2008 - ESC/Traction control problem?
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2008 - ESC/Traction control problem?
Hello,
Our 2008 Escape (2WD) has very poor traction control in wet or snowy driving conditions. The Escape pulls strongly in one direction or the other when it hits slippery patches (so much so that the Honda Civic is the preferred winter car). This winter we noticed the "sliding car" light coming on a lot but in rainy conditions we are not consistently seeing this even when we notice the car sliding. It seems to drive/corner okay in regular driving conditions...so I think we've ruled out the sway bar. In the rain yesterday the car seemed so uncontrollable that we turned around and went home however in today's nice conditions it seems okay. Any suggestions on what this might be?
Our 2008 Escape (2WD) has very poor traction control in wet or snowy driving conditions. The Escape pulls strongly in one direction or the other when it hits slippery patches (so much so that the Honda Civic is the preferred winter car). This winter we noticed the "sliding car" light coming on a lot but in rainy conditions we are not consistently seeing this even when we notice the car sliding. It seems to drive/corner okay in regular driving conditions...so I think we've ruled out the sway bar. In the rain yesterday the car seemed so uncontrollable that we turned around and went home however in today's nice conditions it seems okay. Any suggestions on what this might be?
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,716
Likes: 15
How's the tread on the front tires?
Front tires the same make, size?
Is one front tire just about worn out, while the other front tire is new (like a difference in actual tire diameter due to vastly different levels of wear)?
I would get under and check the sway bar links to know for sure that both ends of the bar are still hooked up.
If all of that is good, I think I would try turning off the AdvanceTrac system, to see if it acts OK when OFF in slippery conditions, but bad when its turned ON. Check your owner's manual under DRIVING - AdvanceTrac to read up on the system, what can be disabled at what speeds, when it comes back ON due to speed, etc.
It's more than just flipping the switch off, the computer will take over anyway in certain conditions. It's all in the manual.
There are a couple other things, though I would think they would show up on dry pavement too - front lower control arm mount rubber bushings shot bad, MacPherson strut top mount/bearing bad. Anything worn/broken that can allow a wheel to do some steering on its own can be really squirrely.
Just some thoughts.
Front tires the same make, size?
Is one front tire just about worn out, while the other front tire is new (like a difference in actual tire diameter due to vastly different levels of wear)?
I would get under and check the sway bar links to know for sure that both ends of the bar are still hooked up.
If all of that is good, I think I would try turning off the AdvanceTrac system, to see if it acts OK when OFF in slippery conditions, but bad when its turned ON. Check your owner's manual under DRIVING - AdvanceTrac to read up on the system, what can be disabled at what speeds, when it comes back ON due to speed, etc.
It's more than just flipping the switch off, the computer will take over anyway in certain conditions. It's all in the manual.
There are a couple other things, though I would think they would show up on dry pavement too - front lower control arm mount rubber bushings shot bad, MacPherson strut top mount/bearing bad. Anything worn/broken that can allow a wheel to do some steering on its own can be really squirrely.
Just some thoughts.
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,534
Likes: 2
From: Warren, MI
Hello,
Our 2008 Escape (2WD) has very poor traction control in wet or snowy driving conditions. The Escape pulls strongly in one direction or the other when it hits slippery patches (so much so that the Honda Civic is the preferred winter car). This winter we noticed the "sliding car" light coming on a lot but in rainy conditions we are not consistently seeing this even when we notice the car sliding. It seems to drive/corner okay in regular driving conditions...so I think we've ruled out the sway bar. In the rain yesterday the car seemed so uncontrollable that we turned around and went home however in today's nice conditions it seems okay. Any suggestions on what this might be?
Our 2008 Escape (2WD) has very poor traction control in wet or snowy driving conditions. The Escape pulls strongly in one direction or the other when it hits slippery patches (so much so that the Honda Civic is the preferred winter car). This winter we noticed the "sliding car" light coming on a lot but in rainy conditions we are not consistently seeing this even when we notice the car sliding. It seems to drive/corner okay in regular driving conditions...so I think we've ruled out the sway bar. In the rain yesterday the car seemed so uncontrollable that we turned around and went home however in today's nice conditions it seems okay. Any suggestions on what this might be?
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