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Can I switch off ESP permanently?

sjtscott

Now with added Revo! :-)
Apr 15, 2003
505
0
London UK
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So does an LC have ESP as apposed to the LCR which we know does!

No TCS is traction control.. if its off its off. The button says ESP if the buyer from new took it as an option.
I didn't, I'm more than happy to control the car myself and almost always run with TCS off as it sharpens up the throttle response and you don't have the car holding back which it does even in the dry.

If you drive you car correctly for the given conditions you'll never need it.
 

WW_VRS

Active Member
Dec 22, 2006
181
0
Abingdon OXON, UK
www.unit18.co.uk
Difference between TCS/ASR and ESP is that the former (IMHO) is a pain as it cuts in too early, too late, or just annoyingly.

ESP on the other hand is fantastic if you hit that black ice/large puddle/diesel on the road when driving normally (or a tad faster than perhaps you should).

On the track and if you are a concentrating and alert driver, you'd want it off. On the road, as long as tweaked a little to avoid it kicking in too early by your mapper ;) - I do turn it off when pulling away sometimes, but it goes back on all other times.

The way I see ESP is as an additional and useful safety, which I generally avoid using by controlling the car myself, but when caught out, it can be handy :)
 

orca

Full Member
Aug 30, 2004
412
0
N Kent
www.bdmlr.org.uk
Saw Tiff do a back to back test with and without ESP and it was SO conclusive i had it fitted to my FR. I am not a "racing driver" so I don not drive like Mr. Plate et al and went from a diesel mondeo estate to an FR. It was a quantum leap in performance for me and I am pleased to have TC and ESP although I suspect they will never have to do very much.
yours, snail like
Orca
 

Willie

LCR Track car
Aug 6, 2004
8,939
1
Sunny Scotland
I watched fifth gear one night (there really was nothing else on tv!) and little old Jason plato was throwing a TT round the track and complained that even when he switched the tc and esp off they were still on in the back ground.

Tiff then pops up with the "well if you hold the button down for 10 seconds it disables it completly.

Jason goes back out and tiff was right!


This is/was on the new 2006/7 TT - so might not work on the old MK1's but worth a try.


Good luck.
Has anyone in a LCR tried this??
I would be interested in trying it but offshore just now!!:cry:
I'm getting pissed off that the car (with esp off) won't let me accelerate
when the steering wheel is turned. If this 10 second thing works it could be my salvation!!
 

Oliveracc

Newbie
Apr 5, 2006
67
0
Glasgow
Has anyone in a LCR tried this??
I would be interested in trying it but offshore just now!!:cry:
I'm getting pissed off that the car (with esp off) won't let me accelerate
when the steering wheel is turned. If this 10 second thing works it could be my salvation!!

I've tried this and it doesnt work. However if you press and hold the ESP button the light comes on and eventually goes back off after approx 12 seconds. Unfortunately this means you are back to square one with the ESP on :D

Perhaps there is some trick to doing it... :think: I have heard though it can be permanently disabled via VAGCOM.
 

Willie

LCR Track car
Aug 6, 2004
8,939
1
Sunny Scotland
I've tried this and it doesnt work. However if you press and hold the ESP button the light comes on and eventually goes back off after approx 12 seconds. Unfortunately this means you are back to square one with the ESP on :D

Perhaps there is some trick to doing it... :think: I have heard though it can be permanently disabled via VAGCOM.
Not looking to permanently disable but looking for a way to switch off totally that can be switched on again at some point.
Someone mentioned this can be done during mapping??
Can someone give me any more details about this??
 

m0rk

sarcasm comes free
Staff member
May 19, 2001
27,787
33
Clanfield, UK
Someone mentioned this can be done during mapping??
Can someone give me any more details about this??

not that I can see, it's not controlled by that ECU, so it won't make any difference

you could go changing a load of settings in vagcom, but given that you won't know what you're doing, and would be guessing - I'd just learn to drive a bit better
 

RobM

Back from the dead...
Sep 27, 2006
4,982
3
Southampton
I obviously don't drive hard enough (or bad enough?), as ESP has never proved a problem for me. It gets turned off when I'm going for a more spirited drive but doesn't get in the way of making good pace.
 

Willie

LCR Track car
Aug 6, 2004
8,939
1
Sunny Scotland
I obviously don't drive hard enough (or bad enough?), as ESP has never proved a problem for me. It gets turned off when I'm going for a more spirited drive but doesn't get in the way of making good pace.
Do you not find that the car doesn't allow you to accelerate around corners?
Maybe I have a fault
 

Willie

LCR Track car
Aug 6, 2004
8,939
1
Sunny Scotland
not that I can see, it's not controlled by that ECU, so it won't make any difference

you could go changing a load of settings in vagcom, but given that you won't know what you're doing, and would be guessing - I'd just learn to drive a bit better

What do you mean learn to drive better?

It's the car limiting my acceleration, nothing to do with losing traction, going into corners too fast, so nothing to do with my driving
 

RobM

Back from the dead...
Sep 27, 2006
4,982
3
Southampton
Do you not find that the car doesn't allow you to accelerate around corners?
Maybe I have a fault

No, because I was always taught to go into corners slower (not slow, just not flat out), keep a constant pace and then accelerate out of corners for maximum speed and control. Going in flat out and hoping for the best can actually work out slower. At least, that's what I was told years back so I could be very out of date....
 

Willie

LCR Track car
Aug 6, 2004
8,939
1
Sunny Scotland
No, because I was always taught to go into corners slower (not slow, just not flat out), keep a constant pace and then accelerate out of corners for maximum speed and control. Going in flat out and hoping for the best can actually work out slower. At least, that's what I was told years back so I could be very out of date....
Yup, I drive like you said but its the bit where I want to accelerate out of the corner while still steering a bit that doesn't happen.
If I accelerate while still steering I don't get an acceleration untill the steering wheel is straight which is a PITA for getting around corners quickly!!
 

Willie

LCR Track car
Aug 6, 2004
8,939
1
Sunny Scotland
Tracking / Alignment OK? And I assume you feather in the power progressively?
Aye, but thinking now that it might be linked to how much I'm steering!!

Cause when I'm steering more it seams to happen but not when steering a little (if that makes sense!!)
There must be a sensor on the steering rack somewhere that limits the acceleration when the rack is at a certain position??!!
 

RobM

Back from the dead...
Sep 27, 2006
4,982
3
Southampton
ESP does monitor a few things, but I don't know if steering angle is one of them?

Stupid question, but do you get the flashing yellow light on the dash when this happens?
 

LiCkWiD

LiCkWiD EvOLuTiON
Nov 15, 2006
892
0
Essex
Hm.. not sure if this is entirely related but my car annoys the hell outta me when going over slippery man-hole covers or drains.

As soon as a wheel touches the wet, cold steel... the car jerks slightly towards it. As if the wheel brakes slightly. One B road near me, between Weeley and Little Clacton (Essex) can get fairly dangerous. 5 or 6 drains down the road and my car is pretty much tugging towards each one as I pass over it. I'm not talking excessive speed here, more like 40mph.
 
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