Single driver electrical fault?

[rapide]

For the past 6 months or so my wife has mentioned that the ESP light often comes on in her car indicating a fault (B6 Audi 1.8T S-line 190).

I drive the car occasionally and it's never happened whilst I'm driving. As I drive the car far less than her, I dismissed this as coincidence. However, I sold my 2nd car recently and have been using the Audi regularly for the past few weeks. The ESP light continues to come on most journeys that my wife is driving (I've witnessed this as a passenger), yet never when I'm in the driving seat. It's way past coincidence now.

Sexist jokes aside, what is going on?

[Impasse]

She's wheel spinning the thing! Hooligan that she is.

[Fastdruid]

Does she drive off too soon before the ESP has a chance to finish initialisation while you wait a few seconds longer?

[Mr2Mike]

Does the ESP light come on and stay on, or does it just briefly come on and then go out?

[rapide]

Thanks for the replies.

She is certainly not a hooligan! I'll review the waiting time at start up idea - thanks.

The light comes on and stays on. I'm told it may come on at anytime - after only a few minutes and a few hundred meters, or after considerably longer and a number of miles.

[Dave_]

Does your wife indulge in some left foot braking?

[GreigM]

Is the ECU/wiring under the drivers seat? If so does she use a different seat position that you?

[rapide]

Bit more info... The ESP appears to be working fine when I'm driving. I.e if I provoke it (on closed roads of course ) it cuts in and the light flickers on and off. Conversely, as a test I swapped seats after the light had illuminated and sure enough the ESP was deactivated. Genuinely flummoxed...

[rapide]

Dave_ said:

Does your wife indulge in some left foot braking?

She doesn't. However, I think it has to be something to do with braking. I just can't think what she could be doing.

I've tried all my trackday learnt fancy footwork, I've tried to brake like a klutz and I just can't get that light on!

[rapide]

GreigM said:

Is the ECU/wiring under the drivers seat? If so does she use a different seat position that you?

I don't know the answer to this. Definitely worth some research as she does drive with the seat further forward - thanks!