Excessive wheel spin is controlled in two ways, which may work
separately or in tandem; engine traction control and brake traction
control. Engine traction control works to limit drive-wheel spin by
momentarily reducing engine power. Brake traction control works to limit
wheel spin by momentarily applying the brakes to the wheel that is
slipping. Traction control is most active at low speeds.
During traction control events, the stability control light in the
instrument cluster will flash.
If the traction control system is activated excessively in a short period of
time, the braking portion of the system may become temporarily disabled
to allow the brakes to cool down. In this situation, traction control will
use only engine power reduction or transfer to help control the wheels
from over-spinning. When the brakes have cooled down, the system will
regain all features. Anti-lock braking, RSC
威
, and ESC are not affected by
this condition and will continue to function during the cool-down period.
The engine traction control and brake traction control system may be
deactivated in certain situations. See the
Switching off AdvanceTrac
威
with RSC
威
section below.
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 ESC events the stability control light in the instrument cluster
will flash.
Certain adverse driving maneuvers may activate the ESC 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).
Driving
218
2011 MKX
(mkx)
Owners Guide, 2nd Printing
USA
(fus)
