ESP problem maybe??

[maksta]

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

[JJH]

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?

[maksta]

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.

[mac7]

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.

[maksta]

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

[p3asa]

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.

[percymon]

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.

[daviescotland]

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

[maksta]

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! 

[maksta]

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!