The warning lights on the dashboard of cars inform us of any situations to be aware of and electromechanical problems that may occur. Spies are our friends, as they inform us of potential harm that could happen if we don’t act accordingly. This implies that they should never be overlooked or overestimated, but also that you need to know their meaning.
In modern cars, electronics are king and we have had a huge growth in electronic devices in the car over the last 20 years. Cruise control, parking sensors, park assist, proximity sensors and so on, are all comfortable devices that help the driver in driving but inevitably require control systems that guide the driver with light or sound signals or inform him in case of anomalies that can cause serious consequences.
Even earlier, however, around the mid-1990s, car control systems such as ABS (anti-lock wheels), ESP (anti-rollover cornering system) and ESC (electronic traction control) began to spread. These systems were initially fitted to higher segment cars, luxury sedans, coupes and of course supercars. But now they are widespread on many cars and ABS is now present on all cars.
Electronic Stability Control Light: What does ESC mean and what to do if it comes on.
ESC: serve what. This feature helps to avoid losing control of the direction of the car due to a spin or off the road. When effective, it also significantly reduces the risk of rollover, one of the most dangerous types of single-vehicle accidents.
ESC: how it works. A series of sensors read vehicle direction, steering wheel position and tire braking. If they detect that the car is not going in the intended direction, this feature helps put the car back on the road by adjusting the speed and selectively braking one or more wheels. Without the ESC, as this picture shows, you risk going off the road or having an accident.
Typically, ESC-equipped cars have a warning light on the dashboard. If the ESC light comes on while drivingit can mean one of these things.
In some cases, the ESC light comes on if the car is actively trying to maintain traction control. If the ESC light stays on, the vehicle is out of control. If the ESC light stays on for an extended period of time, the ESC may be malfunctioning or the system may have been disabled manually.
A malfunctioning ESC stops working until the problem is fixed. If the ESC system has been deactivated manually, there is a button in the car that can be used to reactivate it. If you do not know where this button is located in your vehicle, consult the owner’s manual.
Of course, if the ESC light comes on, you can continue driving the car. Be aware, however, that the ESC light may indicate that you are driving on a slippery road and that you may need to slow down to improve your control. If it is a defect of the ESCis It is necessary to take the car to a repair shop to fix the problem before it causes danger to your safety and that of other motorists.