mode are just selecting Track and are not further specifying which track mode, so only Track is input which is probably just another street mode geared towards non-track rats that like to tell people they drive in track mode as they cruise around town, or are engaged in the challenges presented by “canyon carving,” “spirited driving,” etc. (whatever those are).

But still, that’s “why,” but “what” is happening? When I first read my owner’s manual after getting the car (you did read your manual, right?), I was concerned about the section on “brake assist” and how that might manifest on the track (I won’t bore you with the details, but it is a quick read if you are interested). I suspect selecting just Track with no particular sub-setting tells the car it’s on the street and to maintain all the safety functionality; Track with a specific track PTM selection most likely defeats brake assist (makes sense). I suspect ice mode on track is the brake assist functioning as designed when the car thinks it is on the street (even though PTM is in Track). However, the only thing I know for sure is that I’ve only experienced it in Track-only mode and it went away when I was later able to select one of the sub-modes.

In summary, to avoid ice mode (which doesn’t exist!), select one of the track modes—not just Track, otherwise the car thinks you bought a performance car and drive around in Track mode to cars and coffee while complaining about brake dust. Select Track and then Wet, Dry, Sport 1, Sport 2, or Race and send it!

I know that even if this is correct, some may be deeply invested in the idea of “ice mode” and so not all of us will be accepting (e.g., in the past I tried to help an OP that kept stalling their ZL1 due to its tricky twin-plate clutch by explaining that Chevy addressed that by automating leaving from a stop with engine management logic that prevents a stall if the driver just lets the clutch out without touching the gas pedal at all; instead of “thanks,” the OP then started a new thread asking if there is a tuner that can raise the idle RPM, and when this was unsatisfactorily answered, posted a third thread asking if anyone could recommend a clutch replacement!), but hopefully it will be of use to someone or may generate other ideas. And FYI, I might be way off too! Now if only I could do something about that brake dust.

06-30-2023, 02:54 PM	#1
HSLdriver Drives: 2018 ZL1 1LE Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: New England Posts: 14	Ice mode on track solved (probably?) I’ve read the ice mode posts with concern in the past and then encountered it (i.e., what felt like a loss of brake boost—but not loss of brakes—during hard braking right after WOT) for the first time. I’ve always been skeptical of “ice mode” as A.) it made no sense from an engineering perspective (why would one want to lose brake boost just because the tires might slide on the ice—what’s the benefit of this, especially as this is already addressed by ABS?), B.) why isn’t ice mode listed anywhere but blogs (i.e., it’s not in the owner’s manual), C.) why does it happen only to some drivers (e.g., Bill Wise brakes later and harder than any of us but he was able to fly around the ‘Ring with a Camaro), and D.) why would Chevy have such a dangerous mode for use on a car that is sold with a track package (i.e., 1LE) and comes with a High Performance Supplement explaining how to use their car on a racetrack? Ice mode makes no sense. I’ve concluded ice mode does not exist and is simply someone’s fabrication. But something is happening, at least to some of us. So what was different in my ice mode encounter? To be sure I get the Race throttle map and everything else off, I normally run Track, then press the “skidding car” button twice, select Race, then hold down the skidding car button for five seconds to turn off traction control. For some reason on one session, I wasn’t able to select “Race” (or any specific track mode) after selecting “Track.” I suspect track junkies encountering ice mode are just selecting Track and are not further specifying which track mode, so only Track is input which is probably just another street mode geared towards non-track rats that like to tell people they drive in track mode as they cruise around town, or are engaged in the challenges presented by “canyon carving,” “spirited driving,” etc. (whatever those are). But still, that’s “why,” but “what” is happening? When I first read my owner’s manual after getting the car (you did read your manual, right?), I was concerned about the section on “brake assist” and how that might manifest on the track (I won’t bore you with the details, but it is a quick read if you are interested). I suspect selecting just Track with no particular sub-setting tells the car it’s on the street and to maintain all the safety functionality; Track with a specific track PTM selection most likely defeats brake assist (makes sense). I suspect ice mode on track is the brake assist functioning as designed when the car thinks it is on the street (even though PTM is in Track). However, the only thing I know for sure is that I’ve only experienced it in Track-only mode and it went away when I was later able to select one of the sub-modes. In summary, to avoid ice mode (which doesn’t exist!), select one of the track modes—not just Track, otherwise the car thinks you bought a performance car and drive around in Track mode to cars and coffee while complaining about brake dust. Select Track and then Wet, Dry, Sport 1, Sport 2, or Race and send it! I know that even if this is correct, some may be deeply invested in the idea of “ice mode” and so not all of us will be accepting (e.g., in the past I tried to help an OP that kept stalling their ZL1 due to its tricky twin-plate clutch by explaining that Chevy addressed that by automating leaving from a stop with engine management logic that prevents a stall if the driver just lets the clutch out without touching the gas pedal at all; instead of “thanks,” the OP then started a new thread asking if there is a tuner that can raise the idle RPM, and when this was unsatisfactorily answered, posted a third thread asking if anyone could recommend a clutch replacement!), but hopefully it will be of use to someone or may generate other ideas. And FYI, I might be way off too! Now if only I could do something about that brake dust.