GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk6 => Topic started by: maksta on 17 December 2009, 10:38
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Hi all
This morning, my ESP warning light (yellow) appeared on the speed counter for the entire journey to work. Should this happen as I thought it should just flicker when it is being used. ( I know road conditions were wet and it is cold, around 2c )
My other Q is: can you turn the ESP on and off at any point in time whilst the engine is running? When I press my button, I can not see anything changing or going on or off (ie. warning light doesn’t change, and the MFD screen doesn’t change or say anything whilst on the average consumption screen.
Finally, when I go through the MFD screens, one of them is to do with ESP, and it comes up with ESP Fault. I didn’t know whether that appears because the ESP is perhaps turned off? As I said above, pressing the button doesn’t appear to change it on or off and I didn’t know if that’s because of the road conditions.
Your help on understanding this would be much appreciated guys.
Thanks
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If the ESP 'light' is on, ESP is turn off.
The light is a warning light.
Could you have hit the off button by mistake?
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Yeah I could have hit the off button by mistake. But by pressing it again it does not seem to turn on if thats the case, well at least whilst I was driving. Thats why I was wondering whether you can turn it on or off at any point whilst engine is on or driving in gear etc
I am at work now, so will have to see what happens when i return to my car tonight.
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Yeah I could have hit the off button by mistake. But by pressing it again it does not seem to turn on if thats the case, well at least whilst I was driving. Thats why I was wondering whether you can turn it on or off at any point whilst engine is on or driving in gear etc
I am at work now, so will have to see what happens when i return to my car tonight.
You can switch ESP on and off whilst driving. Sounds like a fault to me, but you might find it has cleared when you re-start the car. In any case, get it checked out.
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Cheers, I will see what happens tonight and in the next few days then. Back to the dealer if it persists.
One more Q, when you have ESP off, and I presume the yellow warning light stays on? If you went through the different screens on the MFD screen, what does it say when you come the screen with ESP on it? (or am I only getting a message on this because of a fault)
Thanks
M
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Even if you had turned it off by accident, it comes on by default every time you start the car. You would have to manually put it off every time you get in the car.
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And when switched off the ESP symbol flashes in the speedo display, not permanently lit. Used a pressure washer recently? They can reek havoc with the abs sensors.
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Definitely get it checked out mate.
AFAIK if the light is on, then ESP isn't working. This happened to the OH 1.4s, 2 weeks out of warranty. It was a whole new ABS control unit that it required, VW caught the bill, which was nice of them. Think she would've been looking at about £1000 repair bill otherwise.
I've had the light appear once, however when i stopped the car and started it up again it appeared to clear itself.
Keep us posted
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Hi all
Ok, its definately an ESP Fault. I have only had the car 1 week (no washes), so its a bit strange to happen so soon.
I understand now that ESP flashes when turned off, and that its always on each time u start engine.
I have probably driven the car 4 times since thurs, and half the time its fine (no warning light, and ESP can be turned off and on with no prob) then the other half of the time when i start engine, it remains on, says ESP fault also.
It is booked to go back in the garage monday morning. will update after i know.
i would not have thought there is a physical problem with the car being one week old, but strange either way! :sad:
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Update: after the diagnostics check, it was an ESP fault! my dealer has ordered a new replacement unit. also the abs system is part of this unit too, but that works fine, and the ESP part of the unit works half the time, but obviously its safe to drive with it either on or off (when it allows me to choose!)
he also told me that older golfs (mk5 lower) had problems with these units, however mine was the 1st mk6 faulty unit, as it is a completely new designed unit.
Hopefully its all sorted in the 1st week of the new year anyway! :shocked:
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You're beginning to make me wonder if mine has a similar fault. I have always been able to see "ESP off" in red on that button. I assumed it was meant to be like that.
I tried to turn it off in the snow the other day, and the red writing on the button never changed. I got some sort of message on the MFD but it didn't stay long enough for me to see what it was about.
I'm seeing an occasional appearance of a yellow icon of a car with skid marks under it, but it only shows up several seconds after it's blindingly obvious that the car is skidding in the snow. Which seems pretty useless.
Yes, I know, go read the manual, but if anyone has any tips, they'd be welcome.
Rolfe.
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It's not unheard of with MK5's (or any car really) but i wouldn't call it a common fault. Each mk generation brings it's own inherent faults.. you have no idea how relieved I am none of you are complaining about rattly dashboards yet :grin:
Rolfe it flashes to let you know the ESP is doing it's job. It'll do the same if you try to wheelspin.
Random info also in the manual: As long as the abs/esp unit isn't faulty you can never actually completely disable the traction control. :smiley:
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Thanks. So, it's normal to see "ESP off" in red on the button below the centre console, all the time?
And for this not to change when you do try to switch it off?
Would you recommend switching it off when trying to get going in packed snow?
Rolfe.
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i didn't see that part.. no it shouldnt be illuminated all the time, only when you've switched it off.
it's supposed to help you get traction in snow.. but pedal control is just as good with it switched off i guess if you're just trying to get moving
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Pedal control would be good if I had more than one pedal.... The DSG refuses to allow selection of second gear to start on snow, which doesn't help.
I'm not exactly regretting the DSG, the thaw is forecast for Thursday, but four inches of snow and an ungritted hill wasn't its finest hour.
Rolfe.
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just get yourself some of these
(http://www.chrisellisonphoto.co.uk/Galleries/2006/Swedish/Snow%20tyres.JPG)
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Probably a good idea. Anything to stop neighbour with Chelsea Tractor and 4WD looking so smug....
Rolfe.
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I'll swap you with my R32 for a few weeks until the snow clears if you like :grin:
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Yeah each time you start the engine, the ESP should be on automatically and there should be no constant yellow warning light on the dash.
Whilst on, if you wheel spin etc, the warning light flashes as it is being used.
If you turn the ESP off using the button, then I think it constantly flashes to warn you that it is switched off.
And in my case when its F***** up, it just stays illuminated the whole journey and obviously you cant switch it on/off and you get an ESP fault in the MFD.
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Hi all
i forgot to update (silly me i know!!) :laugh: ... i got the ESP fault sorted, took it in, the diagnosis was done and they ordered a new part (think it was the controler for both the ABS/ESP as it is one unit). well it took around 10 days to get in from germany, and was fitted a week later. my dealer was brilliant and were very helpful in the process! (well they F'in well should be when u have spent that much and the warning light goes on after a week!!!! :shocked:)
the car has been running perfectly ever since! very happy 2000 miles in!! :smiley:
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my understanding of ESP was that it is simply a safety feature that applies brakes to individual wheels to prevent uncontrollable skids, notably in violent lane change manoeuvres or in slippery conditions. this i thought was different to traction control which would stop wheelspins under hard acceleration and is not a feature of the standard GTI.... or so I thought... :undecided: am I right?
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I think you are pretty much right there.
The ESP button was developed for the enthusiastic kind to have the option to turn it off for track days etc :cool:
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Mine is on normally and off in the snow, exactly the way it was intended to work.