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ESP full off

7K views 27 replies 10 participants last post by  07JeepXK 
#1 ·
I have a 2008 4.7 QTII and have read several post on how to go off road with the different modes of the ESP button. My question is..........Why would you push and hold (for 10 sec.) the ESP button to full off? If i'm understanding this correctly you leave it as is or when you go to 4-wheel low it automaticly puts it in parcel off mode. So whats the use in going full off mode (holding the ESP button till it chimes)?
 
#2 ·
I'm not sure how to explain why you would do it, but I have an 07 4.7 liter and always go to 4 low and hold down the traction control button when off roading. For me, and the way my jeep is setup for off road, this method works best. Other members prefer not to push and hold it in.
 
#3 ·
I have pushed and held it in for full off and it didn't seem to have as much traction. I'm confused lol. I thought that was the way to do it also but didn't seem to work as well for me. Only had my 08 for bout a yr and the one time i went out to our local off road trail i had it in full off mode and wasn't to impressed. Maybe i'm doing something wrong just trying to get a better unerstanding of it all. Thanks for any replies
 
#4 ·
Hmmm that's weird. I get better traction when I press and hold down the button until ESP OFF is displayed
 
#5 ·
I only drive on the sand. but if I do not turn off the esp all the way, all I hear is the sound of the ABS system trying to control the wheels. Simple story is that the esp is made for on road rather than off road.
 
#7 ·
Same here. I believe my owners manual even states when off road its better to press and hold down the traction control button
 
#6 ·
All i know is when i tried climbing a rock (called picture rock) at our local trail (called Shoe Creek) in full off mode it would only pull up on it a little, in 4-wheel low (parcel mode 'not' full off) it pulled all way up as far as i wanted to go. Thats why i wanted to ask what is 'full off mode' used for? Maybe i needed to hammer down on it (but didn't want to break anything lol) or i was doing something wrong or in full off mode was it used to just keep you moving along so the abs didn't try to slow you down idk lol. Sorry if i'm not fully understanding lol.
 
#8 ·
Driving in sand is when I go full off too. Or... if you want to sling sloppy mud around!

The main thing with sand, (besides the traction control fighting you) is the throttle is taken away when the G-forces get to be too much. You can't get a run at a big dune because any bouncing in whoop-dee-doos at the bottom of the dune, and you end up thinking you've just lost power, and you'll never make it to the top.

Any other time, I just leave it on and it'll do its own thing and climb lady-like. It's better to have it on and working for places like Moab etc.
 
#9 ·
I don't do sand or any real deep mud so no need to turn it to full off mode. Thats why they say turning it off works for them, because of the sand thus needing momentum to keep going like i was saying in post #6 bout needing to keep moving and not letting the abs slow you down. Think i'm getting the hang of it now. Thanks guys
 
#11 ·
But I still have better results with it off when I'm at Rausch creek in the rocks. And believe it or not, it's not fully off unless you pull the abs fuse under the hood. If you do that then your just running off front and rear open differentials on a QT II. If you press and hold it until it displays ESP off the traction control still kicks in.
 
#12 ·
In that case i must have something wrong with mine. I bought it with 30,000 miles on it last yr and it was a lease vehicle hmmm, you got me woundering now. I went to a hard surface place where i could get it up on 2 wheels and the other 2 on a ramp much like the vid on you-tube where they do the test for QDII and with mine in full off mode it just spun and woudn't go up untill i put it in particle mode. So now i'm worried something is friggen wrong with it..........go figure. Thanks again for the info
 
#13 ·
After talking with 07jeepXK on the phone we have found out that something is different about our 4-wheel low engaugement. Both have 4.7 and both have QTII his is an 07 mine an 08 but when i put mine in low range it automatically goes to full off mode (abs and traction light up). Does anyone ealse with an 08 with QTII do the same as mine? His 07 didn't do as mine did. Thanks again 07jeep XK for taking the time to call and talk to me about this
 
#14 ·
Not a problem!

Just to clarify so there is no confusion. When I put my jeep in 4 low all that illuminates is the 4WD LOW light and the traction control light. I have to manually hold down the traction control button for approx 8-10 sec for it to display ESP OFF. Now on his 2008 Commander, as soon as he puts it in 4 Low the ESP OFF light turns on. So can someone with an 08 4.7 QT II put their jeep in 4 low and see if ESP OFF illuminates on the dash like his or do you need to press on hold the traction control button like mine for it to show ESP OFF.

Also if I can get someone with an 07 4.7 like mine to do the same to make sure mine is working properly. I just got confused a few minutes ago when I was looking at my owners manual because it said once put in 4 Low the ESP automatically turnes off. Well that's not the case with my Jeep
 
#15 ·
I'm going to copy a few of the last post here and post it on the other commander forum. We will get a better response from over there.
 
#19 ·
Feel free to come over (to the dark side!).

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using AutoGuide.Com Free App
 
#17 ·
Not a problem
 
#18 ·
#20 ·
Got confirmation on the other forum, a member with an 07 4.7 liter like mine DOES NOT display ESP OFF when put in 4 Low. He has to press and hold down the button like mine. Now if we can just get feed back from someone with an 08 4.7 liter QT II
 
#22 ·
That because all the knowledgable members from here moved where the grass is greener on the other side....we have room for more!
 
#24 ·
Not ALL knowledgable members have left.
 
#23 ·
I always try to fully turn off the ESP with my 3.7L. It allows me to haul through the mud without a reduction of power :D
 
#25 ·
Sorry, forgot about you.
 
#27 ·
On our '06 4.7, when placed in 4-lo I have traction control and abs lights come on. It will allow me to slide a bit, and get some wheel spin (I played around on an iced over parking lot), but will kick in and still exert some control if I get to much slipping/spinning.

With the jeep in 4-lo I can also press and hold the ESP button until it shows ESP OFF. At this point in 4-lo I can stomp on it and it will spin all 4 tires until I let off the gas, and will not assist or help with sliding/slipping (once again tested on an iced over parking lot)--I usually had to let off the gas to not hit something or to control the sideways movement.
 
#28 ·
It's still not fully off at that point though. You need to run a switch to the abs pump fuse like I did to completely disable it.
 
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