In the manual, I see that lights for both TC (traction control) and ESC (electronic stability control). I would expect the first one to kick in when the wheels are slipping (e.g. during straight-forward acceleration), and the latter one to help me if I skid in a curve. However, I have only seen the latter one kick in, and that's in the first situation!

Is this as intended? For me, it seems like the ESC function is missing, and that when the TC function is active, the ESC light lits up.

i have 2 lights on my fabia, but only ever see 1 flash

givaway is normally TC cuts engine power to reduce wheel slippage, but it can brake the slipping wheel as well

ESC usually results in vibration like ABS as it brakes the individual wheels but your foot is not on the brake (impressive what it does when it occurs believe me)

Edited 5 February, 201313 yr by bluecar1

TC is a function of ESC, you can have the former without the latter but not the other way around. TC only works to control wheelspin by reducing engine torque and then by braking the spinning wheel. ESC will detect an instability when cornering by braking a wheel. Understeering then will brake the inside rear wheel, oversteering will brake the outer front wheel.

Ian

I don't think I have accelerated when skidding, is that a premise for ESC to kick in? Is it possible that my car is not equipped with ESC (how can I check)?

I don't think I have accelerated when skidding, is that a premise for ESC to kick in? Is it possible that my car is not equipped with ESC (how can I check)?

See attachment............................ESC.pdf

Thanks. I do have the Elegance model, but have never seen the TC light or felt the ESC function.

If you skid when braking you will probably feel the ABS more than the ESC, with the pulsing sensation through the brake pedal. The TC light does come on when you wheelspin for example in the recent snow/ice.

I have been able to push my elegance to show me the TC light flooring it from stand-still on an icy road. And another time when starting on an icy hill - without flooring it. It does what it's supposed to. It made the wheels not spin - I couldn't say if it was braking the wheels or cutting the fuel to the engine. In both cases and in general, it drives (and stops) with confidence in snow and ice (I have Michelin Alpine A4 winter tyres on).

However, I think you have to be in an extreme situation - like slipping when cornering in order to get it to brake the rear wheels for stabilization.

Watch this Finnish Youtube video with the Skoda Citigo against the Toyota Aygo on a wet track - they both do an evasive manouver at the end of the video - the Citigo looks very good at that compared to the Aygo...

The TC on my Octavia works really well, even better when you switch it off!

In the manual, I see that lights for both TC (traction control) and ESC (electronic stability control). I would expect the first one to kick in when the wheels are slipping (e.g. during straight-forward acceleration), and the latter one to help me if I skid in a curve. However, I have only seen the latter one kick in, and that's in the first situation!

This is what I have observed as well - with light wheel spin when starting from a stand still on an icy road, the ESC light comes on. I am speculating that this is actually the electronic differential lock (EDL) in action. The EDL will kick in if one of the front wheels starts to slip (manual, p. 63); it brakes the spinning wheel. Since the EDL is integrated into the ESC system (p. 62 in the manual), the ESC light will probably come on in this situation. Only if the wheel slip is more severe, affecting both front wheels, will the traction control cut the engine speed. This is more or less consistent with what pixel_viking observed as well:

I have been able to push my elegance to show me the TC light flooring it from stand-still on an icy road. And another time when starting on an icy hill - without flooring it. It does what it's supposed to. It made the wheels not spin - I couldn't say if it was braking the wheels or cutting the fuel to the engine.

I have yet to be in a situation (going too fast in a curve) where I would expect the "true" ESC function to kick in...

Edit: grammar

Edited 7 February, 201313 yr by vgnils

Sounds reasonable I have had some situations where I would expect the ESC to take over. In some curves, the back wheels have slipped a bit, and in one roundabout, i was sliding on a spot of ice. However, none of these situations was with high speed, so maybe ESC is for more severe situations?