Has anybody experienced their ESC being activated. I am wondering if you can actually feel the science doing its job or is the electronics so clever you dont feel a thing when activated?
i have only been towing for fifteen months with around 13,000 kilometres so far. Yesterday was the first time that I have felt the wobbles and I was starting to get to that OMG stage with hand hovering over the Redarc brake controller when the wobbles fortunately stopped, but I felt nothing from the ESC/caravan brakes. I was on the M1 heading south, travelling at my usual 95 kph, overtaking a semi trailer in the lefthand lane when another semi overtakes all of us in the third (fast) lane. The wind tunnel affect from both trucks was significant and we started to get the wobbles, but as quickly as it all started it all came to an end and I am wondering if the ESC kicked in and saved the day.
Maybe I should mention that my van is single axle, my tow vehicle has trailer sway and I packed the van the same way I always have with weight distribution as I always do, following the text books......and yes, I have disposed of the undies.
ESC is on all the time. There is a switch on my dashboard to turn it off, for when one is offroading.
I have turned it off on our local street with a steep gradient & very sharp turn to see what happens. Wheels spin, steering is different, engine has too much power.
One then realises with ESC on it is doing a lot of different things.
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Yep, once in anger on the Hume Highway and a couple of times in the bush when I have forgotten to disconnect it
Yu would know if it comes on, it applies brakes on alternate wheels to bring it back into a straight line, so you would feel a strong braking sensation if it activated.
I tow a single axle off road van, so quite high with a leaf spring twin cab Ranger
-- Edited by Trevor 57 on Friday 11th of December 2020 07:34:20 PM
Hi you will definitely notice when the esc comes on it feels like heavy breaking on one side of the van I had a tandem van coming down Bells line of road it does give you a bit of a fright something taking control
Cheers
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Probably just the wind tunnel effect from the trucks as you say.
Alko ESC activates both brakes at once, so you would feel that for sure, Dexter ESC brakes one side at a time to control the sway, probably wouldn't feel it as much.
Many van manufacturers and dealers are not using licenced automotive electricians to wire up towing electricals in vans and tugs, so there is a chance that they may be wired incorrectly (sometimes dangerous). Stability Control may be incorrectly wired if you have fishtailing that is not corrected. Go to a competent Auto Electrician and have wiring checked.
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Thanks all for your replies and comments. I think it was an unusual situation with incredible wind turbulence created by two semi trailers and I was the ham in the sandwich.
Norm, as every Tug in Australia is individually wired there is no guarantee where any isolation switch is mounted if indeed there is any at all. It also depends on whether you have Dexter or ALKO Stability Control system fitted - it is more likely to have an isolation available if Dexter System fitted.
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Possum; AKA:- Ali El-Aziz Mohamed Gundawiathan
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Norweb, I disagree with Possum3 it is the other way around, it depends if you have Alko or Dexter fitted, Dexter senses offroad conditions and diactivates itself, no need for switch or unplug.
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Norweb, I disagree with Possum3 it is the other way around, it depends if you have Alko or Dexter fitted, Dexter senses offroad conditions and diactivates itself, no need for switch or unplug.
Vince, Agree sorry I have Dexter and do know - I just put it wrong, sorry for confusion
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Possum; AKA:- Ali El-Aziz Mohamed Gundawiathan
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I have Alko ESC and have never felt anything, but have noticed the red light indicator (on the caravan towbar) on after rough roads. So I'm guessing that it has activated. I have rarely disconnected the ESC from power, because I would possibly forget to reconnect. And I'm pretty sure that it has never actively operated due to cross-winds, passing road-trains, or whatever. I have a full-height off-road, single axle van. Tug has all kinds of electronic stability thingies (technical term).
