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ESC Off Dash Light.

107K views 10 replies 9 participants last post by  burnselk 
#1 ·
Ok so about 3 months ago while driving my dash light comes on and says ESC Off...I am like what the heck as I did not hit the ESC button on the dash...so I press esc off button on the dash nuthing happens its still lit. Then I turned off the car and restarted it and the light has been off ever since and works when you use the button on the dash. Well tonight the darn light comes on while I am driving again, after I get home I turn the car off and restart it and ot goes off whats the deal.
 
#4 ·
I have a 2009 Sportage LX 4x4 that did exactly the same thing. Bought it new, at around 1,000 miles the ESC light started coming on while driving. I would stop, shut the engine off, restart, and it would be fine for a few days. Eventually though, the light would stay off only a few minutes before coming back on. My dealer couldn't find a problem. A couple of the senior guys on the site suggested having the dealer check the steering angle sensor, it's in the steering column under the airbag. I took it back to the dealer, left it running with the light on, told them about the sensor, they did a diagnostic and...tada!...it was the sensor. No problems since having it replaced.

While replacing the sensor, the KIA service tech also checked and repaired two poor connections in the brake light circuit, but stated the steering angle sensor was the culprit. This is a safety issue and should be repaired ASAP.
 
#5 ·
On a related ESC note: I have a 2009 V6 AWD. We just started getting the slippery stuff here in Minnesota. I find myself very frustrated by the ESC activity, which is cutting power to the wheels when it senses traction loss. My previous vehicle was a 4WD Ford F150 that did not have this "feature". I will probably leave it turned off, which triggers the annoying light to go with the annoying passenger air bag light. I will have to break out the electrical tape tonight!

I am very used to powering through snow, and at this point, I think that approach is vastly superior to Kia's ESC approach. It can be very scary when you are trying to pull out or across moving traffic and that thing cuts your power. I think I can move much faster overall by letting the wheels spin a bit under power...thoughts?
 
#6 ·
I agree with you, the ESC seemed good at first until I had to go up a slight hill covered with snow, got stuck at the bottom because of power loss. Another thing I am not too crazy about is the gear shift from D to Reverse and vice versa when you try to get out of snow by going fwd and reverse the shifter does get caught .
 
#7 ·
so, you have to remember to turn ESC off before climbing on slippery road.
Word of explanation.
this what happens (most of the time) is not ESC, but TC (traction control). They are together under ESC.
ESC supposed to help you maintain driveability of your car under sudden turn. And it DOES its job very well.

You can play with it like I did - middle of a night, empty big parking lot, or a wide street, plenty of snow (this is important, sorry FL, TX, AZ :p) and ESC off. Do few sudden turns left-right at 30-40 MPH. Car will start swinging, keep doing that and at some point (while in wide turn) turn ESC back ON. you will see how quickly it will correct you.
DO IT AT YOUR RESPONSIBILITY, and first make sure you know what you are doing. Or simply do not do it at all. Just believe me.

So, getting back to the topic - yes, it would be good to have TC off, but ESC on. Unfortunately there is no easy way to have one without another.
On winter, when I know I will not need it I simply turn it off. Especially when climbing on slippery roads.
 
#9 · (Edited)
So here I go, headed up my very steep and snow/ice covered street one dark night last week "on a run" with the ESC turned ON and boy did I get a surprise..........the Rondo powered down as if someone had cut the gasoline line........I was shut down to a slow creep as soon as the front wheels started spinning.

So there we are, stuck in the middle of the street on a hill in the snow and wondering wth is going on. This was my first use (and maybe last) of the ESC. I don't really get the ESC at all.

It's my wife's Rondo and I thought I'd drive it for her so she wouldn't have to fight the slick hill.......and she had told me to "try the ESC" so we can get up the hill tonight......instead of parking and walking up it...........so I tried it. No more.....we ended up walking........I parked in a for sale house driveway as quick as I could.

Guess I should have read about the ESC before heading up the hill.
 
#10 ·
...

Guess I should have read about the ESC before heading up the hill.
Exactly.
Before you try any feature, read about it first. I hope pilots read first how to use e-jection seat :)

ESC will not increase grip. It is pretty much the same device as ABS... so anytime you have to climb a slippery hill - do two things:
- turn OFF ESC
- use manual shifter (put into 2nd gear and drive). If allowed, shift to 3rd.

And do not ever let the Rondo to stop!! Unless you have winter tires or chains.
 
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