Winter road manners...

[Maverickxeo]

So I've never had a vehicle with 'nannies' like what come on the JL. I took my JL today (ice, snow, etc.) on factory Michelin tires - and the biggest complaint I have is the stability and traction control! I turned off the traction control and I had a much better experience (starting off in 2nd gear) overall, but stability kept engaging and really throwing me off.

Other than turning them off with JSCAN, is there anyway to permanently turn these off (without having a bunch of dash lights and voiding warranty)? I know I can temporarily turn both off in 4wd - but I never use 4wd on the street. As I mentioned before, I've never had a vehicle with these things - and I really don't want to get used to them during the worst time to do so.

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[Chugiakguy]

So I've never had a vehicle with 'nannies' like what come on the JL. I took my JL today (ice, snow, etc.) on factory Michelin tires - and the biggest complaint I have is the stability and traction control! I turned off the traction control and I had a much better experience (starting off in 2nd gear) overall, but stability kept engaging and really throwing me off.

Other than turning them off with JSCAN, is there anyway to permanently turn these off (without having a bunch of dash lights and voiding warranty)? I know I can temporarily turn both off in 4wd - but I never use 4wd on the street. As I mentioned before, I've never had a vehicle with these things - and I really don't want to get used to them during the worst time to do so.

I'm curious, being about to drive my own new JL in the snow and ice for the first time, just what you were finding about the ESC that you disliked, specifically?

I'm not doubting you here, it would just be good to know exactly what you were experiencing that you took objection to. I've already discovered one highly annoying JL nanny myself, the stupidly STUPID three horn honks upon exiting and closing the door on the still-running Jeep.

 

[Maverickxeo]

I'm curious, being about to drive my own new JL in the snow and ice for the first time, just what you were finding about the ESC that you disliked, specifically?

I'm not doubting you here, it would just be good to know exactly what you were experiencing that you took objection to. I've already discovered one highly annoying JL nanny myself, the stupidly STUPID three horn honks upon exiting and closing the door on the still-running Jeep.

The biggest concern was that it would seem to behave randomly. I would try to turn (and would slide a little - as expected) to which I would correct it - however, ESC would engage the brakes, and cause me to turn sharper than I wanted to (on occasion).

 

[Chugiakguy]

The biggest concern was that it would seem to behave randomly. I would try to turn (and would slide a little - as expected) to which I would correct it - however, ESC would engage the brakes, and cause me to turn sharper than I wanted to (on occasion).

Good to know, and thanks.

I've never driven a vehicle with ESC before, so it will be a learning experience for me. And I hope not a bad one.

 

[Maverickxeo]

Good to know, and thanks.

I've never driven a vehicle with ESC before, so it will be a learning experience for me. And I hope not a bad one.

I'm sure with time I (you) can learn to manage it - but it's just... not for me.

 

[Heimkehr]

the biggest complaint I have is the stability and traction control!

Other than turning them off with JSCAN, is there anyway to permanently turn these off (without having a bunch of dash lights and voiding warranty)?

Have a look at the Tazer website to determine if such functionality is offered.

 

[Maverickxeo]

Have a look at the Tazer website to determine if such functionality is offered.

I think it is - but I have Jscan - so I'd use that, haha!

 

[aldo98229]

Hmmm...your ESC’s behavior sounds odd.

I’ve been driving Wranglers for fourteen years and found the ESC to come on in very rare occasions. I can probably count with one hand the times I had ESC intervene in all those years. And it was a life saver in each one of them.

Unlike say Toyota, who likes to set its ESC parameters very aggressively, Jeep is very lenient in its ESC programming.

My guess is you have a sensor somewhere that is sending the ESC a signal that the Jeep is losing control and needs a correction, when it doesn’t need to.

 

[Headbarcode]

As a very happy Tazer Mini owner for 3+ years, I can confirm that it does in fact have a feature that allows full shutdown of all the nannies. It's called "Trac Kill". Generally, hitting the traction control button only desensitizes the nannies vs fully disabling them.

The following has been my personal experience with my 19 JLUR: With the engine running, regardless of in gear or park, the various nanny lights do illuminate after pressing and holding the traction control button for 5 or 6 seconds to engage Trac Kill. After a shutdown and restart, all but the actual traction control light remain unlit, but Trac Kill is still engaged. The nannies don't re-engage until it's shifted back to 2h from 4h/l, or you hit the traction control button again.

 

[Reinen]

So I've never had a vehicle with 'nannies' like what come on the JL. I took my JL today (ice, snow, etc.) on factory Michelin tires - and the biggest complaint I have is the stability and traction control! I turned off the traction control and I had a much better experience (starting off in 2nd gear) overall, but stability kept engaging and really throwing me off.

Other than turning them off with JSCAN, is there anyway to permanently turn these off (without having a bunch of dash lights and voiding warranty)? I know I can temporarily turn both off in 4wd - but I never use 4wd on the street. As I mentioned before, I've never had a vehicle with these things - and I really don't want to get used to them during the worst time to do so.

Your biggest complaint should be your completely inappropriate tires for the conditions. Of course ESC is going to activate constantly, those tires are constantly unstable in those conditions. You're riding on hockey pucks. FYI, All-Season is an inappropriate name. It doesn't include winter.

Put some winter tires on that JL so ESC isn't trying to do the impossible task of keeping those tires glued to the pavement.

 

[Heimkehr]

Of course ESC is going to activate constantly, those tires are constantly unstable in those conditions. FYI, All-Season is an inappropriate name. It doesn't include winter.

Put some winter tires on that JL so ESC isn't trying to do the impossible task of keeping those tires glued to the pavement.

Fair points.

I'm a Michelin fanboy, and have used their well-regarded LTX M/S tires as replacement rubber for 20+ years now. I was pleased as punch to discover they were standard fitments on my Sport.

That said, those 20+ years have provided realistic expectations regarding the tires' seasonal performance capabilities. The moment the white stuff arrives, I remove the LTXs and install the studded Generals. Horses for courses.

 

[Maverickxeo]

Hmmm...your ESC’s behavior sounds odd.

I’ve been driving Wranglers for fourteen years and found the ESC to come on in very rare occasions. I can probably count with one hand the times I had ESC intervene in all those years. And it was a life saver in each one of them.

Unlike say Toyota, who likes to set its ESC parameters very aggressively, Jeep is very lenient in its ESC programming.

My guess is you have a sensor somewhere that is sending the ESC a signal that the Jeep is losing control and needs a correction, when it doesn’t need to.

So I took it out again after work - it seems to be working more 'appropriately.' I don't know if maybe I was giving it too much throttle, or if it needed to 'adjust,' but it definitely seems a LOT better - neither the TCS or ESC engaged near as much as earlier. I did try going through a bit of snow (about 1.5 feet) and it did okay in 4wd with TCS and ESC on, however, in 2wd it sucked until I turned off TCS.

 

[Maverickxeo]

Your biggest complaint should be your completely inappropriate tires for the conditions. Of course ESC is going to activate constantly, those tires are constantly unstable in those conditions. You're riding on hockey pucks. FYI, All-Season is an inappropriate name. It doesn't include winter.

Put some winter tires on that JL so ESC isn't trying to do the impossible task of keeping those tires glued to the pavement.

I'm hoping to get some Kuhmo Road Venture ATs soon (my preferred tire - ran them year round on every other 'daily' vehicle I've owned with great success).

My TJ currently sits on 35x12.5 General Grabber AT2s - I find that it takes a bit of 'work' to drive it in the conditions we have today, but I typically feel a LOT more confident with it than my JL (but I also have driven the TJ through many winters on occasion).

 

[Chugiakguy]

I've talked to three different JL or Gladiator owners locally (Southcentral Alaska) who all have spoken quite highly of, surprisingly, the Firestone Destination M/T2s as winter tires. Not that they are as good as a truly dedicated winter tire, like Blizzaks, but very acceptable under our typical winter road conditions, and comparable to any of the better performing A/T or non-strictly-winter-dedicated tires.

I guess I'll be finding out for myself very soon.

 

[Maverickxeo]

I've talked to three different JL or Gladiator owners locally (Southcentral Alaska) who all have spoken quite highly of, surprisingly, the Firestone Destination M/T2s as winter tires. Not that they are as good as a truly dedicated winter tire, like Blizzaks, but very acceptable under our typical winter road conditions, and comparable to any of the better performing A/T or non-strictly-winter-dedicated tires.

I guess I'll be finding out for myself very soon.

Do you get a lot of ice there, or just snow? We seem to get a 'nice' mix of the two here.

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