Bluto

The ground was damp this morning on the way to the train station, and since I go through some twisties I thought I would test out the ESP. Well when I let the rear end slip out a little bit the ESP did not seem to kick in like I thought it was supposed to. The low traction light did not come on so maybe I was not pushing it hard enough for the system to engage.

Has anyone had a similar experience to mine, or any more info on when the system engages?

TTom TTR

Get ready to turn left from a dead stop. Put it in first, punch it, and make a hard left turn. I mean almost automan like 90 degree turn.

That's when the light blinks.

Other than that, I've not seen it go off.

Course I'm a flatlander and there aren't a lot of twisties in Kansas.

QuesTT

Maybe it's because of the nasty roads in Cleveland, but often when I'm accelerating moderately through some bumpy bits, the light will come on. Also as TTom said when starting of in a turn.
Another place I see it a lot is when I go over our trolley tracks since the crossing is built with metal plates.
On the other hand, I haven't seen it light up because of wet traction, though that may be because I only switched to my 225QC from a 180QC a week ago.

Chaka

I took a very hard left turn when there was a bit of loose sand on the pavement. Don't worry if the light doesn't come on. It just means that there is enough traction and control for the Haldex system to be effective still.

TTKEN

I can get mine to kick in on my dirt road with just a little punch of the gas.

WhiddeTT

I have managed to get mine to kick in twice, both times at the same spot (set of three 100-180 deg hairpins down a mountain pass), last time I did that run, my legs where shaking !

john s

You can drift the back end out without ESP engaging. It detrimentally engages on 90° turns if you're plowing otherwise it's ok. Will come on when powering through running water or over train tracks, expansion joints, quick lane changes etc.
If you do like TTom said but lift completely near redline & 85% of the turn the back wheels will lock. You can also get it to pull your line by nibbling off/on the road edge on tight corners. It will also throw your fuses out of the holders. If you subtle it's subtle, if you're violent it's violent.