You may have spotted the ESC (electronic stability control) button near your handbrake or your knee in your automobile and wondered what it did. It is normally turned on by default, and you must push the button to turn it off.

If your ESC light comes on and you want to know why without visiting your mechanic’s workshop, you can use an OBD 1 scanner. To make the right buying decision, check out our review of the best OBD 1 scanner.

Read on to find out if it is safe to drive while the ESC this light is on.

What is ESC?

Electronic stability control, or ESC, is a driver aid safety feature. To react to a lack of traction, the car’s onboard computer uses a variety of sensors.

Depending on the make of your vehicle, you may notice acronyms like “Electronic Stability Program” (ESP) or “Dynamic Stability Control” (DSC). Some companies, like Porsche, use their brand name in the names of the system.

What is the Function of ESC in a Car?

Although the name of the system varies greatly depending on the vehicle, the idea remains the same. Stability control systems employ data from the car’s sensors to help you stay on track.

When your automobile slips on ice or a puddle, your anti-lock braking system (ABS) might detect a break in your braking cadence. The stability control system uses that information, along with information on the angle of your steering wheel and whether any wheels are spinning, to adjust braking and power to keep you moving in the direction you want to go.

Consider taking a turn on a snowy road for a real-life illustration. When you press the brake pedal, the ESC and ABS systems may detect that one of the brakes is about to lock. You can lose control of the steering as a result of this.

Instead, the system intervenes and prevents lockup by automatically regulating the brakes, allowing you to keep control of your steering without losing it. The ESC system then reduces the power to the wheels that are spinning too much and directs it to the ones that have firm traction if the car slips on the snow when you apply the gas to come out of the turn. The ABS will automatically apply the brakes if the car keeps sliding, which will keep you safe.

What Causes the ESC Light to Come On?

The ESC light may come on for different reasons. They aren’t all harmful, but if this light comes on, even for a second, you should keep an eye on it. Something vital is being communicated by the system.

Here are some of the reasons why the ESC light comes on:

Vehicle slipping

The ESC light will appear on the dashboard when you face situations that require the ESC system’s intervention. This is a warning that the car is losing traction. Nothing is wrong, and when you restore control, the light will stop flashing.

The ESC has been disabled

You might want to turn off the ESC system for a variety of reasons. If you’re driving up an incline and need to spin the tires to get over an icy patch, you may need to disable the ESC. Because safety is so important, the light will stay on until you turn the system back on.

Issues with the ABS or the Wheel Speed Sensor

If your car’s anti-lock brake system or wheel speed sensors aren’t functioning properly, a light on the dashboard will alert you. That’s because the data from the sensors, as well as the activities of the ABS, are all sent into the ESC system’s overall control. Multiple lights from various systems may appear at times.

Is It Safe to Drive While the ESC Light is On?

Yes, it is safe to keep driving with the ESC warning light on provided you are a careful driver who always drives within the limits of your car, the road, and the weather.

ESC does not affect your vehicle’s handling. It’s there as a safety precaution in case something goes wrong, but even then, its ability to restore vehicle control is limited. The main goal of ESC is to fix small problems with driving before they become big problems.

Wrapping Up: How Can You Fix the ESC Warning Light?

The ESC system is made up of several driver assistance systems, any of which might cause the ESC warning light to flash. Having diagnostics is the quickest way to fix the ESC warning light. An OBD 1 scanner is required for this task. This gadget will look for error codes, which will aid in the diagnosis of the problem.