Edmunds.com | Inside Line | Auto Observer Your Account | Help | Directory
You are here:
![[F]](http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com/media/townhall/webxicons/site.gif){kind=small}
Forums
Sedans Midsize Sedans 2.0
13270 messages, Last post on Nov 28, 2009 at 9:36 PM
You are in the Sedans Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens
|
Replying to: waygrabow (Nov 04, 2008 7:47 pm) |
|
|
Replying to: explorerx4 (Nov 04, 2008 3:17 pm) If you are trucking down the highway and start to skid because you are hydroplaning ESC will kick in to help. Or if you are skidding on ice and snow ESC will kick in to help. It has nothing to do with avoidance manuevers. It's sole purpose is to keep the car from slipping and sliding and to go where the front wheels are pointed, before you know you are about to skid.
|
|
|
Replying to: kdshapiro (Nov 06, 2008 4:05 am) It has everything to do with avoidance manuevers. ESC counteracts understeer and oversteer (in Nascar terms understeer is when the front of the car hits the wall and oversteer is when the back of the car hits the wall). When you make an emergency avoidance maneuver (lane change) ESC keeps the vehicle under control and prevents it from spinning out. Just look at all the ESC demonstrations and this should be obvious.
|
|
|
Replying to: kdshapiro (Nov 06, 2008 4:05 am) That varies from vehicle to vehicle. I know my Explorer uses both engine retardation and individual wheel braking for its ESC but I'm pretty sure the Fusion only used brakes. Or if you are skidding on ice and snow ESC will kick in to help. It will kick in on ice and snow but its effectiveness is limited on those types of surfaces. I agree with akirby in that it is most useful in emergency maneuvers. If you are depending on ESC to save you in spirited driving then you have other that ESC will not help. Like oncoming traffic, guide rails, and trees to name a few. You can still move off the beaten path somewhat even though ESC is doing its job.
|
|
|
Replying to: akirby (Nov 06, 2008 7:07 am) It has nothing to do with avoidance maneuvers. If at any time the front or rear of the car is not going in the direction of the steering wheel ESC will kick in. There are various reasons skid could occur or could be about to occur that are not due to avoidance. Stupid driving in slick conditions is one example that comes to mind.
|
|
|
Replying to: baggs32 (Nov 06, 2008 10:08 am) As noted, ESC can't manufacture traction or go beyond physics. It's another safety device, of which stupidity can negate it's effectiveness. |
|
|
Replying to: kdshapiro (Nov 06, 2008 1:33 pm) Go here and click on the 1.5 minute video on the right hand side. Almost every demonstration of ESC includes an emergency lane change.
|
|
|
Replying to: akirby (Nov 06, 2008 2:23 pm) I'll repeat, one does not have to make an emergency manuever to have ESC kick in. I have some knowledge about ESC systems as my former car had one. ESC would kick in to keep the car from sliding or to stop the wheels from spinning. |
|
|
Replying to: kdshapiro (Nov 06, 2008 3:09 pm)
|
|
|
Replying to: kdshapiro (Nov 06, 2008 3:09 pm) ESC, and all the other safety features have their value, and help reduce accidents. That's great! The question I have is, when is it too much. ESC, ABS, Airbags, Seatbelt tensioners, lane change sensors, crumple zones, etc, etc,. All these safety features are adding to the price of our cars, so where do we draw the line? When the safety features cost more than the rest of the car? We may be close to that point now. 
|
|
New? Join Now!
Forum Tools
Search Forums
Browse by Vehicle
2011 Hyundai Sonata
2010 Toyota Camry
2010 Honda Accord
2010 Nissan Altima
2010 Volkswagen Passat
2010 Mazda MAZDA6
2010 Ford Fusion
2010 Chevrolet Malibu
2009 Saturn Aura
Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
Today's Chats
