Maybe a dumb question for some, but I can't figure out if the ESP on my SXT is on automatically when I start the car, or do I have to push the ESP off button so that the car & squiggly tracks illuminate on the dash board?
Just doesn't make sense to me to push the ESP off button to have the system activated???
Thanks for your help.
w5blt
12-27-2004, 11:36 PM
Maybe a dumb question for some, but I can't figure out if the ESP on my SXT is on automatically when I start the car, or do I have to push the ESP off button so that the car & squiggly tracks illuminate on the dash board?
Just doesn't make sense to me to push the ESP off button to have the system activated???
Thanks for your help.
When the "aquiggly tracks" are displayed, it is disabled. In other words, you don't have the automatic traction control engaged. At least that's the way I read it.
Greg D
12-28-2004, 06:15 AM
I recently test drove a Magnum RT in a heavy snow storm with slush and ice on the road. It was RWD with ESP. The ESP is automatically engaged. You can turn it off by pressing the button. The yellow "squiggly tracks" appear when the ESP is correcting the vehicle. Believe me, the dealer and I pushed the vehicle hard to try and get the back end to slide in some very bad weather on the day before Thanksgiving here in Michigan (Holland is on the Lake Michigan shoreline). We could not get the rear end to slide without turning the ESP off. This is why I ordered RWD instead of AWD.
Greg
inferno mag
12-28-2004, 01:22 PM
When you start the car the ESP is always on hitting the button will disable it. If your not sure it's on stand on it from a dead stop in the rain you will know if it's on or not. The ESP light on the dash will flash at you.
Yahoo!
MagnumMan
12-28-2004, 03:47 PM
So let me get this straight...
When the light is on it is correcting the car, but to turn it off the light has to be on. Is that right???
MySterious
12-28-2004, 05:28 PM
Boy do I have this ESP system wrong then, or there may be something wrong with my car.
I have stepped on it in the rain and noticed the light flashing in the dashboard, was just by accident I didn't mean to spin em'. :cool:
We just had a good amount of snow here in NE, and I found that driving with the light illuminated (which now I assume means the system is off) the car actually handled better (or psycologically I thought it did). So in the snow I've been pushing the button so the dash illuminates the car and tracks (squigglys).
Yesterday, I was spinning the wheels trying to back out of my driveway (in the snow), so I pushed the ESP off button and I was able to back out then.
Do you think there may be something wrong, or could it just be me? I am still trying to get used to driving this car, had it since July 15... :huh: Decided on this over a minivan, because it looks sooo good and had all the versatility that I needed.
vwdave
01-02-2005, 03:29 PM
The squiggles represent tire marks. That means its off and you can burn the tires.
Trust me, the system works well. :)
flhthemi
01-03-2005, 12:08 PM
The squiggles represent tire marks. That means its off and you can burn the tires.
Trust me, the system works well. :)
And... if ESP is on and they light you have activated the traction control/stability control. Usually happens on slick surfaces.
Is this confusing you?
flylo
01-03-2005, 02:31 PM
ESP ( electronic stability program ) is to help you keep your car going where you want it to go. Traction control is what it says, it keeps your rear tires turning the same RPM, if you didn't have traction control you would leave a single black mark on the road.
inferno mag
01-03-2005, 03:56 PM
After reading all the posts about this issue i called the dealer and asked him....he said when you hit the button it turns it off and when the light flashes at you it means it is doing it's thing...he also said just leave it alone...guess he hasn't tried a big smokey burn out cause it works much better with it off
hope that helps
MikeEast
01-03-2005, 05:49 PM
The 'light on the dash' scenario can be confusing - I know my ex never did figure out which way was which on the Alero, and I know I for sure couldn't make it up the driveway in deep snow without disabling it.
Sometimes ya just gotta spin the tires...
So, in summary, our ESP is always 'on', unless manual intervention occurs, then it turns on the dash symbol, essentially saying "you can spin the tires now dude".
When the ESP is 'on' and has to do it's job, it flashes the dash symbol just to let you know about it. So if you are trying to burn your way up the driveway and aren't getting anywhere, that's why.
and disabling it at my favorite 4 way stop makes my heart rate go right up - cause there's gonna be smoke and noise real soon. This thing Rocks! :rck:
Mike
"Grownups typically have more powerful Toys..."
flylo
01-03-2005, 06:01 PM
Yes, you can turn off the ESP and a light will show on your dash, showing a little car with curvy lines this is telling you the ESP is off. When you restart your car the ESP resets to on. When ESP is on and you are driving on slippery roads, snow, ice, ect. as the ESP is HELPING you stay on the road the little car light will flash as the system is braking and adjusting your throttle as you turn the steering wheel. Now as to burning rubber better with the ESP turned off, yes it may be easier because now the computer don;t have to deal with that program. As I said before the traction control should never be turned off, if it could be, as this LX platform relies on traction control to provide limited slip to the rear of the car, by using the brakes to keep the rear wheel at the same RPM. Then the computer senses the front wheel RPM and tries to keep all the wheels turning the same. My R/T has the July 04 Version 3.61 software and it will sometimes burn a few feet then go, most of the time it just squats and goes.
MikeEast
01-04-2005, 12:31 AM
It's actually a very cool system, it appears to have a lot of capabilities.
My first salesguy had me throw the Black SXT I test drove into a 90 degree country-ish corner (that I would have done at 20-25) at 40, and told me to "nail it, get into it" at the apex. Ok, I can do that...
Heard a neat little 'gronnk' from the right rear, and it pivoted ever so nicely as I accelerated off, pulling hard - thinking "and the RT has a freaking Hemi? There's MORE?"
The SXT is no slouch in any sense of the word, it's just that the Hemi is 'more' :-) :drivingz:
Mike
"He who dies with the most toys, hopefully stopped to play with them first"
vwdave
01-04-2005, 08:41 PM
Flylo just explained what I was going to post. :)
jdr1234
01-04-2005, 09:42 PM
Here's a link that might be helpful to you:
Continental Teves Explanation of ABS, Traction Control, and ESP (http://www.safelythere.com/index.asp)
This is a very informative website maintained by Continental Teves (my employer) which also has some demonstration animations that can more clearly explain ESP, Traction Control, and ABS. Go to "learn more", and then "view demo". Our company is the supplier to Dodge for these units.
Also, just as a side note, the ESP also goes by other names for different car companies including ESP (Daimler Chrysler, Mercedes), Dynamic Stability Control (BMW), AdvanceTrac (Ford), Vehicle Dynamic Control (Infiniti, Nissan), and Dynamic Stability and Traction Control (Volvo). I helped with a driving demonstration at our manufacturing facility and I was very impressed with the system. Our test cars were the Lincoln LS models. The difference between "system on" and "system off" were amazing. If you have not driven a car with ESP, you should definitely test drive one to feel the difference.
