Hyundai Tucson "ESC OFF" Light
I see there is already a similar thread to this but it seems associated with the 2006 and I have a 2007 Tucson. Last night I was driving my Tucson and the ECS OFF light came on. No matter how many times I pressed the ESC OFF switch, the light never flickered.
And I really needed the ECS. It was a combination of rain/snow/sleet with about 2 inches of slush on the road and just the tire marks in the lanes. It was three lanes of traffic with everybody from little old ladies barely moving to hotshots humping the speed limit. Eight inches of slush on the shoulders. Temperature dropping.
This really disturbed me. What did ECS OFF mean?
(1) Was the ABS working (Yes, I tested that when I got off the highway with the ESC OFF light still illuminated. ABS was functional.)
(2) If the front wheels lost traction, would the rear wheels come to the rescue??? I tried to test this by stopping, cutting the wheels and hitting the gas. I think the rear wheels started to drive but I had to stop my testing because of traffic.
(3) When I got home (safely) I pulled the manual and it said shut off the engine and restart it to see of the light went off. It did.
So now, what the do I do? I paid for ESC but it failed the first time I needed it.
Also, is ther a good description of how this ESC works? Something more than the manual?
Thanks
Pete
See Also
Edmunds Answers: Hyundai Tucson ESC Light Questions
And I really needed the ECS. It was a combination of rain/snow/sleet with about 2 inches of slush on the road and just the tire marks in the lanes. It was three lanes of traffic with everybody from little old ladies barely moving to hotshots humping the speed limit. Eight inches of slush on the shoulders. Temperature dropping.
This really disturbed me. What did ECS OFF mean?
(1) Was the ABS working (Yes, I tested that when I got off the highway with the ESC OFF light still illuminated. ABS was functional.)
(2) If the front wheels lost traction, would the rear wheels come to the rescue??? I tried to test this by stopping, cutting the wheels and hitting the gas. I think the rear wheels started to drive but I had to stop my testing because of traffic.
(3) When I got home (safely) I pulled the manual and it said shut off the engine and restart it to see of the light went off. It did.
So now, what the do I do? I paid for ESC but it failed the first time I needed it.
Also, is ther a good description of how this ESC works? Something more than the manual?
Thanks
Pete
See Also
Edmunds Answers: Hyundai Tucson ESC Light Questions
0
Comments
Incidentally, I changed the title of this topic for clarity.
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper
My "Traction Off" light would come on intermittently in hot weather and never in the winter. It also never came on when the dealer checked it out. I plan on driving to the dealer when it happens again and let them check the error code while the light is on. I'm in Iraq at the moment and my wife says she hasn't seen the light come on this summer. It's probably a traction sensor but I started wondering if the traction control worked fine and perhaps it's actually a faulty dash light? Once again, it never came on except in hot weather.
I've now discovered that I have probs with the dashboard warning lights if I drive for several hours and turn off the engine for only a few minutes. Once, the check engine light came on- and the gas cap WAS tightened. Next time the ESC light came on. Just yesterday, on a long drive, the check engine light came on again after only stopping for a few minutes. The strange thing is that if the car sits a while- hours or overnight- the next time I start the engine the light that was on does not come back on.
The first time this happened I used the Hyundai Roadside Assistance (and the guys on the 800 number were absolutely wonderful!) to tow me to the nearest dealership, and they thought it was because I had just gassed up & must not have tightened the gas cap. The other times this has happened I had not just gassed up.
Since it only happens on long trips, I'm stuck on the road when this happens and I am losing confidence that this Tucson is safe to drive. Has anyone had this problem- I don't know if it's a short in the sensors or what?
If anybody tracks down the source of this issue, link to a service bulletin, anything like that please let me know! I cannot afford a rental for a week or weeks and the dealer is scaring me it could take that long. As long as the ESC is actually functioning I don't give a flying fig about the light itself at this point.
This is not the only electrical type glitch I have. Periodically the car dings when I get out as though I left the keys in (they aren't). Reinserting and removing the key generally solves it but hoping it doesn't go like the ESC light now.
I had been chalking them both up to a fluke in that this car came with factory cruise control. But supposedly cruise control is not even available as an option according to the mfr site. Dealer didn't put it in, it came like that and it is Factory.
Does everybody with this problem have some sort of option that would effect wiring or put in something aftermarket? The only Sportage I found on the net before the above post with this ESC light business had an aftermarket towing package put in. My ESC light problem started when the weather got hot. But it is cooling off and lights coming on every day now.
IF somebody gets it fixed, please share!
Will copy posts regarding this to show dealer.
Will pass on any info.
My neighbor ran some test for me and he says my car won't pass emission inspection & that Hyundai HAS to fix that under warranty if under 50k miles.
Pretty bizarre...
I have a 2006 Tucson with the exact same problem you describe, and the dealer found the problem linked to a faulty brake pedal switch. Don't ask my why that's on the same circuit, but if you take the car into the dealer, they'll replace the switch for free (under warranty). That's what happened to me, and I haven't had the problem since.
And they react to a lot more than fishtail. It detects when one or more wheels are losing traction or when a rollover is eminent. It then directs power to the wheels that are needed to mitigate the problem by using both the transmission, engine power, and brakes.
As for freak out, damn right I am freaked out. I paid for the ESC and the first time I encountered conditions that needed it, it took itself off line.
Now, I have been driving in winter conditions for over 40 years. In bad conditions, I know what to do with rear wheel drive, I know what to do with front wheel drive, and I practiced a little with ESC. But, my main concern was, when the ESC OFF light came on, what did I have? Front wheel drive, rear wheel drive, some combination? Was the ABS still functioning (I confirmed it was later when I exited the highway)? What about other functions?
The problem has not occurred since but I haven't hit the terrible conditions of that night. Thus, I doubt the brake pedal switch was the problem. More likely it was the ice, slush, and snow gumming something up. Of course that means the problem won't return unless I encounter similar conditions.
I really don't want to take it in to the dealer and have him swap out the switch and get his reimbursement from the company. Then have the same problem when the weather is bad.
I have a shop manual for the 2006 Tucson and it clearly shows that the brake switch is a dual switch. One set of contacts for the brake lights and one set of contacts for the "ECS" circuitry. The "ECS" contacts are closed until the brake pedal is pushed. Then, the brake light contacts close and the ECS contacts open.
The reverse happens when you let your foot off the pedal.
I suspect that the ECS contacts sometimes aren't closing when the brake pedal is let up.
The switch is easily removed and it's an easy dissassemble to inspect and clean the contacts. I found the heavy duty brake light contacts somewhat pitted.
I cleaned and adjusted the contacts and put the switch back in the car.
Let's see what happens. I'll post future results.
So far, the "ESC OFF" light has NOT come on.
Previously, the ESC OFF light would come on and stay on even if it was a short or long trip.
The only way to shut the light off was to stop and turn off the ignition.
DUH IT's Electronic Stability Control = ESC
Definitely.....The brake switch.
-4WD system warning lights.
-ABS service reminder indicator.
-ESC OFF
can any one please help me what is the problem?
also the 4WD system doesn't work.
My car is Tucson 2007 4WD
-4WD system warning lights.
-ABS service reminder indicator.
-ESC OFF
can any one please help me what is the problem?
also the 4WD system doesn't work. My car is Tucson 2007 4WD
Is this the part that I need to change?
https://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images;_ylt=AwrEwhGCEghgeGIA1QVXNyoA;_ylu=Y29sbwNiZjEEcG9zAzEEdnRpZAMEc2VjA3BpdnM-?p=break+light+switch+hyundai+2007&fr2=piv-web&fr=mcafee#id=0&iurl=https://www.carid.com/images/standard/items/sls-481.jpg&action=click
sorry for my question but I am a real amateur when it comes to cars.