Yesterday my car's ESP warning light came on along with the engine management light [2004 VW Polo]. The car was driving fine. Car help - electronic stability program and engine management light. Paperclip 20. It could be an o2 sensor problem or a stability problem, i would get it seen to at garage as if you not know what its about,ask. Electronic Stability Control Problems of Audi A4. Audi A4 owners have reported 16 problems related to electronic stability control (under the electronic stability control category). The most recently reported issues are listed below. Vsa Warning Light On problems: 1.
- Brake Assist System
- Audi A3 Electronic Stability Program Warning Light
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In this guide, we explore possible problems that may trigger the stability control warning on the dashboard.
Traction control light may be labeled as ESC / ESP / DSC depending on your car manufacturer.
This guide applies to cars equipped with any of the following systems:
- ESC - Electronic Stability Control
- ESP - Electronic Stability Program
- DSC - Dynamic Stability Control
Common Problems
If the stability control light is on, one of the following components could be the culprit.
- Brake light switch - A defective brake light switch can trigger the ESC light. This is a common problem. Easy to replace and inexpensive.
- ABS wheel speed sensor - Clean or replace the ABS sensor.
- ABS, ESP, ESC, DSC module malfunction - Needs to be properly diagnosed.
- Steering angle sensor - The sensor may require calibration.
- Low battery
Troubleshooting Stability Control System
Below are a few simple things to check if your stability control light is on.
Ensure stability control isn't turned off
On your dashboard, there is an ESC button that may have been pressed accidentally. If that's the case you can manually turn the ESC light off.
Start the car. Find the switch that says ESC, ESP or DSC on the dash and press it for three seconds. Look on your instrument cluster to see if the light turned off.
Start the car. Find the switch that says ESC, ESP or DSC on the dash and press it for three seconds. Look on your instrument cluster to see if the light turned off.
Read ABS Control System Codes
Do you have both ESC light and ABS light on?
You will need to have the ABS OBD-II scanner to diagnose ESC and ABS problems. Most simple OBD-II code readers are not able to communicate with the ABS module.
Use a diagnostic scanner such as Autel MD802 or Launch Creader to scan the multiple systems on your car via the OBD-II port.
If your vehicle is still under warranty, take your car to the dealer to have the ESC problem properly diagnosed.
There shouldn't be a charge to fix stability problems if the vehicle has an existing warranty.
Step 1: Plug in the scanner on the OBD-II port under the dashboard. |
Step 2: Turn ignition to ON position. Do not start the car. |
Step 3: Access the ESC and ABS menus and read fault codes. |
Why are both ABS and ESC light on?
You may notice that both ABS and ESC lights have turned on at the same time.
That's because the ESC system depends on the ABS module to function properly. Therefore if there is a problem with the ABS module ESC will not function either.
Even if you turn off the ESC, the ABS and brake system will continue to operate normally unless the problem is the ABS system.
Why is my ESC Light Flashing?
Under normal operation, the ESC light should only be on when you start the car for a couple of seconds and then turn off.
If the ESC light is flashing when driving that typically, that means that the system is engaged and it trying to keep the vehicle under control.
It doesn't mean that there is something wrong with the ESC system. It means that you may be going too fast and should slow down.
ESC will flash if you are going through a corner too fast. The light turns off under normal driving conditions.
Does my car have stability control?
Most cars have ESC installed but it may be called something different on your make.
Electronic stability control (ESC), may also be referred to as electronic stability program (ESP) or dynamic stability control (DSC).
Here is a partial list of what ESC is called on different makes.
Acronym | Make |
---|---|
ESC | Hyundai, Kia, Chevrolet, Dodge, Chrysler, Audi, Saturn |
ESP | Mercedes-Benz, VW, Sprinter, Suzuki, BMW, Renault, Jeep |
DSC | Mazda, BMW, Jaguar |
StabiliTrak | General Motors, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Holden, Opel, Vauxhall, GM |
Why am I getting ESC warning light on the dashboard?
ESC is meant to avoid accidents but it will not be able to prevent all of them. Don't drive too fast.
Follow speed limits and drive according to the road conditions.
Excessive speed while turning and abrupt maneuvers can still result in serious accidents.
Brake Assist System
Would different tires trigger traction or ABS light to come on?
If you install different tire size on the front vs. the back you may cause the ESC to malfunction.
ESC may also come on when you are using a spare tire that is a different diameter than the rest of the tires on the car.
Why am I getting stability light warning after changing the battery?
If the ESC light stays on after you replace the battery, don't panic.
All you need to do is drive the car for a few minutes and make sure to make several left and right turn.
Once the system does a self-check it should reset the stability light on its own.
If you’ve been driving for any length of time, you probably know what it feels like to lose control of your vehicle. Whether you’ve been in an accident, or bad weather led to a momentary skid, nobody enjoys that sinking feeling that sets in as thousands of pounds of metal suddenly careen out of control.
Systems like traction control and anti-lock brakes help us maintain control during acceleration and braking, but electronic stability control (ESC) is designed to prevent you from losing control in other circumstances.
What’s the Point of Electronic Stability Control?
In short, ESC is supposed to help keep the vehicle moving in the same direction that the driver wants to go.
Like anti-lock brakes and traction control, electronic stability control is an added safety measure. These systems won’t protect you from careless driving, but they can help keep you on the road under adverse conditions.
According to the IIHS, electronic stability control reduces the risk of multi-car, single-car, and rollover accidents. The reduction in fatal single-vehicle rollovers is the most dramatic, and drivers with ESC are 75 percent more likely to survive those accidents than drivers who don’t have ESC.
How Does Electronic Stability Control Work?
Electronic stability control systems consist of a number of sensors that compare a driver’s input with the way a vehicle is actually moving. If an ESC system determines that a vehicle is not responding correctly to the steering input, it is capable of taking corrective measures.
Individual brake calipers can be activated to correct oversteer or understeer, the engine output can be modulated, and other actions can be taken to help the driver retain control.
What Happens When Electronic Stability Control Fails?
Since electronic stability control is essentially an extension of ABS and TCS, it’s typically safe to drive a vehicle that has an ESC malfunction. Electronic stability control systems are capable of activating brake calipers and modulating the engine power, but malfunctioning systems usually just fail to operate at all.
If you notice your DSP, ESP, or ESC light come on, it’s a good idea to have it checked out by a qualified mechanic. However, you should be able to continue driving the vehicle as if it didn’t have stability control.
If you do, just be especially careful on wet pavement and sharp corners. If your vehicle starts to oversteer or understeer, you’ll have to back off and make the corrections on your own.
What Vehicles Are Equipped With ESC?
Electronic stability control is a relatively new innovation, and it isn’t available on all vehicles.
In order for a vehicle to have ESC, it must also have both ABS and TCS. Traction control and stability control systems are built on anti-lock brake systems, and all three technologies make use of the same wheel sensors.
Audi A3 Electronic Stability Program Warning Light
All of the major automakers offer some type of ESC; these systems can be found on cars, trucks, SUVs and even motorhomes. However, some manufacturers only offer the option on certain models.
Audi Electronic Stability Program Warning Lights
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) maintains a list of vehicles that include ESC. You can search by the vehicle's year and make, to see a list of models that have ESC as a standard or optional feature, plus which models do not have ESC as an option at all.