Ford Focus Zetec ESP

changkra

I have a new focus zetec which was only registered a weeek ago Monday just gone. Everything has been fine until today with the snow today has been an absolute nightmare. The ESP anti skid thig kicked in whilst going up hill but instead if helping me to steer in a straight
line like every other car it is pulling me into one side and spinning me in circles. I nearly hit 3 parked cars so have to dump it. This is my 3 rd focus but the first with this ESP.

Is it possible that this is faulty or is it me that isn't driving correctly? Any help really appreciated.

anewman

Turn esp off.

changkra

anewman wrote: »

Turn esp off.

Thank you for your reply I have tried to turn it off but won't it still kicks in

goldspanners

have you read your manual?

my esp on my transit goes off but comes back on when speeds over 38 mph are reached and can not be turned of fully.

changkra

Thanks for the post. Yes have read the manual. I was driving down the street in the front of my house this afternoon and although there is a little snow on the road the ESP kept kicking in and seemed to keep pulling the car into the kerb (only driving about 5mph). The last ford focus we had never had this trouble what so ever. The focus hasnt changed to rear wheel drive by any chance has it? just to let you know im not a new driver and i have been driving for over 20 years and driving in these conditions every year and never had a problem before.

themac1977

ESP is Electronic Stability Program, not just Traction Control.

On a lot of cars nowadays its impossible to FULLY deactivate the system, however if yours has the on board computer in the dash try this (shamefully copy and pasted from elswhere!):

On display between the clocks, you have to use the stick on the left side of streering wheel. goto menus and press set scroll down to ESP and press set. yellow esp light will come on to confirm the tracion control is switched off.

However, the prob with most front wheel drive cars is that they have unequal length drive shafts, so dont distribute the power equally so are more inclined to suffer from front end "drift" in slippy conditions, for some reason the newer Focus is worse for this than the older ones. :think:

goldspanners

changkra wrote: »

The last ford focus we had never had this trouble what so ever. The focus hasnt changed to rear wheel drive by any chance has it?

no its still front wheel drive. ive got a facelift mk1 focus and its been no trouble in the snow,even again tonight no trouble,but the newly cleaned and adjusted rear shoes were fun in an empty tesco car park.