Traction Control/Stability Control Button - when to use this
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JK Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 242
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From: Jupiter, Florida
Traction Control/Stability Control Button - when to use this
All JKs have Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and Traction Control (TCS). TCS includes the ability to brake a single wheel, a limited slip feature. (I have a Sport without LSD.) My question is not about how these things work as I think I have a good understanding of that. My question has to do with the ESC switch and when to use it.
According to the manual, available ESC modes are (1) on, (2) partially off, and (3) off. On includes both ESC and TCS. Partially off, achieved by pressing the button in 2H or 4H, deactivates only TCS; ESC and the limited slip feature remain on. In 4L, the electronic nannies are mostly off, except for the limited slip feature; the ESC button doesn't do anything in 4L.
After reading the manual, it looks like pushing the switch is useful only in 2H or 4H, and even then it disables only TCS, so ESC and the limited slip feature are still active. My conclusion is that I would push the ESC switch only if I wanted a bit more wheel spin than the traction control would allow, like in sand or soft gravel. Is this the only use for the button?
According to the manual, available ESC modes are (1) on, (2) partially off, and (3) off. On includes both ESC and TCS. Partially off, achieved by pressing the button in 2H or 4H, deactivates only TCS; ESC and the limited slip feature remain on. In 4L, the electronic nannies are mostly off, except for the limited slip feature; the ESC button doesn't do anything in 4L.
After reading the manual, it looks like pushing the switch is useful only in 2H or 4H, and even then it disables only TCS, so ESC and the limited slip feature are still active. My conclusion is that I would push the ESC switch only if I wanted a bit more wheel spin than the traction control would allow, like in sand or soft gravel. Is this the only use for the button?
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 325
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From: Malmoe
Hi
And if you push the ESC switch for more than 5 sec in 4H, ESC is of like in 4L. Try it and the ESC lights is on. You have a 2012 wrangler according to your profile but the above is in the 2013 manual, not in the 2012 manual, they forgot.
And if you push the ESC switch for more than 5 sec in 4H, ESC is of like in 4L. Try it and the ESC lights is on. You have a 2012 wrangler according to your profile but the above is in the 2013 manual, not in the 2012 manual, they forgot.
Thread Starter
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 242
Likes: 1
From: Jupiter, Florida
Ahhh. That makes sense. Seemed a very limited effect otherwise. So the idea is that you can disable everything other than the limited slip feature even in 4H. I'm curious to see the text of the 2013 manual. Will go look for it.
JK Freak
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 548
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From: United States
I have a 2012 JK 2DR Sport. In 4H if you hold the button in till the chime goes off (about 5 sec). You go into off road mode, just like 4L. It goes back into regular mode at 40 mph. It works good in the mud, and sand. You need wheel speed in those conditions, and 4L just doesn't get it.
I also wired in a switch to shut off all the Nanny Systems in any transfer position. I can do donuts in 2H now. This mode turns off everything though, and some people get nervous about not having the ABS.
This is the first Jeep I have owned with ABS, and really didn't want it anyhow. I normally only turn it off in the snow were the ESP can be a pain. If it take a frontal impact like my Cherokee with an OR-FAB bumper, and the air bags turned off it will be OK.
I also wired in a switch to shut off all the Nanny Systems in any transfer position. I can do donuts in 2H now. This mode turns off everything though, and some people get nervous about not having the ABS.
This is the first Jeep I have owned with ABS, and really didn't want it anyhow. I normally only turn it off in the snow were the ESP can be a pain. If it take a frontal impact like my Cherokee with an OR-FAB bumper, and the air bags turned off it will be OK.