ESP (also known as ESC – Electronic Stability Control) is an advanced safety system designed to maintain vehicle stability and prevent skidding during sharp turns, sudden maneuvers, or slippery road conditions.
Key Components:
- Wheel Speed Sensors
Monitor the rotational speed of each wheel to detect loss of traction or wheel slip. - Yaw Rate Sensor
Mounted near the vehicle’s center of gravity (usually under the driver or passenger seat), this sensor measures the car’s rotational movement around its vertical axis — basically, whether the car is starting to spin or skid. - Steering Angle Sensor
Detects how far and in which direction the driver intends to steer.
How ESP Works:
- When there’s a mismatch between the steering angle and the actual movement (measured by the yaw rate), the ECU interprets this as either:
- Understeer: The front wheels aren’t turning enough (vehicle pushes wide).
- Oversteer: The rear wheels are sliding out (vehicle spins inward).
- The ESP then selectively applies brake force to individual wheels and may reduce engine power to bring the vehicle back on the intended path.
Manual Override:
ESP can be temporarily turned OFF in situations like getting stuck in mud or snow. In such conditions, the system may interfere with the driver’s efforts to rock the car free by automatically braking or cutting engine power.