Electronic stability control (ESC) was government-mandated for all vehicles in 2012. This legislation brings with it many vehicle technologies that the collision industry needs to be aware of to properly repair vehicles.
ESC monitors how a vehicle is responding to the driver and road conditions. If a problem starts to develop, it takes measures necessary to bring the vehicle under control. Committee chairman Toby Chess explained some of the related technology, its use and encouraged industry members to be knowledgeable about the systems and how they need to be addressed at the shop level during the Collision Industry Conference in Phoenix, Ariz., April 4.
Some of the related technology includes:
- Steering angle sensors — A steering angle sensor is on every vehicle with ESC. As the steering wheel moves in either direction, the speed and number of revolutions are transmitted to the vehicle’s computer. Every time a technician performs suspension work, it needs to be reset through a four-wheel alignment.
- Traction control system — A device that maximizes accelerating and climbing abilities by preventing wheel slippage when the car accelerates or moves forward from a stopped position.
- TPMS — An electronic system designed to monitor the air pressure inside the pneumatic tires on various vehicles.
- Hill start technology — A variant of hill-holder, it is used by some semi-automatic clutchless sytems. It prevent a car from rolling away when trying to accelerate up or down a gradient. HSC will not function if there is an ESC problem.
- Hill decent technology — This system applies the brakes and slows the engine to allow a controlled hill descent in rough terrain without the driver needing to touch the brake pedal.
- Blind spot detection technology — It alerts drivers to vehicles or objects in blind spots.
- Adaptive cruise control — It allows the driver to set cruise control, but will adjust the cruise speed to keep a safe distance between vehicles.
- Lane departure technology — It gives a driver a warning if the vehicle begins to depart from the lane.
- Adaptive head lamps – They help drivers see better when navigating dark curves. The lights pivot based on steering wheel movement and vehicle speed to illuminate the road ahead.
- Crash avoidance technology — Systems features include lane departure, alerting drivers if following vehicles too closely, if approaching a vehicle too rapidly, brakes are pressurized to prepare for braking, etc.
- Night vision technology — A system that illuminates objects of potential hazards on the road at nighttime.