GolfGTIforum.co.uk
General => General discussion => Topic started by: johntheboy on 01 October 2006, 09:22
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Hi just not too sure how exactly it works or what it will and wont prevent? I was out driving in the rain the other day and thought id see how it would react.... as i persumed it was there for wet weather.... or was i wrong? I persumed that there was an on-board computer which senced that one or more wheels was not acting in the correct way (not gripping properly) and then apply the brakes in the same was ABS does. However i took a skid on a roundabout in the wet? Just wondering if someone can explain the basics of how it works in english, what conditions to use it in and what it will and wont prevent? Sorry if it sounds a dumb question!
Thanks in advance.
John
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electronic stability pizza?.....
cant remember what it stands for but say as your coming out of a wet corner and you boot it, instead of one or both driving wheels losing traction and the wheels start to spin it prevents that ghappening and lays the power down baby!! :rolleyes:
The yellow light should flicker on the dash inside the speedo clock as its working (like a triangle inside a cicle sort of thing)
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Got this on my workds Sprinter van, although it's called ASR on that. Pain in the bottom sometimes, feels like the engine has cut out when it kicks in.
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ESP is traction control similar to the basic EDL fitted to the mk3 golf's.
It works through the ABS system as already stated. In addition the ecu will also cut the engine power temporarily until the problem is sorted.
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how am i still managing to skid then when i switch it on?
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what sort of conditions are you skidding??
The MKIV isn't the best handling car by any means; in fact its very poor with understeer being induced very easily. Don't forget that the diesel engine is much heavier than its petrol equivalent which would exacerbate the problem.
I got my wheels spinning in 3rd on the weekend going round a a roundabout.....the road was very wet mind!! :laugh:
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You'd do well to fit an ATB diff. This directs power to the wheel with most grip rather than just cutting power ala traction control. Imagine accelerating mid corner - the inside wheel normally lights up...with an atb diff it transfers power to the outside wheel which is under load meaning you accelerate through the corner.
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don't put ideas into my head! I've just bought a house!!! :laugh: :laugh:
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Usually, traction control/ESP is usually on by default isn't it? The button turns the system off? I'll have a guess that's why you skidded when you thought it was on.
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the button had (im guessing) switched it on as the traction control light was on on my dash....
as for the conditions it was wet and i understeered and went streight on!!! not very nice!
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Sorry to jump on your thread johntheboy.
But.....I have a Golf MK4 1.8 T GTi 99 plate which doesnt have ESP, can this be installed as an extra? is it worth it? and how much would it cost please?
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I found the ESP on my mk5 hire car to be a complete waste of time and at times a little dangerous, all it ever did was cut out the power when i needed it the most :angry:
Come into a bend nice & quick quick with plans of a bit of sideways action before powering out and you'll see what I mean :undecided:
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Sorry to jump on your thread johntheboy.
But.....I have a Golf MK4 1.8 T GTi 99 plate which doesnt have ESP, can this be installed as an extra? is it worth it? and how much would it cost please?
cheaper and quicker to buy an ESP equipped car. Alternatively go do some advanced driver training to improvethe button had (im guessing) switched it on as the traction control light was on on my dash....
as for the conditions it was wet and i understeered and went streight on!!! not very nice!
your control at the limit :smiley:
hitting the button switches the system OFF hence why the light appears permanently in the dash. it should only appear when you're giving it some beans and thinks you're in trouble so it engages and tries to sort you out............
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If the light is on constantly on your dash then it means the system is disabled (press button again to enable). If the light is off but flashed on and off when you loose traction then the system is enabled.
Hope that helps. :smiley:
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But.....I have a Golf MK4 1.8 T GTi 99 plate which doesnt have ESP, can this be installed as an extra? is it worth it? and how much would it cost please?
Fit an ATB diff! £500 imported from the states and a couple hundred quid to fit if that. Its with this level of technology that you now have fwd hatches running sub 5secs to 60mph. What diff do you think the Focus RS used that Jeremy Clarkeson said was so "trick"?
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But.....I have a Golf MK4 1.8 T GTi 99 plate which doesnt have ESP, can this be installed as an extra? is it worth it? and how much would it cost please?
Fit an ATB diff! £500 imported from the states and a couple hundred quid to fit if that. Its with this level of technology that you now have fwd hatches running sub 5secs to 60mph. What diff do you think the Focus RS used that Jeremy Clarkeson said was so "trick"?
In a word........eh? :huh:
Sorry but that made no sense to me besides £500 outta pocket for what?? :grin:
I take it that installing ESP is not worth it then?
Thanks
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I take it that installing ESP is not worth it then?
Correct. ESP is an electric program that cuts power when it senses a wheel slipping. An ATB (auto torque biasing) differential is a mechanical system that directs power from the slipping wheel to the wheel with more grip. Hence instead of increasing control by cutting power it increases the transfer of power thus making the car faster. Much better.
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ok cheers people, at least i know where i stand now!! so if i end up going streight on when im trying to turn in a tight bend.... is it going to kick in then?? And i take it i turn off the traction control if i want to have 'a bit of fun'
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I wouldn't say front wheels spinning up is fun....unless you want to wear down your tyres really quickly. But yes, a differential would go some way towards powering through under steer.
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^^ I Thaught VW Golf GTIs had that already?
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^^ I Thaught VW Golf GTIs had that already?
No, unfortunately not.
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ok.... so now im confused... in what instances have ppl turned off their traction control (with people saying it cuts out power when they need it the most) when pulling out of junctions etc?? does the cornering all go a bit wrong and erratic when its off (i could imagine so in the wet) even in the dry?
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There would be very little point in turning it off. Only advantage is that some people prefer to control their car with the throttle rather than a computer but, on her majesty's roads, I would find this unlikely.
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There would be very little point in turning it off. Only advantage is that some people prefer to control their car with the throttle rather than a computer but, on her majesty's roads, I would find this unlikely.
I turned it off for that exact reason, I usually drive a Mk1 so all this computer cr@p is the devils work in my eye's - didn't do it on her majestys roads though, sunny spain was my test track :grin:
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The ESP (electronic stabilisation program) on the Mk V GTI is the third generation ESp on the Golf and is designed specifically for the GTi. It will allow more wheelspin and slide than previous versions or indeed ESP on any other Mk V.
As previously mentioned, pushing the button turns the system OFF. Reasons for wanting to turn it off vary but generally you would want to turn it off in extreme conditions. eg. You were stuck up to your wheelnuts in mud. You try and pull away and nothing will happen because ESP detects no traction and retards engine power/brakes the wheels. Another example (and something that happened to me and cost me two wheel refurbs on a MK V GTi). Last winter I drove into work after a night of snow/ice. I left ESP on as was driving on crappy but gritted roads. I turned left into a side road which hadn't been gritted and evidently was like sheet ice. Straight away I obviously slid (no more than 20 -25mph) gently towards the kerb and tried to put my foot down but of course nothing happened and I looked like a complete muppet as I gently bounced into the pavement. If ESp wasn't on, I'd of been able to hopefully put some power down and regained grip without kissing the kerb.
Also, ESP3 as on the Mk V GTi won't retard engine power as on other versions of ESP when flooring it out of junctions for example. It will allow reasonable wheelspin upto 30mph.
:nerd: :nerd: :nerd:
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BTW, it's all detailed in your owners manual. (no-one ever reads them I know)..... :smug: