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ESP only helps with understeer/oversteer. In order to test if ESP is truely off, you'll have to drive fast enough to get the vehicle to over/understeer, but slower than the 35mph nanny comes back to reenable it.

I can get ESP to apply brakes (when enabled ;)) on a gravel road quite easily. I just treat the road like a slolam. Do you have any near you?
 
Here is the response I got from Chrysler Canada.....sounds like they have no clue to me.
How would someone confirm the difference between partial off and full off to verify this is true?
The only real difference between partial off and all the way off is that the traction control system (TCS) woorks differently.

It isn't turning the ESP on and off you want so much as you want the TCS to allow more wheel spin. In some situaions it is desireable to have wheel spin allowed.

With full ESP on, the systems can actually cut throttle to avoid excessive skidding.

With partial ESP it doesn't mess with the throttle but still applies full traction control.

With ESP all the way off it don't mess with anything at all (at least not very much) and you can spin, slide, and skid all you want.
 
ESP only helps with understeer/oversteer. In order to test if ESP is truely off, you'll have to drive fast enough to get the vehicle to over/understeer, but slower than the 35mph nanny comes reenables it.

I can get ESP to apply brakes (when enabled ;)) on a gravel road quite easily. I just trat the road like a slolam. Do you have any near you?

That could be fun. I'll have to try that.
 
The theory is that some FD1s mistakenly get FD2 or 4x2 programming which causes this problem.
So should I get the computer flashed??? Is this the way to go?
 
PatriotPierre, you can try a reflash although I would simply put the onus on the Dealer to get this fixed.

If the dealer gives you a rough time show them the manual (all 4WD/4x4 models need to be able to turn off ESP). Keep us posted on how things go.
 
Partial off disables the limiting of engine torque, which allows for wheel spin. I almost always drive in Partial Off mode. I don't need some expansion joint or pothole reducing power when I'm pulling into traffic (yes, it has happened). With AWD and 172hp @ the crank, the MK does not have anough power for all 4 wheels to slip until snow/ice/mud. Even gravel roads have minimal wheel slip. The Brake LSD is fine, which we can never disable anyway.
 
PatriotPierre, you can try a reflash although I would simply put the onus on the Dealer to get this fixed.

If the dealer gives you a rough time show them the manual (all 4WD/4x4 models need to be able to turn off ESP). Keep us posted on how things go.
In addition to leaning on the dealer, write or call Chrysler directly. The more they hear from all of us the more likely we will be to get this resolved.
 
got a call from the service manager monday..... chrysler finally called him back..... or so he says..... they say they discovered it needs an "update" and will take a month or 2 to get it "approved" so they can do it..... what the heck..... this sucks.....
 
Well it appears they have a fix pending. Keep us posted.

If you cannot fully turn off ESP on a 4x4 you may as well be driving FWD only. I am surprised it has taken this long to admit there is an issue. Keep taking them to the dealer folks.
 
If you cannot fully turn off ESP on a 4x4 you may as well be driving FWD only.
I still do not understand your logic. What does ESP have to do with the electronic center coupler? With ESP never disabled problem that some people have, the vehcile will just not understeer/oversteer much before the ESP system kicks in. Every ESP mode always have 4WD lock availlible and AWD/automatic ECC all the time as well as brake applied electronic limited slip.

Does your vehicle allow ESP Off? Have you ever experienced the difference between the three modes?

Do not misunderstand me, though. I would not be happy if I could not disable ESP if my owner's manual said I could. I do not think most people would notice, however. And >35mph, it is on even if the ESP Off mode works.
 
ESP off

There is a fix for the ESP full off problem

TSB 05-004-08
Group brakes
Date 10/30/08

www.

wkjeeps.com/misc/Patriot/TSB/tsb_0500408.pdf

I cannot post a url until I have 5 post, but if you type in the line above after the WWW. you should go to the TSB site

Good luck

ps my deal is aware of this issue
 
That's the fix. Printed the TSB & dropped off at dealer. They did it in about 1/2 hr & ESP full off works now.
 
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