5 reasons why ESP lights up on the dashboard

5 reasons why ESP lights up on the dashboard

Most modern cars are equipped with a traction control system. The main role of this system is to monitor the steering performance and stability of the car.

If the car loses traction on the ground, the traction control system will detect this problem in time and will react accordingly to solve the damage.

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However, you must be aware that the on-board light indicating the traction system will not light up as long as the system is working properly and there is no damage to any of the components. If there is still a problem with the traction system, then the car will not be able to remain stable on the road and you can expect the warning light to start to light up, showing a breakdown.

If the on-board indicator light indicates problems with the traction system, this will most often happen as you accelerate. The first tip is not to panic if this happens because you have to try to keep the steering wheel as stable as possible.

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The traction system will no longer be useful to you as it was before, so you will have to be as careful as possible. The wisest thing you can do is slow down and find the nearest service to fix the problem.

Below we have listed the top 5 of the most popular reasons that can trigger the on-board indicator light responsible for the traction system, when accelerating.

1. The wheel speed sensors are broken

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The wheel speed sensors are connected to the traction system and the engine control unit. These sensors are largely responsible for detecting the speed at which your car’s wheels spin.

Each wheel has a separate sensor. When the rotational speed of any of the wheels changes unexpectedly or gives an out-of-the-ordinary value at the time of acceleration, the speed sensor at the wheels will detect this and transmit it to the traction system.

But once the wheel speed sensors have broken down, the traction system will no longer be notified of such changes. At this point your car will lose traction and the on-board indicator light from the system will start to light up.

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2. Defective steering angle sensor

The main role of the steering angle sensor is to calculate the steering wheel angle and the rate at which the steering wheel is rotated.

The sensor is strategically positioned right on the steering column so that it can transmit accurate information about angle and wheel. But if the sensor itself fails, you can expect the warning light signaling the traction system to light up and suggest a breakdown.

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3. Poor road conditions

If the conditions on the road are unfavorable, your traction system may be completely overwhelmed by the situation, at which point it will start to produce errors. For example, if you live in an area where snow and ice constantly cover the roads you drive during the cold season, then they begin to present challenges for the entire traction system.

If the traction system detects a challenge or feels that it can no longer cope with the road conditions, it can pass this on and this leads to the on-board indicator lighting up.

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4. Steering column problems

This steering column is directly attached to the steering wheel of your car and is a vital element in the power steering system. It receives the high-pressure hydraulic fluid that is needed to make the steering wheel move smoothly, quickly and without difficulty.

An important role in having a functional traction system is to have a steering wheel that can be turned as needed without much difficulty. Thus, if you have a damaged or problematic steering column, it will be much more difficult to turn the steering wheel on a problematic road.

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Besides the fact that this way the risk of accidents is higher, the on-board warning light from the traction system will certainly be illuminated.

5. Software problems

It is not a novelty that modern cars often have software problems that transmit nonsense signals to drivers. Thus, there may be situations in which the entire traction system will need a complete reprogramming, for the simple reason that there have been problems with the current software.

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Sometimes these software problems can simply occur over time, for no particular reason. If this problem ever occurs with the traction system on your car, the on-board indicator will certainly light up and it will urge you to call for a mechanic as soon as possible.

But you should know that in order to reprogram the software related to the traction system, you will have to turn to a specialized mechanic in the model of your car in order to have access to the necessary elements.

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These are just some of the common reasons why the traction warning light comes on in your car. One thing is for sure: you don’t want to wait too long before calling a specialist service to make a more accurate investigation , otherwise the risk of accidents may occur.