Hyundai Tucson: Electronic Stability Control (ESC)

Electronic Stability Control helps to stabilize the vehicle during cornering maneuvers.

ESC checks where you are steering and where the vehicle is actually going. ESC applies braking pressure to any one of the vehicle's brakes and intervenes in the engine management system to assist the driver with keeping the vehicle on the intended path. It is not a substitute for safe driving practices. Always adjust your speed and driving to the road conditions.

WARNING

Never drive too fast for the road conditions when cornering. ESC will not prevent accidents.

Excessive speed in turns, abrupt maneuvers, and hydroplaning on wet surfaces can result in severe accidents.

ESC operation

ESC ON condition

When the Engine Start/Stop button is in the ON position, ESC and the ESC OFF indicator lights illuminate for approximately three seconds. After both lights go off, ESC is enabled.

When operating

When ESC is in operation, the ESC indicator light blinks:

• When you apply your brakes under conditions which may lock the wheels, you may hear sounds from the brakes, or feel a corresponding sensation in the brake pedal. This is normal and it means your ESC is active.
• When ESC activates, the engine may not respond to the accelerator as it does under routine conditions.
• If Cruise Control was in use when ESC activates, Cruise Control automatically disengages. Cruise Control can be reengaged when the road conditions allow. See "Cruise Control (CC)" section in chapter 7 (if equipped).
•  When moving out of the mud or driving on a slippery road, the engine RPM (revolutions per minute) may not increase even if you press the accelerator pedal deeply. This is to maintain the stability and traction of the vehicle and does not indicate a problem.

ESC OFF condition

To cancel ESC operation:

• State 1

Press the ESC OFF button briefly. The ESC OFF indicator light and/or message 'Traction Control disabled' will illuminate.

In this state, the traction control function of ESC (engine management) is disabled, but the brake control function of ESC (braking management) still operates.

• State 2

Press and hold the ESC OFF button continuously for more than 3 seconds.

The ESC OFF indicator light and/or message 'Traction & Stability Control disabled' illuminates and a warning chime sounds. In this state, both the traction control function of ESC (engine management) and the brake control function of ESC (braking management) are disabled.

If the Engine Start/Stop button is pressed to the OFF position when ESC is off, ESC remains off. Upon restarting the vehicle, ESC will automatically turn on again.

Indicator lights

When the Engine Start/Stop button is pressed to the ON position, the ESC indicator light illuminates, then goes off if the ESC system is operating normally.

The ESC indicator light blinks whenever ESC is operating.

If the ESC indicator light stays on, your vehicle may have a malfunction with the ESC system. When this warning light illuminates we recommend that the vehicle be checked by an authorized HYUNDAI dealer as soon as possible.

The ESC OFF indicator light comes on when ESC is turned off.

WARNING

When ESC is blinking, this indicates ESC is active: Drive slowly and NEVER attempt to accelerate. NEVER turn ESC off while the ESC indicator light is blinking or you may lose control of the vehicle resulting in an accident.

NOTICE

Driving with wheels and tires with different sizes may cause the ESC system to malfunction. Before replacing tires, make sure all four tires and wheels are the same size. Never drive the vehicle with different sized wheels and tires installed.

ESC OFF usage

When Driving

The ESC OFF mode should only be used briefly to help free the vehicle if stuck in snow or mud, by temporarily stopping operation of ESC, to maintain wheel torque.

To turn ESC off while driving, press the ESC OFF button while driving on a flat road surface.

NOTICE

To prevent damage to the transmission:

• Do not allow wheel (s) of one axle to spin excessively while the ESC, ABS, and Parking Brake warning lights are displayed. The repairs would not be covered by the vehicle warranty.

  Reduce engine power and do not spin the wheel (s) excessively while these lights are displayed.

• When operating the vehicle on a dynamometer, make sure ESC is turned off (ESC OFF light illuminated).

Information

Turning ESC off does not affect ABS or standard brake system operation.

Vehicle Stability Management (VSM)

Vehicle Stability Management is a function of the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system. It helps the vehicle stay stable when accelerating or braking suddenly on wet, slippery and rough roads where traction over the four tires can suddenly become uneven.

WARNING

Take the following precautions when using Vehicle Stability Management:

• ALWAYS check the speed and the distance to the vehicle ahead. VSM is not a substitute for safe driving practices.
• Never drive too fast for the road conditions. VSM will not prevent accidents. Excessive speed in bad weather, on slippery and uneven roads can result in severe accidents.

VSM operation

When operating

When you apply your brakes under conditions which may activate ESC, you may hear sounds from the brakes, or feel a corresponding sensation in the brake pedal. This is normal and it means your VSM is active.

Information

VSM does not operate when:

• Driving on a banked road such as gradient or incline.
• Driving in reverse.
• The ESC OFF indicator light is on.
• The EPS (Electric power steering) warning light ( ) is on or blinks.

VSM OFF condition

To cancel VSM operation, press the ESC OFF button. ESC OFF ( ) indicator light will illuminate.

To turn on VSM, press the ESC OFF button again. The ESC OFF indicator light will go out.

WARNING

If the ESC ( ) indicator light or EPS ( ) warning light stays illuminated or blinks, your vehicle may have a malfunction with the VSM system.

When the warning light illuminates we recommend that the vehicle be checked by an authorized HYUNDAI dealer as soon as possible.

NOTICE

Driving with wheels and tires with different sizes may cause the VSM system to malfunction. Before replacing tires, make sure all four tires and wheels are the same size. Never drive the vehicle with different sized tires and wheels installed.

Trailer stability assist (TSA)

Trailer stability assist is operated as a vehicle stability control system. The Trailer stability assist system stabilizes the vehicle and trailer when the trailer sways or oscillates. There are various reasons making vehicle sway and oscillate. In most case it happens at high speed however, if the trailer is affected by crosswinds, buffeting, and improper overloading, it may also be a risk of sway.

Factors of swaying such as:

• High speed
• Strong crosswinds
• Improper overloading
•  Sudden controlling of steering wheel
• Uneven road

Trailer stability assist system continuously analyzes the vehicle and trailer instability. When the Trailer stability assist system detects some sway, the brakes are applied automatically to stabilize the vehicle on the front wheel. However, if it is not enough to stabilize, the brakes are applied on all wheels automatically and engine power is properly reduced. When the vehicle is stable from swaying, trailer stability assist system does not operate.

Hill-Start Assist Control (HAC)

Hill-Start Assist Control helps prevent the vehicle from rolling backwards when starting a vehicle from a stop on a hill. The system operates the brakes automatically for approximately 2 seconds and releases when the accelerator pedal is depressed.

WARNING

Always be ready to depress the accelerator pedal when starting off an incline. Hill-Start Assist Control activates only for approximately 2 seconds.

Information

• Hill-Start Assist Control does not operate when the gear is shifted to P (Park) or N (Neutral).
• Hill-Start Assist Control activates even when the ESC (Electronic Stability Control) is off. However, it does not activate, when ESC does not operate normally.

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