Modern cars have so many safety systems and sensors that you may not even know they exist! For the most part, they function behind the scenes, and you do not even need to be aware that they are there!
However, every now and then these anti-collision systems and other potentially life-saving features start to misbehave, and knowing what to do becomes important.
But what does an ESC light mean, and when you see one, what should you do? Read on and we will explain everything you need to know and do!
What Does The ESC Light Mean?
The ESC Light comes on when there is an issue with your car’s electric stability control system. Stability control works with the traction control system on your vehicle to assist you in controlling the vehicle in dangerous situations.
While stability and traction control are often used interchangeably, they are not the same system. Stability control offers additional features beyond traction control that can help you in an understeer or oversteer situation.
That said, an electronic stability control system will always include traction control; however, not every vehicle with traction control will have stability control.
Electric Stability Control (ESC) Light Function
The ESC light warns you of a problem in the electronic stability control circuit or that the stability control system is in use.
If the ESC system operates correctly, you’ll notice the vehicle applying the brakes to individual wheels, the light flashing on and off, but it will not stay on. However, if there are problems in the system that need to be fixed and/or a fault you will not notice, the light will stay on.
Some type of ESC system is required for all modern vehicles, however if the system has problems is a matter of which type of system the vehicle is using depending on the type of manufacturer car.
Causes of ESC Light
The most common cause of an ESC light is disabling the system by accident, or it could be a faulty wheel speed sensor. Another potential issue may be a faulty steering angle sensor or wiring problems.
Still, those are the most common causes of an ESC light, not the items you must inspect. Below, we listed out the four most common reasons your ESC light could be on.
#1. System is Turned Off.
Did you know that in most vehicles you can disable the stability control system? You don’t want to do this unless you are trying to drift, but it is something you can do. When you disable the ESC system, the ESC light turns on.
Before you drop your vehicle off at the shop, look up how to disable (or enable) the system and try it out. You’d be amazed how many times that fixes the problem and avoids you the headache of a service appointment.
#2. Faulty Wheel Speed Sensors.
If there’s an issue in the system, it is usually related to a wheel speed sensor. The ESC system in your vehicle uses each of the wheel speed sensors, then applies the brakes accordingly if it sees a disparity.
If one of the wheel speed sensors is offline or is giving faulty readings, your ESC system will have issues. Check to see if all of the wheel speed sensors are functioning correctly by connecting a scan tool and monitor the readings for each wheel speed sensor while driving.
#3. Faulty Steering Angle Sensor.
The steering angle sensor controls the ESC system along with the wheel speed sensors, calibrating the spinning of wheels at appropriate speeds according to direction.
For example, as you turn, outside wheels will spin faster than inside wheels.
This is normal; however, without the steering angle sensor telling the ECM what’s happening, it may look like one side of your wheels is slipping and the other side has complete traction.
#4. Faulty Wiring/Electrical Problems.
The sensors may be okay, but if there is a break in the wiring between the sensor and ECM nothing will work correctly. Although this is a little more on the rare side, it does happen in certain situations, especially when considering wheel speed sensors where the wire is exposed.
Never forget to check the power and battery when you are checking these sensors. One time I spent half a day chasing down an ESC system that was mistakenly activated at high speeds only to discover that a battery with a dead cell was the problem.
Yes, the vehicle started, but it caused the ESC system to act up. I still to this day do not know how or why there was a problem with the battery – but double-check the battery.
Is It Safe To Drive With an ESC Light?
It’s unsafe to drive with your ESC light on. Just because your ESC light comes on while driving doesn’t necessarily mean you’re having a problem.
If your light comes on and off while driving on slippery roads or during a skid, everything is working the way you would expect, and you have nothing to worry about.
If your ESC light comes on when it shouldn’t come on again, it stays on all the time (when you haven’t manually turned it off), and this isn’t a safe condition to be driving under.
The ESC will regain stability by engaging your ABS and braking the wheels individually, meaning, under heavy acceleration, your brakes could start pumping on and off while you are driving down the road at even 80 miles per hour.
So while you may not encounter an issue while driving with an ESC light on, the first time it does start acting up after putting you in a compromising situation could result in a serious accident.
The ESC light is normally present if there is an issue with your car’s electronic stability control system and it usually comes on together with a traction control light or a ABS light.
Modern technology may be one of the best things ever, but it can be frustrating when things don’t work right. Don’t give up on an ESC system to completely.
It can be a little frustrating when electronic stability control is behaving differently than you would expect, but is a possible lifesaving feature when you find yourself in a vulnerable position.
Considering the number of accidents it has prevented for the few issues they cause, it feels like the better option.