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When do folks turn off Electronic Stability Control?

21K views 44 replies 26 participants last post by  SteedGun 
#1 ·
I've had ESC in a previous JKUR and Dodge pickup, and I've usually turned it off when offroading in moderate to deep snow. I'm curious about what others typically do with this feature. On snow-pack in town and on the highway, I leave it on and find that it does a good job.

One thing that I don't understand is partially off vs. fully off. The manual for my 2015 JKUR-HR states that pushing the button for 2 seconds is the partially off option, and 5 seconds is the totally off option. What makes things confusing is that the ESC off-light on the instrument cluster presents the same icon whether ESC is partially or fully off. I guess that you just have to count your seconds and remember how many went by. I do know that it's fully off in 4-Lo.
 
#2 ·
Damn, just when you thought they couldn't make more complicated, now they have a 2sec delay for partial off :)
In my 2013, one push is partial off, and there will be a light with a little car sliding in dash, keep it pressed, and besides the first light, there would be a escoff message as well, just like when you pop it in 4Lo

2015-11-03_05-50-26 by SilverFJ RSM, on Flickr

I haven't tried this out in snow yet, but we're taking a trip to Colorado for Christmas, then i'll know for sure.
 
#20 ·
Thanks, everyone! I agree about it's usefulness on the road. We don't have any sand here, but I do turn it off when I head off road in snow. I've left in on when off-roading in the summer, as I don't see an advantage in turning it off then. I'm still a little unclear about partial-off vs. full-off. I knew that the BLD works always is enabled.

Damn, just when you thought they couldn't make more complicated, now they have a 2sec delay for partial off :)
In my 2013, one push is partial off, and there will be a light with a little car sliding in dash, keep it pressed, and besides the first light, there would be a escoff message as well, just like when you pop it in 4Lo
I'll have to double check, but mine shows the same same icon for a 2-second and 5-second push on the button. Maybe it's different for a 2015.
 
#3 ·
too bad jeep wouldnt do rocker switches to flip all the esc stuff off and on independently. i wonder if thats possible ? sorta like cheating the locker switch in rubicons.
 
#5 ·
I never turn it off manually.
 
#6 ·
^^^ X2

I never turn it off. It goes off automatically in 4-Lo.

There's NO need to turn it off any other time. It's saved my neck on black ice conditions a few times.
 
#7 ·
I rarely (if ever) turn esc off. I do however turn off traction control when I'm in the mud and 4hi, I've noticed That if I'm trying to get the wheels to spin (when I'm going through mud etc) it likes to hop so if I turn off just trac it will let the wheels spin freely and the front won't hop around. Esc should be on anytime your driving on the road though
 
#11 ·
That is EXACTLY how it felt the first time I took my '15 JKU to the beach this past summer; found some nice soft sand to play in, shifted to 4HI but once I hit it, it felt like my left foot was pushing on the big pedal at the same time my right foot was pushing the little pedal.

My first thought was crap, this is the worst vehicle I've ever hit the sand with. I didn't realize until later that it was the ESC applying the brakes in an attempt to limit wheel spin.
 
#9 ·
The only time I can see wanting it off is when you are in 4HI, need wheel speed, and don't want "Big Brother" interrupting a little sideways action (stuck in the mud for example or going through deep snow, possible sand (have no experience in sand)).

However, like many have stated before, driving at speed with it off is asking for trouble. ESC has saved my ass countless times especially in slippery conditions when one moment you have traction and the next you don't.
 
#13 ·
I turn it off the second I leave the pavement. There is no use for any that off-road and in some cases (mud, sand) it actually makes things worse and WILL get you stuck.

The only useful part of ESC -- the Brake Lock Differential or BLD -- stays on all the time regardless of what you turn off or whether in 4H or 4L.

On-road, its another story altogether.... on snow the thing works great... on wet pavement too. Leave it on whether in 2 or 4 WD.
 
#21 ·
I have a 2015 and only see the same you do. 1 single push disables traction control (get the "slippery road" symbol) but a long press/hold gets both the "slippery road" AND ESC OFF in the EVIC. So maybe others are referring to the "partial off" as TC disabled.
 
#29 ·
I've got a 2015 and I don't get any indication on the EVIC when I hold the button for a long time. In fact, I held it for about 10 seconds and the slippery road light actually went off. Pushing the button again and again had no effect until I cycled the ignition.
 
#23 ·
I usually don't turn it off.

But when I want to play around in the snow, I'll shut it down. It's hard to power slide around corners in the snow with the electronic nanny cutting power.

I have no experience in sand but it make sense to me that turning it off in sand makes a positive impact.
 
#24 ·
The BLD is a really good tool for open diffs, it can sometimes almost make a Jeep as capable as a locked Jeep - almost. It also is basically invisible with lockers in all but snow wheeling.

However, it is an extreme annoyance with lockers in hard core snow crawling, where each tire slips a tread lug or two then grips separate from each other as the Jeep crawls forward. (due to axle twist, spline slop, etc.) The computer tries to assist by applying the brakes, which stops the Jeep. Adding more throttle will get me going again and over power the brakes briefly, then the brakes grip harder and stop the Jeep again. The only way I can get moving again is to let off the gas all the way to completely "reset" it. Sometimes losing this little bit of momentum causes the Jeep to get stuck. I am going to look up the wiring mod and put a switch on it for this season.

ESP to me should be turned off in all offroad conditions. Stability control and the cutting of the power makes the Jeep boring at the least, and causes getting stuck at the worst.




Mike
 
#27 ·
exactly my expierience in the sand.

bld and stability control causing bog and loss of all power :(

Really lame. Even more with 3.21's and 35's.



The BLD is a really good tool for open diffs, it can sometimes almost make a Jeep as capable as a locked Jeep - almost. It also is basically invisible with lockers in all but snow wheeling.

However, it is an extreme annoyance with lockers in hard core snow crawling, where each tire slips a tread lug or two then grips separate from each other as the Jeep crawls forward. (due to axle twist, spline slop, etc.) The computer tries to assist by applying the brakes, which stops the Jeep. Adding more throttle will get me going again and over power the brakes briefly, then the brakes grip harder and stop the Jeep again. The only way I can get moving again is to let off the gas all the way to completely "reset" it. Sometimes losing this little bit of momentum causes the Jeep to get stuck. I am going to look up the wiring mod and put a switch on it for this season.

ESP to me should be turned off in all offroad conditions. Stability control and the cutting of the power makes the Jeep boring at the least, and causes getting stuck at the worst.




Mike[/QUOTE
 
#26 ·
The first time I had the Jeep in a couple inches of ice and snow, I put it in 4hi and was trying to break it loose in some open areas. I thought that this thing sticks to ice like glue! When I finally figured out to turn the esc off, I had all 4 tires spinning. ESC on for safety (on ice) and ESC off for fun ;-)
 
#28 ·
Wow!

Yep, agreed. As soon as you go off road. There is 3 modes. Mode one is what you are in during every day driving, mode 2 is pressing the button once, mode 3 is hold the button down for 7 seconds. Mode 3 can also be activated automatically by engaging 4lo.

If you activate by holding down for 7 seconds, you have to remember that if you power off it will need to turn it off again every time. You can also turn it off permanently by the steering wheel dance as follows:

Procedure To Turn ON (or OFF) The Permanent ESP Disable Feature:
a. Verify that the automatic transmission selector is in the “Park” position, and that a manual transmission is in neutral gear.
b. Shift the transfer case into the 4H range position and ensure parking brake is firmly set.
c. Turn the steering wheel until it is centred and the wheels are pointed straight ahead.
d. Turn ignition on (and optionally start engine to make turning the wheel easier – will work with or without engine running) and wait approximately five (5) seconds for the system bulb check to complete.
e. Turn the steering wheel one-half (½) turn to the right (clockwise).
f. Press and hold the “ESP OFF” button for 7 seconds exactly then release and wait for chime.
g. Turn the steering wheel back to centre, then continue turning the steering wheel one-half (½) turn to the left (counter clockwise).
h. Press and hold the “ESP OFF” button for 7 seconds exactly, release and wait for chime.
i. Turn the steering wheel back to centre.
j. Press and hold the “ESP OFF” button for 7 seconds, release and wait for chime.
k. Cycle the ignition switch to the “OFF” position.


Now what does it do or not do in each mode?

 
#34 ·
I have factory LSD and the stock Duellers.

I often turn mine down (if not off) in winter when the roads are plowed and slick.

I almost always turn it at least down (partial) if I have to accelerate quickly on slick roads (like turning right into fast moving traffic).

I'm not a fan of traction control kicking in when I need power the most.
 
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