ESP on S3

[lyes]

Hi all,

I'm driving a 2011 S3 with the stronic gearbox. and i'm getting mad about the ESP. on or off, it's nearly the same. It wasn't like that on my previous one (2009 manual), where the ESP was turning on only on braking.
Is it possible to change the stability control setting using VCDS or VW's 5052?

thanks

 

[warren_S5]

I'm not really sure I understand exactly what your implying.

The cars ESP works whenever traction is lost irrespective of whether it's under acceleration or braking. It cuts the boost to the turbo and brakes the relevant wheels.

I'm not sure if there is much of a difference between the gen 2 and gen 4 Haldex modules, I've had both and I haven't noted the intervention on the later model is worse.

 

[lyes]

i'm not talking (writing) about the ESP switched on. but sometimes, it might be ... cool to turn it off

in the manual S3 , i had a two steps ESP: 1st one, ASR off, ESP on. 2nd: ESP off.
in the actual, only one step , where it says something like "be carfull". but when the car gets over or under steering, it replace it self like if the esp is on.

i'm searching if i can set it as the manual one.

 

[warren_S5]

Never seen the second option you speak of. I run the car with it turned off in dry conditions, and I've tried holding switch for various number of seconds to see if it could be disabled completely but it doesn't change. I'm not sure I've seen additional settings in VCDS either. There is always a level of intervention even with it 'off'.

 

[S3Alex]

I drive with it off,but mainly because it interferes with the Quaife diff.

Other than that,it's not a terribly effective traction control system,and in any case the ABS part of it can't be disabled,which for the most part is probably a good thing.

I do remember a quote from Graham Hathaway,who built the engine on my old Escort,about ABS,when I asked him about the lack of it on this ex GpN car,and the reply coming back was that ABS wasn't for real men.

That aside....it does sometimes come in useful.

 

[S.]

doesn't holding the esp button for a second or two turn off the asr and holding it for about 5 seconds turns off both asr and esp? at least that's the case with my car. you can actually get a bit of sideways action with it off.

 

[S3_Mat]

Ive never noticed holding the button in mine ever gave me a different message or drove differently. However with ESP off what i have noticed is that i can get 4 wheel drift but as soon as you touch the brake, even just dab it, everything sorts itself out very quickly.

 

[S3Alex]

doesn't holding the esp button for a second or two turn off the asr and holding it for about 5 seconds turns off both asr and esp? at least that's the case with my car. you can actually get a bit of sideways action with it off.

On mine,all it that does is to disable ESP,and as soon as you brake,you get the nanny back.

 

[S.]

every touch of the brakes turns on esp. you could probably do a separate switch to turn of abs if you want to get rid of that...

 

[S3_Mat]

Insurance companies would love that!

 

[S.]

Insurance companies would love that!

yep
haha...when in doubt-flat out

 

[s3_trev]

So does the ESP come on when all four wheels spin? Just wondering how it works in combination with the quattro.

 

[S.]

if it's turned off then no.

 

[s3_trev]

What about when its turned on? And what are the advantages to having it turned off anyway?

 

[Tom5190]

Turned off means less electronic intervention, when your trying to go quick esp essentially slows you down, its thre to compensate for lack of skill really and create a 'safety' function, the system can do most of the 'saving' work for you before anything gets out of shape. Most people who are used to driving quickly can drive quicker with it off. I say most as a few people I know would do well to never turn it off!

 

[S3_Mat]

Advantages are it if you pressing on and you are exiting a corner and applying throttle - If all 4 wheels break traction the ESP will cut power to the engine, which is not necessarily desirable!

 

[S3_Mat]

Traction control systems tend to be a bit over zealous and cumbersome in the way they ****** the power to the point where it almost overcompensates and as Tom has said it can be more of a hindrance than a help and its certainly a kill joy. Other parts of the ESP stay on including ABS and the stability part of the program which, when sensing a slide will allow it to continue until the driver applies the brakes where it will then apply brakes independently on certain wheels in order to straighten the car to avoid a spin.

In a road situation this is in fact a good system but on track certain driving techniques cannot be used as the system will be fighting you. Heel Toe and trail braking come to mind. Its not generally good practice to brake mid corner but its useful to do so in some situations in order to correct understeer and/or induce oversteer.

 

[S3Alex]

What about when its turned on? And what are the advantages to having it turned off anyway?

On mine,turning it off stops it from fighting with the front diff,but even aside from that,as others have said,TC cuts power,and mid corner,or on adverse camber,the effects of that can be quite interesting,and certainly doesn't help the handling.

 

[s3_trev]

Hmmm well thanks for the replies on that, I am going to try turning it off and see what happens.

 

[lyes]

from reading all of you, you seem to have the "old" fashioned ESP, so you can't see how disturbing is mine... maybe someone will see the post and confirm what i say and help change its settings

thanks all

 

[S3J]

Mine only has one mode too on a 2011 S3, ESP on or ESP off, holding for any amount of time doesn't change it further. Does seem to stop it bogging down under hard acceleration around corners etc but I don't tend to turn it off because the light is annoying

 

[lyes]

Mine only has one mode too on a 2011 S3, ESP on or ESP off, holding for any amount of time doesn't change it further. Does seem to stop it bogging down under hard acceleration around corners etc but I don't tend to turn it off because the light is annoying

that's exactly what i'm in. i guess you'll agree that itsn't only the light that's annoying

 

[Jason-3.2]

When the esp is turned off on my 3.2 no amount of silly driving brings it back on other than pushing the button! Its very tail happy with it off.

 

[T-800]

Two modes on the RS3 press button once for sport mode, press and hold button for off completely.....

 

[Sprintblu3]

I have a question. When you turn esp off and then turn your car off and back on its reset back to off is there anyway it can be off forever until you decide to turn it back off

 

[warren_S5]

I have a question. When you turn esp off and then turn your car off and back on its reset back to off is there anyway it can be off forever until you decide to turn it back off

not that I've seen