ESP Kill Switch Writeup
JK Newbie
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
From: Pittsburgh
So I am just reading this thread for the first time. What is the consensus on the safety of this mod? Does cutting the wire make it unable for the system to "reset" appropriately when it is turned back on? I was all about doing this until I read the rationale for the "steering wheel dance".
JK Jedi Master
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 12,907
Likes: 185
From: Maine
So I am just reading this thread for the first time. What is the consensus on the safety of this mod? Does cutting the wire make it unable for the system to "reset" appropriately when it is turned back on? I was all about doing this until I read the rationale for the "steering wheel dance".
As to the safety of the mod, it may be completely safe to kill the ESP off road when you need to.
On road, though, it will be safe until something beyond your control happens.
Even good drivers can't be "on" all the time. Black ice, deep puddles, the unexpected sharp turn at night, other vehicles intruding into your space, etc. can happen during the instant you are not quite paying full attention.
I've deliberately tested the system. When the JK first starts to slide or otherwise go out of control, it feels like it jumps onto a set of rails and straightens itself out. I was amazed at how well it worked.
A friend of mine was going home one night in the rain, on an unfamiliar road. He didn't see the sign warning of a very sharp turn, and went into it at 50 mph. He said he felt the JK start to lose it when the ESP took over. He made it through uneventfully, although just barely. It was a good thing nothing was coming from the other direction.
So, the system does work, even for the "good" drivers.
Last edited by ronjenx; Nov 19, 2013 at 06:23 AM.
Thread Starter
JK Freak
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 769
Likes: 3
From: Elk Rapids, MI
From what I read in the thread, when the switch is reset to restore continuity in the wire, the system will come on normally next time the JK is shut off and restarted.
As to the safety of the mod, it may be completely safe to kill the ESP off road when you need to.
On road, though, it will be safe until something beyond your control happens.
Even good drivers can't be "on" all the time. Black ice, deep puddles, the unexpected sharp turn at night, other vehicles intruding into your space, etc. can happen during the instant you are not quite paying full attention.
I've deliberately tested the system. When the JK first starts to slide or otherwise go out of control, it feels like it jumps onto a set of rails and straightens itself out. I was amazed at how well it worked.
A friend of mine was going home one night in the rain, on an unfamiliar road. He didn't see the sign warning of a very sharp turn, and went into it at 50 mph. He said he felt the JK start to lose it when the ESP took over. He made it through uneventfully, although just barely. It was a good thing nothing was coming from the other direction.
So, the system does work, even for the "good" drivers.
As to the safety of the mod, it may be completely safe to kill the ESP off road when you need to.
On road, though, it will be safe until something beyond your control happens.
Even good drivers can't be "on" all the time. Black ice, deep puddles, the unexpected sharp turn at night, other vehicles intruding into your space, etc. can happen during the instant you are not quite paying full attention.
I've deliberately tested the system. When the JK first starts to slide or otherwise go out of control, it feels like it jumps onto a set of rails and straightens itself out. I was amazed at how well it worked.
A friend of mine was going home one night in the rain, on an unfamiliar road. He didn't see the sign warning of a very sharp turn, and went into it at 50 mph. He said he felt the JK start to lose it when the ESP took over. He made it through uneventfully, although just barely. It was a good thing nothing was coming from the other direction.
So, the system does work, even for the "good" drivers.
.Just move it to the on position.
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
From: Spotsylvania, VA
So you cut the wire under the console. The switch has 3 wires coming off of it. Which wire is the ground and do the 2 wires off the switch have to be connected to the cut wire in any particular order?
Thread Starter
JK Freak
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 769
Likes: 3
From: Elk Rapids, MI
That was quite helpful now wasn't it LOL
JK Junkie
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 3,641
Likes: 10
From: idaho
There is no ground needed.... cut wire (purlple with light blue tracer on it) in half, attach an end to each end of switch and you have harnessed the power of electrical theory.
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 384
Likes: 0
From: NOVA