2022 jeep grand cherokee service electronic stability control

The Electronic Stability Control (ESC) monitors the speed at which the wheels are rotating as well as other parameters such as the steering angle. When you lose the steering control or traction, the ESC tries to reduce the engine power or engage the brakes to help you regain control of the vehicle.

The ESC system does not work the same way on all vehicles. As such, it is always important that you refer to your manufacturer's manual to understand how yours works. Generally, the ESC light illuminates when the car is losing control and stays illuminated when a malfunction has been detected or the system has manually shut off.

What Does The ESC Light Warning Indicate?

The simplest way to know why your ESC light is on is to take it to a certified technician for diagnosis. The technician uses a scanner to decode trouble codes from the brake control module, and within no time, you get to know what is ailing your car. However, before you get there, below are a few hints on what might be wrong:

Faulty Wheel Sensors

Each of your car's wheels has sensors that communicate the loss of traction to the Electronic Stability Control system. When these sensors are covered in dirt, they cannot detect whatever is happening, leading to the ABS and ESC system's malfunctioning.

Issues with The Wiring

It is the wires that facilitate communication about traction from the wheel sensors to the onboard computers. If these wires happen to be broken, improperly connected, or the ESC fuse is blown, the warning light will not illuminate.

A Malfunctioning Steering Angle Sensor

If the steering angle sensor is faulty, misaligned, or damaged, the ESC warning light may be constantly on.

Is It Safe to Drive When The ESC Light Is On?

You can still drive even when the ESC light is illuminating, but you need to take precautions such as slowing down. Also, have all issues affecting the ESC addressed by a certified technician as soon as possible.

If you need electronic stability control repair, give our auto repair shop a call today!

My 2017 Grand Cherokee is equipped with electronic stability control. According to the manual, the idea/intent is to apply selective braking and reduce engine power as needed to keep the car on its intended path.

The annoying thing is, it kicks in while cornering on dry pavement. Typical example: stopped at an intersection to make a left turn from one wide (2 lanes each way plus turn lanes) road to another. When you get a chance, you want to make the turn promptly, but about halfway into the turn, the ABS starts buzzing, the engine loses power, and it really slows down, to the point of being scary because I'm in the path of oncoming traffic. If I turn off the ESC, I can take the corner no problem. Never notice it on right turns even when taken quite quickly.

This leads to a few questions:

Why does it only happen on left turns? Is it a geometry/physics thing or could there be sensor issues?

Why does it kick in at all when I know I can make the maneuver safely at a higher speed - all four wheels firmly planted at all times? Again, could it be a sensor issue, or overly conservative thresholds in the system?

Do I just have to live with it (and get in the habit of turning the thing off) or is it something that can be fixed or adjusted? I know it would be "nice to have" in an emergency maneuver, so I would want it on as much of the time as possible, just not fire up in routine driving.

Electronic stability control, or ESC, is an automatic system in your car that is designed to help keep you on course when steering. Continue reading to learn about ESC and how this automotive safety feature works to prevent accidents by helping your vehicle go in the direction you want it to go.

What is Electronic Stability Control?

Electronic stability control systems use automatic computer-controlled braking of individual wheels to assist the driver in maintaining control of the car in critical driving situations. ESC helps prevent a car from “spinning out” or “plowing out” due to the loss of road traction because of slipping wheels.

The technology behind the ESC system is highly effective in assisting a driver to maintain control of the car during hard-steering maneuvers. ESC does not explicitly prevent a vehicle from flipping over. Still, the safety feature helps keep the tires on the pavement, where a car is much less likely to roll over.

ESC is marketed using many different names, including Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), and several others.

When is Electronic Stability Control Activated?

The electronic stability control system monitors your steering wheel input and helps ensure the car goes where you want it to go. ESC is activated when it detects a probable loss of steering control.

When it recognizes that the car is not going where the driver is steering, the system makes adjustments to correct the car’s course or minimize skidding during emergency evasive swerves.

ESC also comes into play when drivers in emergencies move the steering wheel too much (known as over-correcting) in attempts to control the vehicle. Well-intentioned drivers sometimes understeer or oversteer during poorly judged turns. This can happen on slippery roads or when hydroplaning and is a leading cause of single-vehicle crashes.

How Does Electronic Stability Control Work?

Electronic stability control works by manipulating both the engine throttle and each wheel’s brake. Similar to other driver aids, ESC turns on when you start your car. It operates in the background as it monitors steering wheel activity along with speed sensors on each wheel.

When sensors determine that the driver is losing control, the ESC system engages automatically to adjust for oversteering and understeering. It applies or eases the brakes of each wheel on the car to bring the vehicle back onto the intended path. ESC involves the traction control systems and adjusts engine power to reduce speed and apply the brakes if the driver gives too much gas.

These manipulations significantly reduce your risk of being in a rollover. They help keep the car on the road, where it is less likely to be “tripped” by something off the roadway and turning over.

• ESC increases brake pressure to one side of the vehicle to gently steer it in that direction. Results vary depending on whether and how much the front or rear brakes are applied.
• Electronic stability control does not apply hard braking or steering automatically.
• ESC estimates the direction of the skid. It applies the brakes to individual wheels asymmetrically to bring the car back in line with the driver’s commanded direction.
• The ESC system may reduce engine power or operate the transmission to slow the vehicle down.

How to Operate Electronic Stability Control

You don’t need to do anything to get your car’s ESC operating. It begins monitoring steering and speed when you start the engine.

ESC activates when it detects if a driver might be losing control of the car. The system automatically adjusts individual wheel brakes to help stabilize the vehicle during a momentary loss of control. When your ESC activates and makes adjustments, a warning light flashes on the dashboard. You may feel slight jerks and lurches as the brakes are applied and engine power is reduced.

Spin-outs can happen when drivers take turns too sharply and quickly. Reduce your speed when driving, and be sure to take turns slowly and carefully. Computerized driver aids such as electronic stability control can help in dangerous driving situations. ESC is not a substitute for responsible driving habits on slippery roads.

Common Problems with Electronic Stability Control

Electronic stability control systems generally work effectively. However, issues can arise:

• Problems with your anti-lock braking system, such as worn brake linings and air or dirt in the brake fluid, can affect ESC operation.
• Tires with poor tread and those that aren’t in good condition can reduce ESC performance. Read our tires guide to know more about them.
• A defective brake light switch can trigger the ESC light. This common problem is easily fixed with an inexpensive replacement switch.
• Steering input during high-performance driving may not always indicate the intended direction of travel. In these instances, ESC can intervene when it is unwanted.

Benefits of Electronic Stability Control

ESC systems use steering wheel position sensors to compare the wheel’s position to the vehicle’s actual steering response. If it detects something isn’t quite right, the ESC makes minor adjustments to the brakes or engine torque to help a driver maintain control.

An automobile’s electronic stability control provides many benefits:

• Counteracts vehicle skidding in slippery conditions
• Helps provides corrective support in critical driving situations
• Provides valuable assistive functions for driving safety, comfort, and agility
• Helps the driver maintain control of the car overall

What the Electronic Stability Control Light Means

Your car’s electronic stability control is a valuable safety feature. A malfunctioning ESC will stop working until any issues are fixed. An ESC indicator light illuminated on the vehicle’s dashboard can mean one of several things:

• Out of control. Electronic stability control is active and operating to maintain traction and direction because it senses the vehicle is not under control.
• Malfunction. The ESC system is malfunctioning or has been deactivated. You should promptly take the car to a qualified mechanic to correct the problem.
• Slippery conditions. An ESC dashboard light may indicate that driving conditions are slippery. You should slow down to improve your control.

Things to Keep in Mind

• When the ESC light is off, your system is working correctly.
• There is a direct correlation between your car’s ESC and its anti-lock braking system (ABS).
• The ESC system is most effective when the vehicle’s tires are properly inflated.
• Electronic stability control became mandatory on all passenger vehicles starting in model year 2012.

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Read Related Stories on Car Safety:

• How Does Forward Collision Warning Work?
• How Does Automatic Emergency Braking Work?
• Self-Driving Cars: Everything You Need to Know

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