No ESP yet no warning lamp. What to check?

[ThirdLeon]

First I noticed the ESP button will not turn off.
But now ive paid more attention I notice the light on the dashboard does not light up when I first put the key in.


And I haven't seen it kick in when driving, admittedly I haven't gone too crazy trying to make it work. But I am wondering whats going on.. At first I thought the button was broken but now wondering if the ESP function is switched off completely!

Car seems to drive very well. If the ESP was not functioning at all how safe would it be day to day?


And what would people advise to check in order to figure out what is wrong?

 

[Legojon]

Scan for codes. Could be a faulty button, fuse, abs sensor. The esp button as far as I'm aware only turns off aspects of the traction control system manually. But even if the whole system was disabled, I made it through over a decade of driving cars without traction control so I wouldn't be worried.

 

[ThirdLeon]

Ive got a Blusmart ODB reader from past cars and had a look yet haven't found any faults. Although not sure how good a code reader it is or what I should be looking for really.
Ive driven it in the wet without problems just worried if ESP is totally disabled it might be an issue in snow or ice.

From doing some digging around online ive seen something about a common abs fault which causes the ESP warning light. And then seen posts where car sellers have disabled or taped up the led in the dash to hide it. This has me worried. Hoping its the switch, do they pop right out of the centre console?

 

[Legojon]

Not sure on that particular code reader. The center section pops out using a plastic tool or carefully with a flatblade screwdriver. Then each button set can be removed and replaced individually. There's a few pics lower down this page from when I did my door lock buttons.

https://forums.seatcupra.net/index....onomical-totally-stock-1-6-leon.448244/page-3

 

[Bedlam]

I had a similar problem, in a Leon MK2, where my switch would not reset my tyre pressures.
I changed the switch and it was cured.
However, I investigated the old switch, opened it up and a lump of fluff fell out......that one also then worked when tried again
Yes they do "pop out", just be careful not to scratch the housing

 

[ThirdLeon]

Thanks i'll investigate the switch

But the led on the dash should light up when I first put the key in shouldn't it? even if the switch is broken?

 

[ThirdLeon]

This is what I see turning the ignition.. no esp light

https://www.dropbox.com/s/tt5prkh90ik9ipo/20190308_150016.mp4?dl=0


Ive had a quick look at the button and it seems ok. But will have to get a multimeter on it to test over the weekend

 

[Hawkers]

Been tampered with somewhere, maybe a fuse removed or something unplugged. Needs a scan with a VAG scanner really.

Electronic stabilisation programme (ESP)*

This warning lamp monitors the electronic stabilisation programme.
This programme includes the ABS, EDL and TCS. This also includes the brakeassist system (BAS), automatic cleaning of the brake discs and the trailer stability programme (TSP).
The warning lamp has the following functions:

•It will light for about 2 seconds when the ignition is switched on while a
test of the function is carried out.
•It flashes when the ESP is activated when driving.
•It will light up continuously if there is a malfunction in the ESP.
•It will also come on if a fault should occur in the ABS because the ESP
operates in conjunction with the ABS.

If the ESP warning lamplights up and stays on after the engine is started,
this may mean that the control system has temporarily switched off the ESP.
In this case the ESP can be reactivated by switching the ignition off and then on again. If the warning lamp goes out, this means the system is fully functional. If the ESP button is activated, the TCS function deactivates and the warning
lamp flashes.

 

[ThirdLeon]

Been back to the place I bought it today as it was under warranty, they've scanned it and found its the pressure sensor.
Exactly what id diagnosed reading on here and other sites. Booked in to have it sorted next week. Thanks

 

[Hawkers]

Been back to the place I bought it today as it was under warranty, they've scanned it and found its the pressure sensor.
Exactly what id diagnosed reading on here and other sites. Booked in to have it sorted next week. Thanks

Tyre pressure sensor? There is none, it will be the abs sensor.

 

[ThirdLeon]

Yeah that's the one. I read on a few sites its a common fault with these and other vw, skoda, audi etc

 

[Rusty2k]

There's an issue with some early ABS units where the unit's internal pressure sensor can fail.

This wouldn't account for the missing warning light though. This fault should bring the warning light on so it's still likely the light as been removed or covered up.

 

[ThirdLeon]

Pretty sure a previous owner had the fault, got a quote which he\she didn't want to pay so decided to hide the error light. The place I bought it from are sorting the dash out as well as the pressure sensor next week.

I was expecting them to be hostile as ive bought cars with "warranty" in the past. But so far so good with this place