ESC System

[CupraTgirl]

Hey all,

As most of you know, it snowed a lot today. I got royally stuck in it. I mean I couldn't move forward, left or right without wheel spinning and drifting all over the places. It turns out it was because of the ESC system ??‍ How can something that is meant to help you in conditions like the ones I was in actually cause so many problems?
I turned it off and managed to basically slide the car home but had I not have done that, I would have had to be towed home by a recovery truck.

I'm curious to hear other people's experience with this?

Alex

 

[ZK_FR150]

Yep turn it off when trying to set off in snow, as it will brake the spinning wheels when turned on and will leave you stuck.
Once moving turn it back on unless going uphill.

Helped a few cars get out of my cul-de-sac which is on a slope by turning it off when they got stuck, one being a Golf R which surprised me but guess it was on summer tyres.

 

[GlekkeMatrak]

Hey all,

As most of you know, it snowed a lot today. I got royally stuck in it. I mean I couldn't move forward, left or right without wheel spinning and drifting all over the places. It turns out it was because of the ESC system ??‍ How can something that is meant to help you in conditions like the ones I was in actually cause so many problems?
I turned it off and managed to basically slide the car home but had I not have done that, I would have had to be towed home by a recovery truck.

I'm curious to hear other people's experience with this?

Alex ☺

Hey Alex,

I'm working for Continental Automotive in Belgium, and we produce ESC systems for nearly every major car manufacturer under the brand "Ate".
A common misconception regarding these systems is that they are designed to increase traction or allow for a shorter braking distance.

The main function is nothing more than allow for driveability during slipping in a fast turn, or allow for steering input under heavy braking, through avoiding lock-up of the wheels.

Hope this clarifies a litlle .

Grts,

Glenn

 

[Robster83]

As a swede who are used to drive in winter conditions, my best hint is to reeeeealy feather the throttle when setting off, as soon as the wheel starts to slip, you have lost the static friction against the ground are much more likely to get stuck, ESP systems or not, 'cus the ESP system can only interfere after/during slip and at that point it is to late. My advice would be to leave the system on all the time, but use your right foot to set off, sloooowly and carefully.

 

[BoomerBoom]

These systems are only any good if they have a specific ice setting, usually a button you push to let the car know it's slippery. Otherwise it's as Glenn says above, only to mimick an expensive differential and useless in the ice.

I can't get up the hill to my house with the ESC system engaged, it just gets slower until the wheels spin and the car goes backwards. With it switched off you can get a run at the hill then keep a minimum of power applied as you go up, too much and it'll all go sideways.

 

[martin j.]

My old diesel was great, no throttle input, very easy off the clutch and it would chug along at minimal pace, even on wide summer tyres.

 

[Seriously?]

Yep, the low end torque of diesels tends to make them easier to drive in snow- especially as you can take off in 2nd without too much drama in most of them.

 

[DigitalSushi]

Yup switch it off, especially if you are trying to go up hills. Found that with any for of traction control

Have to say i have found the dsg a little tiresome in these conditions at the moment as well. With the old manual it was bang it in second and give it very little shouty pedal. With this i have no option and have to hope the auto clutch is low enough torque not to just spin the incredibly hopeless summer sports tyres..

 

[black_sheep]

Rather than switch off the ESC, if the car has the drive mode select, put it in ECO mode to aid your throttle control. As per @Robster83 ESC cuts in once traction is lost. For those with DSG, you can shift in up in manual mode too.

To be fair I have the worst winter tyres I’ve ever owned on the Cupra at the moment (last time I take advice from the tyre fitter) - used to spin very easily in the wet when fitted to fwd Octavia VRS. Not lost traction in the rain, and they will only loose traction in the snow now if deliberately antagonise the throttle, which shows just how capable the 4drive system is. Also driven the 4drive in the snow with summer tyres up some gradients - not ideal, but still able to make progress, so surprised to see the Golf R comment above. This is my first 4wd - whilst probably not as engaging to drive as the fwd Cupra, living in the North I will not buy another car that doesn’t have it.