Why turn ESC off?

I just got my 2007 Santa Fe, Limited, Ultimate Package, AWD yesterday
and am, so far, very satisfied.

Question: I noticed that Elecronic Stability Control (ESC) and All
Wheel Drive can be manually turned off or on. Why would one want to
turn ESC off? And, if AWD is off does than mean that if the front
wheels start to slip traction will not go to rear automatically?

Thanks

 

Probably for the same reason that one would turn off ABS; these wiz-bang
electronic systems are typically the least usefull when you need them
most, such as in really low traction situations (ice, for one).

Yup, you'd be just dragging around dead weight that eats into your gas
mileage.

 

If you have a flat tire and put on a small spare, it could be sending false
signals, or so I'm told.

ESC works. I had a situation last week where, at 65 mph, I had to cut to
the left lane suddenly and the pavement was wet. I don't know that I'd have
fared well without it as I pulled the wheel sharp left, then right. I
thought I'd be skidding or going off the side, but the ESC kicked in and it
tracked right through.

 

I'm not sure why you would turn off AWD unless there is a fuel mileage
gain to be had, but most AWD systems, unlike the older 4WD systems, tend
to have less impact on mileage whether they are on or off. Probably
their biggest impact is weight and you can't turn that off.

As for ESC, traction control, etc., there are cases where this is a
handicap. Deep mud and snow come to mind. In those conditions you want
to spin to clean the tread on your tires so that you can keep biting
into the snow or mud. Limiting spinning in those conditions, mud
especially, will get you stuck in a heart beat.

The same holds for ABS in deep snow, sand, etc. It would be better if
you could turn it off and lock the wheels, but ABS doesn't give you that
option.

Matt

 

Yes, I've heard that also. Have not yet (knock on wood) had to find out.

Matt

 

If you had a childish moment, and you wanted to dust off someone at the
lights, you might turn esc off . wheel spin isn't good I suppose, but I bet
funny cars don't have esc.

Its a good question though. Does esc only apply braking to a slipping wheel
ala tyraction control? I've had it feel like it actvated only once-around a
wet exit ramp while on the gas......never has kicked in while off the
throttle.

 

Actually, wheel spin is a bad deal for fast acceleration. Funny cars
don't have ESC last I knew, but they have something that performs a
similar function - a slipper clutch. If a Funny car loses traction and
smokes the tire, they lose. When two are side-by-side and fairly
equally matched and then one spins the tires, the difference in
acceleration is dramatic as the car with the smoking tires drops back
instantly and dramatically.

It also cuts the throttle. I took off on a road with a thin layer of
ice one morning and the car started bucking like crazy. I thought
something was wrong and let off the throttle and it stopped. I got back
on the throttle again and it started bucking again. Guessing at that
point that it was the ESC, I hit the brakes and the ABS kicked in
instantly. I was on black ice.

Matt

 

Yes, I can vouch for the same response on black ice. I had at least 10
mornings this Winter with the nasty stuff. Although we barely got any snow
in my part of NJ this year, the black ice was the worst I can recall.

Although in my car I certainly wouldn't call it bucking. I have a feeling
that is because I have an AT versus your MT.

Personally, though, I really like the ESC and ABS in the bad weather. I
could use the throttle and brakes almost as I would in "normal" weather,
albeit at a slower (safe) speed.

I loathe it in the dry weather though. It takes away some of the fun of
driving as far as I am concerned. It is a good idea for those with worse
reaction time that me though.

Eric

 

Matt, I follow what you say ., and now that you mentioned it, I guess I did
notice throttle being affected. So I concur with one caveat....having had a
such childish moments in my life, it seems from those experiences I can get
a better hole shot using my foot/brain combination rather than the traction
control. The onboard system seems to "give up" at wheel spin and not let you
back into the fray quick enough! That being said, I almost never would have
esc turned off, and don't advocate street racing.

 

ESC is actually three separate systems.

1. ABS. This activates only during braking and modulates the fluid
pressure to wheels that are starting to lock up.

2. Traction control. This will modulate the ABS, reduce power through
the throttle or by cutting fuel, and in some cases upshift the
transmission.

3. Stability control. This will momentarily activate the brake (one
pulse) on one wheel to cause the vehicle to rotate more in the desired
direction.

 

Reply to message from "hyundaitech" <> (Mon, 09 Apr
2007 19:20:28) about "Re: Why turn ESC off?":

h> ESC is actually three separate systems.

Thanks for taking the time to straighten out this issue as it seems to have
skidded off at a tangent. ;-)

Best Regards
Wayne Moses <> Mon, 09 Apr 2007 19:50:10 -0500

=== Posted with Qusnetsoft NewsReader 3.3

 

Can ESC be put into a car after the fact (like in my 07 Elantra, which has
ABS)?

 

Are you saying that turning off ESC also disables the ABS? I find that
hard to believe.

Matt

 

Mike Marlow is somewhat incorrect - you CAN add ESC to a car already
with ABS for an additional $110, I am sure this is manufacturer
dependent (e.g. check with your dealer). This past Sunday evening
(4/8/07), 60 Minutes had a segment on ESC and the difference with and
without this feature. Groups (which groups I do not remember) are
pushing to have ALL vehicles to have this feature by 2012. 60 Minutes
did not go into whether or not that $110 was parts only, or parts and
labor. Fantine - I would do some research. I am somewhat suprised
that your 07 Elantra doesn't have ESC equipped, I thought it was
standard for ALL Hyundai models these days.

 

Please let us know the JC Whitney catalog or Pep Boys number for that
plug-in part.

 

ABS is not disabled with the ESC off, however it will only work for
braking. The ESC portion of the ABS system is deactivated.

Eric

 

It'll disable the stability and traction control.

 

I was pretty sure ESC was standard on the 2007 Elantra. Now I'll need to
check.

 

It is not shown on the Hyundai web page. Just ABS.