What Does an ESP Warning Light Mean & How Do You Fix It?

One such warning light is the ESP light and many people do not know what it means. In this article we will help to clear up the confusion concerning this particular warning. We will learn what the light means, why it might come on and what to do if it does.

What Does the ESP Light Mean?

The Electronic Stability Program (ESP) system warning light comes on in your vehicle if there is a problem with any part of the system or if road conditions are slippery. If the light comes on solidly then you may have an issue but if it is flashing then you are being told that it is working to assist you on current slippery conditions.

How Does This System Work?

The ESP system works in conjunction with a couple of other very important systems to ensure your vehicle has the best chance of holding the road when conditions become slippery. Traction control and anti-locking brake (ABS) systems work together to help the ESP function.

In modern cars you will usually find an Electronic Control Module (ECM) which is essentially the vehicle computer. Information is gathered by sensors and sent to the ECM where it is processed allowing the module to send signals back to alter certain settings in the car.

When it comes to the ESP system data collected such as a tire slipping will create an immediate response from the ECM to decrease the power to the remaining wheels and apply the brakes. This adjustment should help prevent any further slipping and allow you to keep control of the vehicle.

This is a great system for those who are not well versed in driving in icy road conditions. It helps the drive find greater traction by controlling the power transferred to wheels and essentially enforcing limitations.

What Might Cause an ESP Warning Light?

As mentioned if your ESP light comes on and it is flashing this means that it is actively working to combat the current road conditions. It has detected that the road surface is slippery and is now monitoring this and adjusting as needed to give you maximum traction.

When the light comes on solidly however this may indicate that some aspect of the system is not working. This can be one of several possible issues so in this section we will take a closer look at some of the most common causes.

Faulty ABS Speed Sensor

In an anti-locking brake system there will be speed sensors on each of your wheels which will supply data to the ECM concerning the speed of those individual wheels. If a wheel slips then the ABS control unit records this information and applies the necessary adjustments to the remaining three wheels in order to compensate.

If one of these sensors is not working then it is not supplying information so an error message will be recorded. Without input from one of the wheels the system can not work correctly so the warning light will come on to tell you that the ESP system is not currently working.

This can also happen with the ABS rings which are also used to measure speed. If a ring breaks the sensor may record an incorrect speed and assume that the wheel may be slipping when it in fact is not.

Throttle Body Issue

Those who know what the throttle body does may wonder why it would impact the ESP system but if you stop to consider the answer is actually quite obvious. This part helps to control engine power and the ESP system controls the power supplied to individual wheels.

If the throttle body is not working correctly then the required power alterations can not take place. This would cause an error for the system and illuminate the ESP warning light in the process.

Brake Pedal Switch Issue

It is important for the ESP system to know when you are using the brakes and how much force you are applying to help it make power and braking adjustments. There is a switch in your brake pedal and if it does not supply the correct information it can record an error in the ESP system.

Faulty Steering Sensor

Also important to the ESP system is the information regarding the angle of the steering wheel. This helps the system to calculate what to do to enable the car to handle a slipping situation. If the steering angle sensor is not giving an accurate reading or no reading at all then the ESP light may well come on.

Wiring Issues

There are all kinds of wires associated with the ESP system and the related systems which can burn out, break or just work themselves loose. If these wires have any connection to the transfer of information within the system then they are going to likely record an error message.

As vehicles become older wires can start to wear out so the issue can often be wiring related. This can often be tough to diagnose, locate and repair unless you know what you are doing.

Is It Safe to Drive While the ESP Light Is Illuminated?

Technically speaking people were driving for decades before the introduction of anti-locking brakes and traction control so you don’t really need the ESP system. However since the introduction of such systems there is no denying that accidents due to road conditions have decreased when such systems have been in place.

If the ESP light is on then you do not have this back up safety system so you will have to use your own driving skills to combat slippery roads. You may be comfortable with that and if so then you take your own risks but you can drive without the system working.

What to Do if the ESP Light Comes On

If you have come to enjoy the extra safety supplied by the ESP system you are going to want to get this issue fixed quickly especially if you are expecting slippery road conditions in the near future. As this is an electrical system for the most part you will need to find out from the ECM what the main issue is.

You can easily use an OBD2 scanner tool at home to connect to the ECM and find out what error codes have been recorded. Comparing these codes to your owner's manual lists will tell you more specifically what instigated the ESP warning light.

Once you know the problem you can then decide if it is an issue you can try and fix or if you will need the help of a mechanic. Often unless you are very skilled with automotive electronics you should have an expert deal with the issue.

Conclusion

The ESP system works together with a few other systems to create a safety net during slippery driving conditions. A series of sensors help to quickly assess and suggest adjustments to combat road surface conditions.

Link To or Reference This Page

We spend a lot of time collecting, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site to be as useful to you as possible.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Tow Ratings as the source. We appreciate your support!