Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) may enhance your vehicle’s directional
stability during adverse maneuvers, for example when cornering severely
or avoiding objects in the roadway. ESC operates by applying brakes to
one or more of the wheels individually and, if necessary, reducing engine
power if the system detects that the vehicle is about to skid or slide
laterally.
During Electronic Stability Control events the “sliding car” icon
in the
instrument cluster will flash.
Certain adverse driving maneuvers may activate the Electronic Stability
Control system, which include but are not limited to:
•
Taking a turn too fast
•
Maneuvering quickly to avoid an accident, pedestrian or obstacle
•
Driving over a patch of ice or other slippery surfaces
•
Changing lanes on a snow-rutted road
•
Entering a snow-free road from a snow-covered side street, or vice
versa
•
Entering a paved road from a gravel road, or vice versa
•
Cornering while towing a heavily loaded trailer (refer to
Trailer
towing
in the
Tires, Wheels and Loading
chapter).
Switching Off AdvanceTrac
威
If the vehicle is stuck in snow, mud or sand, and seems to lose engine
power, switching off certain features of the AdvanceTrac
威
system may be
beneficial because the wheels are allowed to spin. This will restore full
engine power and will enhance momentum through the obstacle. To
switch off the AdvanceTrac
威
system press the AdvanceTrac
威 ⬙
Off
⬙
button. Full features of the AdvanceTrac
威
system can be restored by
pressing the AdvanceTrac
威 ⬙
Off
⬙
button again or by turning off and
restarting the engine.
If you switch off the AdvanceTrac
威
system, the
⬙
sliding car
⬙
icon
will
illuminate steadily. Pressing the AdvanceTrac
威 ⬙
Off
⬙
button again will
turn off the lighted button,
⬙
sliding car
⬙
icon
.
In R (Reverse), ABS and the Engine and Brake Traction Control features
will continue to function; however, ESC is disabled.
2009 MKZ
(378)
Owners Guide, 2nd Printing
USA
(fus)
Driving
196