ESP in a4s?

[cclarkb5]

Do we have ESP in quattro b5s? Or is that just a FWD thing and an s4 thing? I assume there would be a light on the dash with a squiggly car. With that in mind do we have any form of traction control at all? Can't find a thread where people know for sure.

[adam044]

Definitely don't have it in my B5 A4 5 speed. My dads 06 auto does in fact have it though. But that's not a B5.

[Nollywood]

My 2000 B5 2.5 TDI V6 Quattro doesn't have ESP.
My 2000 B5 2.8 30V V6 Quattro does have ESP.

[bmos]

ESP was included in the Bosch 5.3 ABS Module which was an option for some years. Standard cars have the Bosch 5.0 module which has EDL (Audi's name for traction control).

[nynoah]

It was an option which was quite rare to find.

[Nollywood]

It must be different with North American models then. Because European B5 facelift (1999 - 2001) 30V Quattro are VERY common with ESP. It's actually more difficult to find these models WITHOUT ESP.

[seanf86]

My 2001 S4 tiptronic has ESP however my brothers fully loaded 01.5 2.8A4 5mt does not have it, I've only ever seen auto trans cars with ESP here in Canada.

[19birel]

ESP was standard on the S4 and all FrontTrak B5s, The Quattro models were equipped only with EDL which stands for "Electronic Differential Lock" a system that uses the brakes to help lock up the center diff. This is what I read in my owner's manual a little while back. This is for North American Spec cars, according to Nollywood the Eurospec models received ESP with Quattro.

[crazexr7]

They're out there. Only ever seen them in 01 b5's but even then it's a rare option I think

[Wrath And Tears]

ESP was standard on the S4 and all FrontTrak B5s

Maybe auto FWD, because mine definitely only has ABS.

[19birel]

Maybe auto FWD, because mine definitely only has ABS.

Maybe it was standard for just the facelift models, I have a 99.5 so that's the owner's manual I read from.

[Nollywood]

EDL-equipped B5's don't actually show it's fitted. It has no dash warning lamp, as it simply works quietly in the background.

My 1995 B5 2.6 Quattro had EDL.

[Wrath And Tears]

Maybe it was standard for just the facelift models, I have a 99.5 so that's the owner's manual I read from.

That would make sense. Pretty sure it was an option for my car that the guy who purchased the car did not get. I often wish I had it when it rains and I stop a little too close to the painted line. I usually spin my tires on them when its wet enough.

[Corrado_Guy]

My 2000 1.8T Canadian Spec quattro has an ESP light in the cluster that comes on with the ignition and goes out when it is started so I would imagine it has it.

[Tanzimur]

wait so whats this Ecl or eps thing on my daily b5s dash? 2001.5? never lights up other then initial start...

[Corrado_Guy]

wait so whats this Ecl or eps thing on my daily b5s dash? 2001.5? never lights up other then initial start...

ESP is used on DBW cars to modulate the brakes/throttle to stop wheel spin when it occurs. I don't feel it much in the dry but there are a few places where I have it kick in on full boost on wet sections of road where the suspension starts to unload. My car is a 2000 but it runs the engine management from a 2001 and the ESP still works. It kicks in pretty hard most of the time and always catches me off guard.

[walky_talky20]

ESP does much more than stop wheel spin, actually. It has a yaw rate sensor (accelerometer package) and a steering angle sensor. Using those sensors along with vehicle speed, the ESP module knows how much turning G-Force to expect when you turn the wheel a certain amount, for instance.

So you hit a snowy corner at 20mph and turn the steering wheel 90 degrees to the right. The ESP watches the yaw rate sensor to see if the appropriate amount of turning G-Force happens. Obviously it doesn't because you have bald all-seasons and just took that turn WAY too fast. Your A4 is understeering like that's its JOB. You are careening toward certain death due to your careless driving. Nice work.

*Enter ESP*

ESP kicks in (yo!) to save your butt from going in the ditch (and dying). It quickly recognizes that [you are stupid and] you are blowing the turn and promptly applies the brakes to the INSIDE RIGHT wheel. This has the effect of turning your car like a TANK. You know...with the treads? Anyway, ESP is pretty awesome in this respect. It works to keep the car headed on the requested turning angle, even when the front tires lose grip. It also works in the opposite mode to kill oversteer. It will apply the brakes to individual front wheels in order to keep the back end behind you...where it belongs. In addition to applying the brakes, it will also adjust engine output power as necessary in order to keep the car on course. The important part is that ESP does things that you actually can't do. It can apply the brakes to a single wheel to make the car do something special. You only have one brake pedal, so no matter how good you are, you just can't do that.



I believe in North America, ESP became optional on the A4 in the 2001 model year. It is pretty rare.

[andyrew]

Its an option. Very rare.

S4's had it as an option on earlier cars but it was standard on later cars.

It was a PITA finding an ESP A4 for my wiring harness for the 914. I ended up going S4 with all the do-dads. ESP is very interesting and one of the main reasons for my build :)

[Tanzimur]

Wow thanks for the info guys, and i did feel that shit kick in this morning purposely trying to get sideways in the rain and it felt like the car was slowing down on its in in fullboost. Now this ESP will effect my winter hooning is their a way to disable such feature? via fuse or relay?

[walky_talky20]

Just push the ESP button. Turns it right off.

ABS and EDL still remain in effect, though. You can unplug a wheel speed sensor to kill all 3 at once (just pop up the back seat and unplug a rear sensor).

With just one sensor unplugged, ABS, ESP and EDL are disabled. EBFD (Electronic Brake Force Distribution) still remains in effect, however. This is like a software version of an LSPV (Load Sensing Proportioning Valve). Basically a dynamically adjusted front/rear split. If you want that off as well, you can pull the ABS fuse to shut the whole business down. The side effect there is that the cluster will beep 3 times and flash the BRAKE light due to lack of communication with the ABS module. Unplugging a sensor keeps things quiet while still killing all the "active" nannies. EBFD is barely perceptible.

I'm not positive, but I think EBFD is only present with ESP. A subset of the ESP feature, methinks.

[Nollywood]

Wow thanks for the info guys, and i did feel that shit kick in this morning purposely trying to get sideways in the rain and it felt like the car was slowing down on its in in fullboost. Now this ESP will effect my winter hooning is their a way to disable such feature? via fuse or relay?

If your car had ESP, there should be a switch to disable it as required.

[B-Time]

Was an option when I bought my 2001, but would of had to order it and wait many months. And as mentioned above, there would be a button to disable is.

[Tanzimur]

ok so what this EPC light? electronic pedal control?

[Wrath And Tears]

EPC has to do with the cars Electrical system. Usually a very bad sign as they are hard to track down and fix, unless its something easy like a dead battery.

[Tanzimur]

GOTCHA! thanks for the info and luckily mines off lol im not use to this 01.5 dbw b.s. im use to my summer aeb 97 and 98 daily

[adam044]

Racecars don't need ESP anyways.

[B-Time]

Racecars don't need ESP anyways.

100% Correct! ABS is useful though. Flat spotting your tires sucks ass.

[adam044]

I've never felt my ABS in almost 2 years. Maybe I don't have abs idk.

[andyrew]

I'm not positive, but I think EBFD is only present with ESP. A subset of the ESP feature, methinks.

Based on my research this is correct. Which is why only ESP cars have the ABS pump.

[walky_talky20]

I have a dislike for the EBFD. The ticking just bothers me. I find myself braking differently just to avoid the stupid ticking. I have wondered if recoding for S4 brakes would change the ticking and give me some more rear bias. I should try this at some point.