Discussion
As you all know its snowing quite a bit. So ESP was kicking in quite a bit going straight. I was going round a corner in 1st gear just setting off, gentle acceleration and it spun around 90 degrees, i braked to stop the slide and the ESP light was flashing but it didnt feel as though the ESP was doing anything. My question is why didnt it stop the slide? I've lost a lot of faith in the car now. It wasnt fast at all, i didn't have my foot down or even close.
VAG1 said:
As you all know its snowing quite a bit. So ESP was kicking in quite a bit going straight. I was going round a corner in 1st gear just setting off, gentle acceleration and it spun around 90 degrees, i braked to stop the slide and the ESP light was flashing but it didnt feel as though the ESP was doing anything. My question is why didnt it stop the slide? I've lost a lot of faith in the car now. It wasnt fast at all, i didn't have my foot down or even close.
ESP is good, but it can't defeat the laws of physics! Smooth and gentle is the order of the day!I have now figured out why i spun around. It was due to the fact that i did not apply opposite lock and aimed the car in the direction that it spun (doh!). After some testing in an empty car park filled with snow;), i realise how clever it is. I understood that i point the steering wheel in the direction i want to go (as dumb as that may sound im a newish driver) and the car just goes there no matter what, i could feel the ESP kicking in. Faith restored
VAG1 said:
hman said:
this is a good case for including a skid pan session in the driving test.
most people just freeze up and the car careers out of control.
+2 i did just freeze up. i know what to do now (i think)most people just freeze up and the car careers out of control.
[quote=Who me ?] The keywords are smoothmess ,gentleness and vision .(And lots of practice )
thanks, although its only a golf, its nice to know i have the ESP there if i need it. Simply amazed me how good it isVAG1 said:
hman said:
this is a good case for including a skid pan session in the driving test.
most people just freeze up and the car careers out of control.
+2 i did just freeze up. i know what to do now (i think)most people just freeze up and the car careers out of control.
VAG1:
I might be totally wrong here, but once you hit the brakes I don't think ESP can sort you out. It's a rudimentary traction/stability control system that can limit power by applying the brakes to a driven wheel, but one you start to slide then it can't help you.
If a FWD car starts to slide on snow, there's none of this opposite-lock nonsense - just steer where you want to go, but be gentle ....
I might be totally wrong here, but once you hit the brakes I don't think ESP can sort you out. It's a rudimentary traction/stability control system that can limit power by applying the brakes to a driven wheel, but one you start to slide then it can't help you.
If a FWD car starts to slide on snow, there's none of this opposite-lock nonsense - just steer where you want to go, but be gentle ....
Edited by ITMonkey on Monday 2nd February 21:53
ITMonkey said:
VAG1: I might be totally wrong here, but once you hit the brakes I don't think ESP can sort you out. It's a rudimentary traction/stability control system that can limit power by applying the brakes to a driven wheel, but one you start to slide then it can't help you.
Hi ITMonekey, i hit the brakes once the car was sideways to stop it moving completely (only about 5mph). But the slide was not recovered by the ESP because i was aiming the steering wheel in that direction and the car thought i wanted to go there (i think). so if i aimed the steering wheel on the line of the road it would have recovered it like it did in the car park run.Most of whats here is correct but let me straighten a few things out if I may.
ESP - Traction control - ABS. Three different things, but all the same system.
Traction control,
You are accelerating the driven wheels start to spin, Your ESP light flashes to tell you (1) engine power is being reduced to stop the wheel spin, and (2) "later systems only" the wheel spinning the fastest is having its brake pinched on and off to reduce the spin and promote the open diff sending drive to the other wheel which clearly has more grip.
ABS.
You brake, a wheel or all or them starts to lock, the ABS module releases and re-applies the brakes as they lock unlock, no light displayed to customer just the sound of the unit chattering.
ESP.
The car is either under steering or oversteering, individual wheels are braked to reduce the situation. Typical situation going round a roundabout to the right, understeering wide towards the kerb, power is again reduced but also inside rear wheel brake is applied to drag the car round. Typical oversteer situation, same roundabout but the back end is coming round front of the car pointing towards the center of the round about, ESP puts the outside front brake on, to make the front go to the left, customer should have dialed in opposite lock by now but if not this action will have the same effect.
ESP does work to a degree when braking, I have had an ESP event when braking heavily and is was very helpfull indeed.
But if you are at very low speeds on proper ice you may find there just isnt enough lateral G to set it off.
ESP - Traction control - ABS. Three different things, but all the same system.
Traction control,
You are accelerating the driven wheels start to spin, Your ESP light flashes to tell you (1) engine power is being reduced to stop the wheel spin, and (2) "later systems only" the wheel spinning the fastest is having its brake pinched on and off to reduce the spin and promote the open diff sending drive to the other wheel which clearly has more grip.
ABS.
You brake, a wheel or all or them starts to lock, the ABS module releases and re-applies the brakes as they lock unlock, no light displayed to customer just the sound of the unit chattering.
ESP.
The car is either under steering or oversteering, individual wheels are braked to reduce the situation. Typical situation going round a roundabout to the right, understeering wide towards the kerb, power is again reduced but also inside rear wheel brake is applied to drag the car round. Typical oversteer situation, same roundabout but the back end is coming round front of the car pointing towards the center of the round about, ESP puts the outside front brake on, to make the front go to the left, customer should have dialed in opposite lock by now but if not this action will have the same effect.
ESP does work to a degree when braking, I have had an ESP event when braking heavily and is was very helpfull indeed.
But if you are at very low speeds on proper ice you may find there just isnt enough lateral G to set it off.
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