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Driving Tips
Intelligent Technology
Electronic stability programme (ESP)*
General
General
The ESP aids you maintain control of your vehicle in situations in borderline driving
situations such as when negotiating a curve too fast. The risk of skidding is reduced
and your car thus offers greater driving stability depending on the conditions of the
road surface. This occurs at all speeds.
The following systems are integrated into the electronic stability programme:
•
Electronic Differential Lock (EDL),
•
Traction control system (TCS),
•
Antilock brake system ABS,
•
Brake Assist.
Using the system
Safety
Fig. 163 ESP switch
B1Z-0042H
B1Z-0042H
Driving Tips
Operating principle
The ESP switches on automatically when the engine is started and then conducts a
self-test. The ESP control unit processes data from the individual systems. It also
processes additional measurement data which are supplied by highly sensitive
sensors: the rotational velocity of the vehicle about its vertical axis, the lateral accel-
eration of the vehicle, the braking pressure and the steering angle.
The direction which the driver wishes to take is determined based on the steering
angle and the speed of the vehicle and is constantly compared with the actual
behaviour of the vehicle. If differences exist, such as the car beginning to skid, the
ESP will automatically brake the appropriate wheel.
The car is stabilised again by the forces which take effect when the wheel is braked.
Intervention into the brake system takes place primarily on the outer front wheel of
a vehicle which tends to oversteer (tendency for the rear of the vehicle to break
away) while occurs this is on the inner rear wheel of a vehicle which tends to under-
steer (tendency to shift out of the curve). This braking control cycle is accompanied
by noises.
The ESP operates in combination with the ABS ⇒ page 159, "Antilock brake system
(ABS)". If there is a fault in the ABS system, the ESP also does not operate.
The ESP warning light ⇒ page 28 lights up in the instrument cluster when there is a
fault on the ESP.
Switching off
You can switch the ESP off and on again as you wish, by pressing the button
⇒ fig.
163. The ESP warning light ⇒ page 28 lights up in the instrument cluster
when the ESP is switched off.
The ESP should normally always be switched on. It may be good practice to switch
the system off only in particular exceptional situations if you desire wheel slip.
Examples:
•
when driving with snow chains,
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Intelligent Technology
155
Technical Data
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