ESP and ALIGNMENTS

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

tommudd

Moderator
Staff member
Moderator
Joined
Jul 14, 2005
Messages
22,456
Reaction score
3,642
Location
Southeastern Ohio
Been searching for some things about ESP kicking in when turning, finally found it ( well part of what I remembered )
tjkj had posted this on the LOSTJEEPs site under the KK section, some may find it useful ( SO KEEP IN MIND I STOLE IT FROM THERE)
word for word

Got some useful info today from our Hunter guy about ESP and alignments.

This applies to all ESP equipt vehicles and not just Jeeps.If you have a alignment and toe adjustments are required and you have ESP the steering angle sensor must be adjusted or unusual ESP operation can result,not always but sometimes you can get unwanted operation.Come Jan 1st 2012 every vehicle sold in the US must have ESP as standard equipment,and all Jeeps have it standard as of 2006.There has been some reports of unwanted operation of ESP that has caused some issues and lawyers are going to start having a field day with alot of new lawsuits from this.As of this month every Firestone(nation wide) will have the ability to reset most steering angle sensors,not all but most and the ones that can not be done must be reset at a dealership as they require there specific scanners.Some vehicles will require the battery to be disconnected for the reset and a "battery saver" can not be used to save stuff like radio memory or the reset will not work so if your vehicle has a "anti-theft" radio that requires a code to unlock make sure you have that code ready as we will not be responable for the added cost from a trip to the dealership to unlock the radio as we must reset the steering angle sensor if we are able to do so.We also may deny doing a alignment if we can not reset the steering angle sensor,even if you have already purchased a lifetime alignment package(you should be refunded the cost).


Today my shop got the update and the reset tool,in april/may another update comes out and hopefully we will be able to reset all makes/models but we will not know until that update comes out and Hunter installs it.Not trying to sell anything Firestone but from the Hunter rep Firestone is aggressively taking this issue serouisly and besides dealerships will have 100% pro-activity to making your vehicle as safe as it can be.So basically some other alignmnet places will not have the ability to reset any steering angle sensors or do not care.
 
Last edited:

LibertyTC

Well-Known Member
Staff member
Moderator
Joined
Oct 24, 2008
Messages
9,081
Reaction score
1,747
Location
B.C. Canada
Really good Information Tom, Thanks for posting this. Sticky Time..!
Maybe Sticky/ post another copy in the KK Section too.
 

sota

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 6, 2011
Messages
2,324
Reaction score
1,115
Location
NJ
can confirm, when I did steering components a couple years ago, and the alignment was all jacked up, getting it rolled over to the shop for an alignment was troublesome. had to keep the wheel turned right to go straight, which meant over 25mph if I had to make a right turn the ESP would freak out and start grabbing brakes like crazy.
 

u2slow

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 6, 2012
Messages
655
Reaction score
107
Location
BC
Interesting related article... dated March 2007:
https://www.nhtsa.gov/DOT/NHTSA/Rulemaking/Rules/Associated Files/ESC_FRIA_ 03_2007.pdf

The final rule requires passenger cars, multipurpose passenger vehicles (MPVs), trucks, and buses that have a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 4,536 kg (10,000 pounds) or less to be equipped with an ESC system that meets the functional and performance requirements specified in FMVSS No. 126. In addition, the rule requires manufacturers to install an ESC malfunction telltale and allows manufacturers to provide an optional ESC Off switch (and associated telltale) to temporarily disable the ESC system. Specific symbols and/or text are required to be used for the malfunction telltale and ESC Off switch. Throughout this analysis, we assume that an ESC system combines two basic technologies: Anti*lock Brakes (ABS) and Electronic Stability Control.

Between the provision for an off switch, and compliance not required until Jan 2012, is a Jeep owner required to have the ESC functioning on a 2011-older vehicle?
 

tommudd

Moderator
Staff member
Moderator
Joined
Jul 14, 2005
Messages
22,456
Reaction score
3,642
Location
Southeastern Ohio

u2slow

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 6, 2012
Messages
655
Reaction score
107
Location
BC
If it came stock on a vehicle, then yes " by law" but..........
and if you would have an accident and insurance saw that you disabled a system, there is their out

How's that different from switching it off, if your vehicle is equipped with a switch?
 

Latest posts

Members online

Top