Getting into an accident because of an issue with your car is a real possibility. But modern vehicle systems have some countermeasures for losing control. ESC and TSC are great ways to warn drivers of impending danger.
Today we will talk about Traction control and ESC in-depth. We will explain what it is, discuss its functions, and get into what the ESC light on the dashboard signifies.
Practically every modern car model is equipped with ESC (Electronic Stability Control). ESC works so quickly that you may not even feel the need to correct your steering when driving. The system consists of several components, including the hydraulic unit, the engine unit, and a range of sensors.
Traction Control or TSC is, in essence, a Stability Control system with fewer functions. It was made to optimize accelerative traction on any surface through an Anti-lock Braking System and slows down wheel motion in sticky situations.
Look at what goes into the ESC. There are speed sensors located under each wheel of your car. These ensure that your vehicle can slow forward momentum. Then comes the control unit. It collects steering and rotation information to know where you are heading. If it notices that your driving trajectory does not match the steering wheel’s position, it starts to apply the brakes automatically.
The system’s primary function is to keep your vehicle stable. It reduces the risk of losing control when you make sharp turns or perform emergency steering maneuvers. In essence, ESC helps prevent spinning and plowing out. However, it does not stop your car from rolling over and will not apply hard braking or do the steering for you.
ESC comes with light indicators that you can find on your dashboard. It does not mean something terrible will happen whenever they light up. They turn on for specific reasons. Let’s take a look now at each of these:
When you are in a situation where intervention from the ESC system is needed, the lights will illuminate on the dashboard. It indicates that your vehicle is slipping. There is nothing to worry about, and once you regain control, the light will turn off.
You can disable ESC with a press of a button, and you should do so from time to time. For instance, when you drive up an incline with an icy patch. Because the system is essential for safety, the light will remain until you re-enable it.
Without any data from the steering angle sensor, your car’s ESC can’t function correctly. It can’t compare input from the brakes and wheels to the direction you are taking the car. So, unsurprisingly, the light will illuminate whenever the process does not go as intended.
The Anti-lock Braking System or ABS helps prevent your wheels from locking up, so you can steer your vehicle to safety in case of an emergency. Both ABS and the Wheel Speed Sensor feed into the overall control of ESC. Whenever there is something wrong with them, multiple lights may turn on your dashboard.
Your car could have an electrical issue that prevents one or more ESC components from functioning. Just like in other situations, it prompts the light to illuminate and requires some investigation on your part.
If you recently changed the battery, the tires, or had brake maintenance performed, you should ensure that everything was re-installed correctly. In some cases, the entire ESC system should be re-initialized as even minor changes can disrupt its functionality.
As you can see, what you should do depends on what happened with your vehicle. If your car is slipping, make sure to drive safely. If the light acts up because the system is off, turn it back on with the press of the button.
However, if neither of these describes your situation, your ESC is not running optimally, and you should get it serviced at the nearest auto shop or dealership.
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