I wan't wheel spin!!! For years, with many Jeeps, I've used wheel speed as a tool to overcome some obsicles, but my 2008 JK Rubicon wont obey
At first, I tried the steering wheel dance to disable ESP and more importantly, the automatic application of the brakes that follows suit with ESP. Well, as nearly everyone knows, the steering wheel dance drove me nuts, so I pulled the trigger and did the simple mod of cutting the purple striped wire and putting a toggle switch in line. The mod appeared to work, meaning that it lit the ESP and ABS lights on the dash when I flipped the switch, but it has failed to give me any more wheel spin when the JK is up against a big obsticle.
I know, I know, "get a Hemi" right? That's not what I'm looking for. I just want the ability to tell my wheels to spin or climb up an object without some mystery electronic gismo telling my throttle NO!
I was traversing over a downed log today when I noticed the problem. With the toggle switch set to dissable, and my rear wheels in direct contact with the log, the JK refused to throttle up and climb the downed log. I had to put it in reverse and bump over the wood. Come on, how in the world do you guys rock crawl out west with these things?! The throttle just won't obey! Any practicle real world advice without telling me to swap the motor or add power mods? Power isn't the problem here, it's definately electronic.

 

1) Are you in 4-low?

2) Does it say "ESP off" when you are either in 4-low, or 'disable' your ESP. I know for a fact if I am in 4-hi with ESP off (via steering wheel dance) I don't have the power to spin the tires. Period.

I was able to do the steering wheel dance and have had zero issues with the ESP being 'on'. I do plenty of dirt road drifting in 2wd with my rear axle locked

 

I spin the hell outaa my tires with the inline switch mod.

 

4 low and first gear no problems.

 

I did the dance ... I can get flat sideways if im not careful. I wont go so far as to cut my wires

 

I have a 2007 rubi. When I put it in 4Hi all I do is hold down the ESP button for 5 seconds and then the Jeep gives me a chime and at the same time a light comes on. The ESP off light. After that everything is off and I'm able to spin my tires until the grears strip or a tire blows...I don't understand what the problem is...I'm sure you've tried that right...? Not sure why esp is still on for you.

 

If the vehicle is in 4 lo with the lockers engaged logic would dictate that you should get some wheel spin when encountering a log. Maybe you have a broken axle or diff?

 

Same for my 07 Rubi. In 4 lo, 2wd or 4 hi the switch lets the wheels spin. My switch does not turn of the "posi trac" feature that uses the brakes to transfer torque back and forth, but that seems to be a good thing to me anyway.

Wonder if there is a problem with your ESP switch mod? It sounds like the ESP off lights are lit up but it is not disabled.

 

Thanks for the replies everyone. I was in 4 high (w/out lockers on) with the switch set to disable, and had NO power to climb a small 12" log. I guess I'll go back and try it in 4 low. That shouldn't make a difference should it? I think I'll chain the jeep to a big tree and try to see if I can get any wheel spin. With the ESP disabled, I should be able to practically bury my self in the dirt from wheel spin right?
I'd love your feedback. Let me know what I'm missing (other than horse power)!

 

I know what you are saying maine, I could not back over a small rock the other day in 4hi, I had to select 4lo first as it felt as though something was holding my jeep back from just pulling a tire over a rock. disabling the esp (wheel dance) or cut the wire and add a toggle switch wont give your jeep the power to over come an obsticle as well as over comming the BLD which doesnt turn off with the switch or in 4lo, it is always on.

This is my biggest pet peeve with this jeep