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Intelligent
technology
Notice
about
data
recorded
by vehicle
control
modules
Your vehicle is not equipped with an Event Da-
ta Recorder (EDR), installed by some manu-
facturers fo r the express purpose of capturing
data for retrieval after an accident or crash
event. EDR's are sometimes called "crash re-
corders".
Some state laws restrict the retr ieval or down-
loading of data stored by EDR's that were in-
stalled in a vehicle for the express purpose of
retrieving data after an accident or crash
event without the owner's consent.
Although your vehicle is not equipped with an
EDR, it is equipped with a number of electron-
ic control modules for various vehicle systems
such as, for examp le, engine function, emis-
sion control, as well as for the airbags and
safety belts.
These electronic control modules also record
vehicle-related data during norma l vehicle op-
eration for diagnostic and repair purposes.
The recording capacity of the electronic con-
trol modules is limited to data (no sound is re-
corded) and only a small amount of data is ac-
tually recorded over a very limited period of
time and stored when a system fault or other
condition is sensed by a control unit. Some of
the data then stored may relate to vehicle
speed, direction, braking as we ll as restraint
system use and performance in the event of a
crash or other condition. Stored data can only
be read and downloaded with special equip-
ment.
Electronic
Stabilization
Control
(ESC)
Description
ESC helps to improve road holding and vehicle
dynamics to help reduce the probability of
skidding and loss of veh icle control. It works
only when the engine is running. ESC detects
Intelligent
technology
185
certain difficult driving situations, including
when the vehicle is beginning to spin (yaw)
out of control and helps you to get the veh icle
back under control by selectively braking the
wheels, and/or reducing engine power and
providing steering assistance to help hold the
vehicle on the driver's intended course. The in-
dicator light
JjJ
in the instrument cluster
blinks when ESC is taking action to help you
control the vehicle.
ESC has limitations . It is important to remem-
ber that ESC cannot overcome the laws of
physics. It will not always be able to help out
under all conditions you may come up against.
For example, ESC may not always be able to
help you master situations where there is a
sudden change in the coefficient of friction of
the road surface. When there is a section of
dry road that is suddenly covered with water,
slush or snow, ESC cannot perform the same
way it would on the dry surface. If the vehicle
hydroplanes (rides on a cushion of water in-
stead of the road surface), ESC will not be
able to help you steer the vehicle because con-
tact with the pavement has been interrupted
and the vehicle cannot be braked or steered .
During fast cornering, particularly on winding
roads, ESC cannot always deal as effectively
with difficult driving situations than at lower
speeds. When towing a trailer, ESC is not able
to help you regain control as it would if you
were not tow ing a trailer.
Always adjust your speed and driving style to
road, traffic and weather conditions. ESC can-
not override t he vehicle's physical limits, in-
crease the available traction, or keep a veh icle
on the road if road departure is a result of
driver inattention. I nstead, ESC improves the
possibil ity of keeping the vehicle under con-
trol and on the road dur ing extreme maneu-
vers by using the driver's steering inputs to
help keep the vehicle going in the intended di-
rection. If you are traveling at a speed that
causes you to run off the road before ESC can
provide any assistance, you may not experi-
ence the benefits of ESC.
•
•
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