2004-2012 Skoda Octavia 4 Door Driving Tips -> Electronic stability programme (ESP)* User Manual
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Driving Tips -> Electronic stability programme (ESP)* for Your Skoda Octavia 4 Door Second Generation (2004-2012)

Intelligent Technology 193  
Driving Tips  
Intelligent Technology  
Operating principle  
Electronic stability programme (ESP)*  
The ESP switches on automatically when the engine is started and then conducts a  
self-test. The ESP control unit processes data from the individual systems. It also  
processes additional measurement data which are supplied by highly sensitive  
sensors: the rotational velocity of the vehicle about its vertical axis, the lateral accel-  
eration of the vehicle, the braking pressure and the steering angle.  
General  
The direction which the driver wishes to take is determined based on the steering  
angle and the speed of the vehicle and is constantly compared with the actual  
behaviour of the vehicle. If differences exist, such as the vehicle beginning to skid,  
the ESP will automatically brake the appropriate wheel.  
The car is stabilised again by the forces which take effect when the wheel is braked.  
Intervention into the brake system takes place primarily on the outer front wheel of  
a vehicle which tends to oversteer (tendency for the rear of the vehicle to break  
away) while occurs this is on the inner rear wheel of a vehicle which tends to under-  
steer (tendency to shift out of the curve). This braking control cycle is accompanied  
by noises.  
Fig. 196 ESP switch  
General  
The ESP operates in combination with the ABS page 197, “Antilock brake system  
(ABS)”. If there is a fault in the ABS system, the ESP also does not operate.  
The ESP aids you maintain control of your vehicle in situations in borderline driving  
situations such as when negotiating a curve too fast. The risk of skidding is reduced  
and your vehicle thus offers greater driving stability depending on the conditions of  
the road surface. This occurs at all speeds.  
The ESP warning light lights up in the instrument cluster when there is a fault on the  
ESP page 37.  
The following systems are integrated into the electronic stability programme:  
Switching off  
You can switch the ESP off and on again as you wish, by pressing the button  
fig. 196. The ESP warning light lights up in the instrument cluster when the ESP is  
switched off page 37.  
Electronic Differential Lock (EDL),  
Traction control system (TCS),  
Active driver-steering recommendation (DSR),  
Antilock brake system (ABS),  
Brake Assist,  
The ESP should normally always be switched on. It may be good practice in certain  
exceptional cases, such as when you wish to have wheel slip, to switch off the  
system.  
Uphill-Start off-Assist.  
Examples:  
Using the system  
Safety  
Driving Tips  
General Maintenance  
Breakdown assistance  
Technical Data  
194 Intelligent Technology  
when driving with snow chains  
Operating principle  
The EDL is activated automatically, that is without any action on the part of the  
driver. It monitors the speeds of the driven wheels with the aid of the ABS sensors.  
Should only one drive wheel begin spinning on a slippery surface there will be an  
appreciable difference in the speed of the driven wheels. The EDL function brakes  
the slipping wheel and the differential transmits a greater driving force to the other  
driven wheel. This control process is also accompanied by noises.  
when driving in deep snow or on a loose surface  
when it is necessary to rock a vehicle when it has become stuck.  
then you should switch on the ESP again.  
WARNING  
Overheating of the brakes  
It is also not possible for the ESP to overcome the physical limits of the  
vehicle. Even if a vehicle fitted with ESP you should still always adapt your  
style of driving to the condition of the road surface and the traffic situation.  
This particularly applies when driving on slippery and wet roads. The  
increased safety offered must not tempt you to take greater risks than other-  
wise - risk of an accident!  
The EDL switches off automatically if unusually severe stresses exist in order to  
avoid excessive heat generation in the disc brake on the wheel which is being  
braked. The vehicle can continue to be driven and has the same characteristics as a  
vehicle not fitted with EDL.  
The EDL switches on again automatically as soon as the brake has cooled down.  
Note  
WARNING  
All four wheels must be fitted with the same tyres in order to achieve problem-  
free operation of the ESP. Differing rolling circumferences of the tyres can lead to an  
undesirable reduction in the engine output.  
Carefully depress the accelerator when accelerating on uniformly slip-  
pery road surfaces, such as ice and snow. The driven wheels might still spin  
despite the EDL and affect the stability of the vehicle - risk of an accident!  
Changes to vehicle (e.g. on engine, on the brakes, on chassis or other assign-  
ment of tyres and wheels) can influence the function of the ESP page 244,  
“Accessories, changes and replacement of parts”.  
You should always adapt your style of driving to the condition of road  
surface and to the traffic situation even when your vehicle is fitted with EDL.  
The increased safety offered must not tempt you to take greater risks than  
otherwise - risk of an accident!  
Electronic Differential Lock (EDL)*  
The electronic differential lock prevents an individual wheel from  
slipping.  
Note  
If the ABS or ESP warning light comes on, this may also indicate a fault in the  
EDL. Please have the vehicle inspected as soon as possible by a specialist garage.  
Models fitted with ESP are equipped with electronic differential lock (EDL).  
Changes to vehicle (e.g. on engine, on the brakes, on chassis or other assign-  
ment of tyres and wheels) can influence the function of the EDL page 244,  
General  
“Accessories, changes and replacement of parts”.  
The EDL makes it much easier, and sometimes at all possible, to start off, accelerate  
and climb a steep hill when the conditions of the road surface are unfavourable.  
Intelligent Technology 195  
The TCS should normally always be switched on. It may be good practice in certain  
exceptional cases, such as when you wish to have wheel slip, to switch off the  
system.  
Traction control system (TCS)  
The traction control system prevents the driven wheels from spinning  
when accelerating.  
Examples:  
when driving with snow chains  
when driving in deep snow or on a loose surface  
when it is necessary to rock a vehicle when it has become stuck.  
then you should switch on the TCS again.  
WARNING  
You should always adjust your style of driving to the conditions of the road  
surface and the traffic situation. The increased safety offered must not tempt  
you to take greater risks than otherwise - risk of an accident!  
Fig. 197 TCS switch  
General  
Note  
The TCS makes it much easier, and sometimes at all possible, to start off, accelerate  
and climb a steep hill when the conditions of the road surface are unfavourable.  
All four wheels must be fitted with the same tyres in order to achieve problem-  
free operation of the TCS. Differing rolling circumferences of the tyres can lead to  
an undesirable reduction in the engine output.  
Operating principle  
The TCS switches on automatically when the engine is started and then conducts a  
self-test. The system monitors the speeds of the driven wheels with the aid of the  
ABS sensors. If the wheels are spinning, the force transmitted to the road surface is  
automatically adapted by reducing the engine speed. This occurs at all speeds.  
Changes to vehicle (e.g. on engine, on the brakes, on chassis or other assign-  
ment of tyres and wheels) can influence the function of the TCS page 244,  
“Accessories, changes and replacement of parts”.  
The TCS operates in combination with the ABS page 197, “Antilock brake system  
(ABS)”. The TCS will not function if a fault exists in the ABS system.  
Active driver-steering recommendation (DSR)*  
The TCS warning light lights up in the instrument cluster when there is a fault on the  
TCS page 37.  
Vehicles with ESP are equipped with active driver-steering recommendation (DSR).  
Switching off  
This function indicates to the driver in critical situations a steering recommendation  
in order to stabilise the vehicle. The active driver-steering recommendation is acti-  
vated, for example, on the right and left vehicle side when braking sharply on  
different road surfaces.  
You can switch the TCS off and on again as you wish by pressing the button  
fig. 197. The TCS warning light lights up in the instrument cluster when the TCS is  
switched off page 37.  
Using the system  
Safety  
Driving Tips  
General Maintenance  
Breakdown assistance  
Technical Data  

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