So today I was driving down a back road today and I get halfway through a turn that had a good bit of banking and the steering wheel gets stiff and the car starts to slow itself down. I look down and the DIC says 'ESC ACTIVE'. I wasn't going fast(55 mph, turn had a rated sign of 35mph) and I have taken other turns much faster without this happening. My question is: What does the ESC look for to turn on? I'm just curious what caused it to activate itself.

 

I've had this happen too on a banked turn when going somewhat fast around it, the tires aren't screeching and im not losing control, not sure what's making it come on. Though this only happens on banked turns, not sure if the esc has some g sensors built into it and is using that to assume you're pulling too many g's around a turn, though on a banked turn you can pull much higher g's than on a flat surface. I can duplicate it at will on highway on ramps, most are banked here.

 

I was thinking that the banking probably had something to do with it.

 

I was thinking that the banking probably had something to do with it.

 

I actually was just going to post a topic on this subject as well. I just had mine activate tonight after ripping around a corner doing 40. I heard like a grinding sound as I was almost sideways which I'm sure was the vehicle initializing my ABS (sounded like ABS anyways) and in my Spedo area, "ESC Active" popped up. I just kept the gas hammered to the floor and was just squealing those tires. NLS'd and kept flying on home.

Man, I love this car.

 

The esc uses a steering angle sensor, wheel speed sensors, and various g-sensors (hall effect/etc) in the ECU to determine when the car is at the very edge - when it senses this on a stock car, it usually means without ESC you would have lost control if you continued. ESC is designed to engage at the very edge of traction, right before you would slide out of control, but cut in BEFORE you may even hear your tires. Keep in mind if you see it, you are on the very edge.

 

Could've been on bumps? The car might of detected what it conceived as slide, but was in fact just a crappy road?

 

Only time I've had it come on was drifting through the wet stuff, or on gravel. Felt like it applied some inside rear brake, but not enough to be intrusive.

 

yep thank the car for making you appear to be a better driver than you are I take it as a challenge to see that little "esc active" message.Gotta push it to the limit and then some, I like slidin'....

 

I am experienced in getting sideways, both in FWD and RWD vehicles. I wasn't even applying opposite steering input, more of a neutral slide, it just decided to "enhance" my drift angle.

 

Keep in mind that if you put it in competitive mode the esc lets you go a little bit more before it kicks in. Or you can turn it off completely if you want. Just hold down the tc button for more than 5 seconds.

 

Mine will kick on even in a smooth corner. I've noticed one thing that will set it off.

The traction control seems to be pretty forgiving and lets you get away with a fair amount of wheelspin.
If I'm heavy on the throttle in a corner the fronts might spin (sometimes not very noticeably to the driver) and cause the ESC inputs to be off. I.E. - steering angle, etc.

That causes the ESC to come on yet the T.C. might not.