I don't think i was driving too fast. I don't have the trailer package either. I was just curious if anyone else had a wind related problem with the ESP. I might take it to the dealer to have them look at it. I don't want to do the full disable because my wife drives the jeep occasionally and I would hate to think that she would slide into a telephone pole or something in the snow because of me shutting a safety feature off. I need to go to the dealer anyway to get a valve stem replaced.

 

I have been reading the ESP on/off delima for a while and wondering why someone would. I can see that its good for some and bad for others.

I had a 08 Sahara Unl and it would kick in if I cam around a corner to fast but not act as harsh as some are explaining. It was nice to have it there since I had an 03 Liberty and found myself facing the wrong way a few times.

I recently upgraded to a 10 Rubicon and the light came on for the first time today when I came around a corner pretty quick on wet road. It kicked on but only to slow me down a bit nothing drastic.

So why are people with the same vehicle having two seperate responses? Think Jeep might want to look into that, or least add it to the list.

 

Do you have the factory tow package? I'm guessing not, since your ESP doesn't seem too intrusive.

Do those with overly sensitive ESP have the factory tow package? Just a crackpot theory of mine... But since the tow package does consist of more than physical hardware - it also adds sway detection/counteraction logic to the stability programming - I'm wondering if there is a relationship.

 

I have the tow package, and even when my ESP does come on, it doesn't slam on the brakes like people here are implying.
Mine comes on when I corner too fast in wet and icy conditions. It also came on when my trackbar came loose and my axle wasn't centered. No other times.

 

i think one of the safety parts that chrysler left out was that the esp NEEDS to flash your break lights when its doing it thing, so tailgaiters will at least have a warning

 

Never had my 2010 2 door have an issue, yet...

 

I have a '10 Rubi 4 dr with the towing package & I have not had it come on due to winds or anything abnormal yet.
I have had it kick on in while trying to accelerate on a slushy/snowy express way onramp & I agree that the way it cuts power is really quite alarming at first. Definitely takes some getting used to.

I also agree that there should be a way to completely disable both ESP and ABS with a switch. Especially on an off-road vehicle.
Superchips could probably incorporate these features into their controller but I'm sure they don't want to assume the liability for it.

 

^^^ yeah, you can fully release esp. it's called 4-low.

I grew up driving giant American, rear-wheel drive sedans in the country since age 12 or 13. Snow, rain, mud etc... I have also raced SCCA (ford mustang & corvette C3 prior) for years. I have plenty of 4x4 experience in snow and up on dicey logging roads. I have no deep hidden macho problems though. The factory ESP from Jeep is fantastic IMHO. If you can trudge around in 2wd in the snow, by all means, it's the way to go. The ESP is extremely effective. I have a curious eye when I read some yahoo saying how "stupid the esp is" or that it's for "chicks who can't handle snow" etc... that is simply retarded.

Now obviously if things get a little thicker than normal, drop it into 4-hi. Once they get back to a controllable spin, put it in 2wd again.
Lastly, if it gets a little too thick, mash that mo-fo into 4-low and take control of all 4.
I put chains on all 4 wheels on my Jeep when we have a ton of snow and/or I am going to be in a thick bog at a logging site. These Jeeps are so ridiculously effective in the gnarly stuff it's astounding. I use thinner & taller MT tires. They are better suited for my area. btw











Ten Stupid Things men do...
...to mess up their four wheel drive


• 1 ignoring wheel cheat

(men know - friends are important -- tires are good friends - treat them well)

• 2 using too much speed or power

(many times, faster than too slow is too fast)

• 3 steering at standstill

(power steering is a wonderful tool to break tie rods etc)

• 4 using the clutch the same way as on pavement

(if you don't know what "starting in gear" means and you still use the clutch to regulate speed - see "A smart thing some men do" below )

• 5 following one's gut feeling

(most likely it'll be wrong - humans have no genetic imprint for driving cars yet)

• 6 straddling obstructions

(men should know - they would not take anything high between their legs either)

• 7 rushing through water

(humans want to rush away from danger and get in trouble in the process)

• 8 keeping thumbs in steering wheel

(bruised or broken thumbs really hurt)

• 9 hanging head out of window during difficult driving

(makes you "feel" you are in control - but you'll miss potential danger on the other side)

• 10 using 4WD after getting stuck

(now that is really stupid)

 

Since I've advocated turning the ESP off:

I my case the brakes have NEVER grabbed hard. They just grabbed at all which - while safer for some, drives me nuts, and I'm a better driver than the Jeep gives me credit for. I've never driven with too much load on the roof, at too fast a speed. At the same time if I end up in the ditch I will not cry for my mommy and blame Jeep for my driving habits.

If you're a tard, or a soccer mom, or an otherwise bad driver who has to rely on the nanny control systems to keep you safe in conditions you probably shouldn't be driving in anyway then well Hell, enjoy the extra break wear and feel good about yourself and the extra resources you use up.

Me? I want the Jeep the do what I want it to do. If that means going sideways in an empty parking lot - great. If it means I can actually drive through 1.5 feet of snow/mud without fighting the breaks - great. If it means that I have to accept responsibility for my own actions - great.

So far I've not been more sideways than I couldn't compensate for by proper driving. Maybe it pays to regularly play and see what the limits are? Doesn't everyone do that? They should!

If people really wanted to be safe, there would be no seat belts, no ABS breaks, no air bags and a spike on the steering column - imagine how people would drive then! The rest is just blah-blah-blah to control the ignorant masses that - for reasons that escape me - people think are for the greater good.

Cheers.

 

Not to dispute whether you are or aren't a good/excellent/Stig-esque driver. However, that is the same logic that people had when ABS first came out. They would say that they know how to pump the brakes, etc. Problem is, time after time ABS has been shown to be superior to regular brakes in every situation except dry straight line stopping, which is pretty rare.
You do know that they have used traction control in F1 racing, right? I mean, those guys are professionals, why should they need it?