Intelligent technology
Notice about data
recorded by vehicle
control modules
Your vehicle is not equipped with an Event Da-
ta Recorder (EDR), installed by some manu-
facturers fo r the express purpose of capturing
data for retrieval after an accident or crash
event. EDR's are sometimes called "crash re-
corders".
Some state laws restrict the retr ieval or down-
loading of data stored by EDR's that were in-
stalled in a vehicle for the express purpose of
retrieving data after an accident or crash
event without the owner's consent.
Although your vehicle is not equipped with an
EDR, it is equipped with a number of electron-
ic control modules for various vehicle systems
such as, for examp le, engine function, emis-
sion control, as well as for the airbags and
safety belts.
These electronic control modules also record
vehicle-related data during norma l vehicle op-
eration for diagnostic and repair purposes.
The recording capacity of the electronic con-
trol modules is limited to data (no sound is re-
corded) and only a small amount of data is ac-
tually recorded over a very limited period of
time and stored when a system fault or other
condition is sensed by a control unit. Some of
the data then stored may relate to vehicle
speed, direction, braking as we ll as restraint
system use and performance in the event of a
crash or other condition. Stored data can only
be read and downloaded with special equip-
ment.
Electronic stabilization
program (ESP)
Description
ESP helps to imp rove road holding and vehicle
dynamics to help reduce the probability of
skidding and loss of vehicle control. It works
only when the engine is running. ESP detects
Intelligent technology 153
certain difficult driving situations, including
when the vehicle is beginning to spin (yaw)
out of control and help s you to get the vehicle
back under control by selectively braking the
wheels, and/or reducing engine power and
providing steering assistance to help hold the
vehicle on the driver's intended course. The in-
dicator light
lf.1 in the instrument cluster
blinks when ESP is taking action to help you
control the vehicle.
ESP has limitations.
It is important to remem-
ber that ESP cannot overcome the laws of
physics.
It will not always be able to help out
under all conditions you may come up against.
For example, ESP may not always be able to
help you master situations where there is a
sudden change in the coefficient of friction of
the road surface. When there is a section of
dry road that is suddenly covered with water,
slush or snow, ESP cannot perform the same
way it would on the dry surface. If the vehicle
hydroplanes (rides on a cushion of water in-
stead of the road surface), ESP will not be
able to help you steer the vehicle because con-
tact with the pavement has been interrupted
and the vehicle cannot be braked or steered .
During fast cornering, particularly on winding
roads, ESP cannot always deal as effectively
with difficu lt driving situations as at lower
speeds.
Always adjust your speed and driving style to
road, traffic;: and weather conditions. ESP can-
not override the vehicle's physical lim its, in-
crease the available traction, or keep a vehicle
on the road if road departure is a result of
driver inattention. Instead, ESP improves the
possibi lity of keeping the vehicle under con-
trol and on the road dur ing extreme maneu-
vers by using the driver 's steering input s to
help keep the vehicle go ing in the intended di-
rection. If you are traveling at a speed that
causes you to run off the road before ESP can
provide any assistance, you may not experi-
ence the benefits of ESP.
ESP includes and/or works together with the
anti- lock brake system (ABS), brake assist sys-
tem and anti-slip regu lation (ASR). ESP is
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