I have had my ESP light flash at me many times. Usually daily once I thought It was limiting my revs a little so for the first time I decided to deliberitly light up the tires. I was able to very easily spin the wheels, and the light flashes at me. but I didn't notice much of anything in the way of power being limited. Felt like I could just smoke my tires down the street in first gear all day.

I am not really trying to burn my front tires. But I was wondering what it takes to get the ESP to actually kick in rather than just blink at me?

I usually get the light when I am a little hard on the gas when turning out of parking lots and such. I'm sure this light is not stranger to anyone in the 2.0T...

 

Usually when my tires lose traction it kicks in right away. When ESP kicks in it feels like when ABS kicks in when you brake hard on my car. Usually when I want to have some fun I just turn it off but it shouldn't take much for yours to kick in but loosing traction.

 

Interesting. I definitely have not noticed that at all. Maybe I will have to do another test...

 

Mine kicks in hard during 1st gear.

especially when I make a turn and floor it.

HARD

 

ESP looks at differentials between relative wheel speeds and steering wheel position plus input from other sensors to selectively apply brakes and eventually retard the engine as things get crossed up. The ESP systems actions will then pull the car back on it's intended track.

So, in a straight line, both wheels spinning at the same rate, not much to do. As one wheel slips and loses traction, the ESP senses that and applies brake to that wheel to transfer torque over to the wheel with traction. Clunky, but effective and less money than a Limited Slip Differential.

In a corner, there's lot's more inputs and outputs going on, but basically the system selectively applies brakes and engine controls to try and matchthe directionyou are pointing the wheel with the direction the car is headed. A good thing, and it works so well, the Feds are making it mandatory on all new cars in a couple years, and insurance companies give you a discount for having it.

 

This is so weird. This weekend I was driving fairly hard and spinning the inside tire pretty hard on some turns. Light flashes, inside tire does some screeching. But I never felt anything like a brake applied and if the throttle was cut it was so minimal that I didn't feel it...

I will have to try with ESP off and on to feel the difference. Maybe it is working so well that I don't feel it? Even though i'm squeeling in first in a turn it is always going right where i'm pointing the wheels.

 

Hi eger,

I think as long as the car is not sliding laterally, the ESP doesn't do much to stop wheel spin as long as traction (or lack thereof) is equal on both wheels. I drive a chipped TDI, and if I'm cornering, I can easily spin the wheels on 1st 2nd and even third if there is even a hint of moisture on the road (GO TDI, GO TORQUE!) and the ESP doesn't do much to stop it...which is how I like it! And so does the tire man...going to need new ones fairly soon!