ESP switch relocation

omniphil · Dec 5, 2010

I don't have easy access to my ESP switch since I installed a radio where it used to be...

Anybody with a service manual handy? I'm assuming that the switch is just grounding to chassis when pushed?

I want to get a generic momentary push button switch located elsewhere and just ground one end of the switch and the other I'll run a wire back to the original switch.

That should work shouldn't it?

JoeBecker · Dec 6, 2010

The ESP switch is part of the switch bank module (pictured from my 2008 - I assume 2009 still uses the same thing just maybe in different configuration).

If you were to "relocate" where the switch is, you would have to run 2 wires back to the points on the board that the original switch contacts. The action of pushing the button sends a signal through the LIN-bus.

omniphil · Dec 6, 2010

JoeBecker said:
The ESP switch is part of the switch bank module (pictured from my 2008 - I assume 2009 still uses the same thing just maybe in different configuration).

If you were to "relocate" where the switch is, you would have to run 2 wires back to the points on the board that the original switch contacts. The action of pushing the button sends a signal through the LIN-bus.

Can I just tap into the wires coming off the harness off the back of the unit?
I see 3 contacts, One I assume is ground and the other 2 would be for ESP and hazard? Or is there some electrical wizardry happening inside of the unit?

wildthing · Dec 6, 2010

omniphil said:
Can I just tap into the wires coming off the harness off the back of the unit?
I see 3 contacts, One I assume is ground and the other 2 would be for ESP and hazard? Or is there some electrical wizardry happening inside of the unit?

Oh yes, there's wizardry all right! Don't do that. You probably have 1 ground, 1 +5v wire and 1 data wire. You need to send the right data, so you have to solder wires at the switch terminal. Don't believe me? Press the hazard button while the board is connected, and disconnect the board. You will see your vehicle continuing to flash the hazards. You will either then need to reconnect the board to turn off the hazards, or you will have to disconnect the battery.

JoeBecker · Dec 6, 2010

omniphil said:
Can I just tap into the wires coming off the harness off the back of the unit?
I see 3 contacts, One I assume is ground and the other 2 would be for ESP and hazard? Or is there some electrical wizardry happening inside of the unit?

NO, 2/3 NO, and YES:

The problem with this vehicle (and most today) is that they are mostly computer controlled (lots of things being sent through CAN and LIN Buses).

Mopar Wiring Connectors
The switch bank wiring is the following:

Red Wire with Light Blue stripe: Fused B+
Black Wire with Light Green stripe: Ground
White Wire with Dark Green stripe: LIN Bus (signal wire)

Yes, there is a power and ground but they aren't for control of anything (they are for the light bulbs and to provide power to the circuit board). The LIN Bus is the controller. All the switches do is close different parts of the circuit board circuits. Each path has a different "instruction" that is sent through the LIN bus.

As wildthing said, if you turn on the hazards and unplug the module there is never a "new instruction" sent via the LIN Bus so the vehicle keeps doing whatever the last instruction was.

ESP switch relocation

omniphil

JoeBecker

omniphil

wildthing

JoeBecker

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