Mercedes-Benz 2012 A Class - Manual (Page 70)

Deactivating/activating ESP ® (except
AMG vehicles)
Important safety notes
You can select between the following states
of ESP
® :
R ESP ® is activated.
R ESP ® is deactivated.
G
WARNING
If you deactivate ESP ® , ESP ® no longer sta-
bilises the vehicle. There is an increased risk
of skidding and an accident.
Only deactivate ESP
® in the situations descri-
bed in the following.
It may be best to deactivate ESP ® in the fol-
lowing situations:
R
when using snow chains
R
in deep snow
R
on sand or gravel
i Activate ESP ® as soon as the situations
described above no longer apply. ESP ® will
otherwise not be able to stabilise the vehi-
cle if the vehicle starts to skid or a wheel
starts to spin.
Deactivating/activating ESP ®
You can deactivate or activate ESP ® via the
on-board computer.
X To deactivate:( Y page 218).
The å ESP ® OFF warning lamp in the
instrument cluster lights up.
X To activate:( Y page 218).
The å ESP ® OFF warning lamp in the
instrument cluster goes out.
Characteristics when ESP ® is deactivated
If ESP ® is deactivated and one or more wheels
start to spin, the ÷ ESP ® warning lamp in
the instrument cluster flashes. In such situa-
tions, ESP
® will not stabilise the vehicle.
If you deactivate ESP ® :
R ESP ® no longer improves driving stability.
R
engine torque is no longer limited and the
drive wheels are able to spin.
The spinning of the wheels results in a cut-
ting action for better traction on loose sur-
faces.
R
traction control is still activated.
R ESP ® still provides support when you
brake.
ESP ® trailer stabilisation
General notes
If your vehicle/trailer combination begins to
lurch, ESP
® assists you in this situation.
ESP ® slows the vehicle down by braking and
limiting the engine output until the vehicle/
trailer combination has stabilised.
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
If road and weather conditions are poor,
trailer stabilisation will not be able to prevent
the vehicle/trailer combination from swerv-
ing. Trailers with a high centre of gravity can
tip over before ESP
® can detect this. There is
a risk of an accident.
Always adapt your driving style to the prevail-
ing road and weather conditions.
If your vehicle/trailer combination begins to
lurch, you can only stabilise the vehicle/
trailer combination by depressing the brake
firmly.
ESP
® trailer stabilisation is active above
speeds of about 65 km/h.
ESP
® trailer stabilisation does not work if
ESP ® is deactivated or disabled because of a
malfunction.
68
Driving safety systems
Safety