Bob Petruska

3.0MQ....

The ESP light on the dash is lit when I first turn the car on and then goes out.

I'm driving in extrememly slippery slush/snow/ice today at very low speeds but the backend is wiggling. The ESP light never blinked! I pull in the parking lot and hit the brakes to make the backend really side out and also just gun the gas to do the same and I still don't see the ESP light blink!!!!


Is this normal for you not to see the ESP light blink under braking conditions? Do you need to really start loosing it under acceleration to have the ESP light blink?


When does the ESP light blink?

ErikNYC

I have gotten the light to blink a few times, mostly on wet roads or even dirt roads (I know, I know, how could you let your car on unpaved roads).

The thing is, I think the light ALSO goes on when just traction control (anti-slip) is activated which is what I was doing. The other day I was turning onto my street and it was covered with wet leaves, I had it in first already and floored it. The car lurched foward a bit but then the ESP light flashes like crazy and you feel the car cutting power.

I've never seen it blink under braking but I do feel the pedal and hear the anti-lock. When ever I go out and drive crazy enough to drift and always turn ESP off.

I'm going out later in the snow to try out my new tires and I'm gonna see if I get do some "formal" tests.

Vincent in Montreal

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chzball

I was out in the snow this am, took a tight right turn onto a side street and wheee!! Panicked like a trapped mouse, and didn't have time to look down at the ESP light. I've done this before in other cars, and the Audi seemed to pull out of it quick. really can't tell if the ESP helped at all, nor do I think I helped answer your question.

Really thinking of snow tires now, tho.

EROCK1500

ERICKNYC, I am going to head out today to have some fun in the snow too. I have the standard set-up 17" P6000s. The car only has 1,000 miles so they are new. This morning it drove great.

EricNJ

Maidaji

I got mine to blink with a WOT in 1st....about 3" snow on the ground. IT WASN'T EASY!

A4dre2K

The ESP feature or Electronic Stability Control which is an active system that assists in maintianing control during cornering on slippery surfaces does not activate on straight acceleration or slow moving turns. ESP is usualy mixed up with ABS and traction control (wheels that slip to wheels that grip) which are two different systems that may or may not work in conjunction with ESP (depending on the vehicle logic).
In essence, the ESP sysem incorporates a lateral accelerometer and position sensor on your steering system to compare where you would like to go and where the car is actually going. When the driver input does not match the vehichle's actual path, the ESP kicks in and compenstates until the lateral acceleration matches a the postion of your steering wheel. ESP will compensate by applying a little braking to the rear inner wheel during an understeer (slide) or to the front outer wheel during an overstear (fish tail). There is no "acceleration of a wheel(s)" or "pumping of the brakes" as in the case of positrac and ABS respectively.
All this translates to the fact that the ESP light probably will not flash unless your taking a turn at speed on the snow or slippery pavement. It will not light up if you hit the gas or brake on a straight away, are going slow or braking into a turn or just gas out of a turn... Enjoy the snow!! don't forget 4 wheel drive does not mean 4 wheel stop... when sliding, it is better to let go of the brake than mash your foot further into it.

Maidaji

trying to tell me when I lost traction on a straight line acceleration?

Is there some other type of traction loss indicator?

A4dre2K

I belive traction control is also linked to that light on the A4.. again,depends on vehicle logic

ErikNYC

It is on the same light, like I said below, I get it to flash all the time,