Encountered the perplexing ESP BAS light on your dashboard? It’s a signal that your vehicle’s stability or brake systems might need attention.
Discover in this guide how to interpret, reset, and resolve the ESP BAS light issue, ensuring your driving safety and peace of mind.
This light can leave even the most experienced drivers scratching their heads, wondering what it means and what they should do about it.
What is ESP BAS Light Mean?
The ESP BAS Light indicates a problem with the electronic stability program or brake assist program with your vehicle.
Some of the top causes for this light include defective wheel speed sensors, a bad steering angle sensor, a bad brake switch, or other braking system failures.
The light comes on for a variety of problems, ranging from mild to serious. However, the codes can be read with the help of a handheld code scanner that’s compatible with these systems.
ESP is an acronym for Electronic Stability Program. It is also known as Electronic Stability Control (ESC) in some other vehicles. It is a computer-controlled program that supports the driver in critical situations.
It does this by identifying and counteracting vehicle skidding movement or loss of traction. The ESP consists of the traction control system, antilock braking system (ABS), and many other systems function to counteract traction issues.
On the other hand, the BAS is known as the Brake Assist System. It helps increase the pressure on the brakes whenever it senses an abrupt slamming on the brake pedal.
In emergencies, you usually slam hard on your brake pedal. The Brake Assist program, another name for the Brake Assist System, detects the intensity, speed, and force of your feet on the brake pedal on these occasions.
It then bypasses your brake and releases optimum pressure on your brake pads until the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) kicks in.
causes of ESP BAS Light
As stated earlier, when a warning light comes on, it indicates an issue. Also, when the ESP BAS light comes on, it indicates a fault in the Electronic Stability Control or the Brake Assist System, or both systems.
This might be a minor issue that can be solved on your own if you own an OBD scanner. The following faults are the causes of the ESP BAS light coming on the dashboard.
#1. Failure in the Brake Switch.
Every time you apply the brakes and your car slows down, the brake lights at the rear end of your car will turn on.
This is to inform the vehicles behind you that you have applied the brakes, and your car will slow down so that it can slow down as well or navigate to the other lane.
The brake switch is an electrical component in the braking system responsible for switching on the brake light.
If the brake switch is faulty, it will put you at risk as vehicles behind you won’t know when you apply brakes. Invariably increasing the chances of collision.
Since there is no way to know if the brake light is working properly because of its location, the car manufacturers designed the ESP BAS light to appear on the dashboard to notify you of the imminent problem.
So, any time the ESP BAS light comes on, it could be that your brake switch is faulty and your brake lights are not lighting.
#2. Faulty Steering Angle Sensor.
One of the most common reasons your ESP BAS light came on is a faulty steering angle sensor. The steering angle sensor works to help your car’s steering wheel move in agreement with your wheels.
This sensor makes the wheels correspond to the steering; when you steer to the right, the wheels move toward the right.
If this sensor becomes faulty, it will send incorrect signals to the wheels. Invariably causing disagreement between the steering wheel and the tires.
If a faulty steering angle sensor is why the ESP BAS light appears on the dash, you can fix it by steering the wheel to the extreme right two times and to the extreme left two times before returning it to the center. If it doesn’t work, seek professional help.
#3. Faulty Wheel Speed Sensor.
Every wheel in your vehicle has a sensor that helps calculate the speed and translate them to the ESP/BAS systems.
If the ESP and BAS sense that your wheels are running at different speeds, they correct the speed, ensuring that they all run at the same speed to enable you to have a perfect grip on the road.
If the wheel speed sensor becomes faulty, the ESP BAS light and the traction control light will appear on the dashboard to notify you of the underlying problem.
A faulty wheel speed sensor is not a fault you should ignore as it could cause disaster, especially on slippery roads.
#4. Bad Brake Pads and Calipers.
Depleted brake pads can not hold the wheels as they should. Likewise, bad brake calipers won’t supply enough pressure to the pads. These affect the braking systems and switches on the ESP BAS light.
#5. Electrical Faults.
Several car sensors in a vehicle are electrically wired. The Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) works on sensors and wiring.
For instance, the wheel speed sensors send its readings to the ESP and the ABS through wires. If there’s an issue with the wire, it’ll cause the ESP BAS light to display on the dashboard.
Advantages of ESP BAS Light?
Did you know rear-end collisions are the most frequent type of collision in the US? They make up around 29% of all car crashes, and they cause a number of injuries and fatalities each year too.
That’s why brake assist systems are so important. They help drivers avoid rear-end collisions by applying the brakes during emergencies.
Here are some other BAS advantages to consider:
#1. Comes With a Brake Booster System.
Most brake assist systems come with a brake booster system, which typically uses the engine pump or electric motor to lessen the amount of force you have to apply when stepping on the brake pedal.
A lot of modern engines with turbochargers also have a vacuum pump to help the brake booster.
#2. Allows for More Braking.
In emergencies, applying too little pressure on the brakes can mean life and death, and research shows that most drivers tend to hesitate when hitting the brakes.
This is when the BAS can be incredibly helpful. The added pressure it applies on your brakes significantly lowers your vehicle’s speed and might even help you avoid a collision.
#3. Adaptive Learning Technique.
On some vehicles, the BAS comes with an adaptive learning technique that studies the driver’s braking patterns. That way, it can tell the difference between stopping after a daily commute or an emergency situation.
How To Fix ESP BAS Light?
The easiest way to determine what is causing the ESP BAS light is to read the trouble codes with an OBD2 scanner from the ABS control module in your car.
This will help you locate the issue or start troubleshooting instead of just guessing and replacing parts. Here are some other common things that can fix the ESP Bas warning light:
#1. Recalibrate Steering Angle Sensor.
Sometimes, the steering angle sensor just needs to be recalibrated. You can do this in your driveway without any special tools.
Sit behind the wheel of your car and gently turn the wheel from one side to another, where it would lock. You might also need to cycle the key for the calibration to take effect.
In some cases, an OBDII scanner can recalibrate the steering angle sensor. Read the codes and recalibrate as needed.
#2. Replace Steering Angle Sensor.
If the calibration doesn’t fix the problem, you might need to replace the sensor. Thankfully, this job is usually simple and only requires the use of a socket and ratchet.
Make sure you unplug the battery first. You must then remove the airbag from the steering wheel by pushing on the clip located on the rear of the wheel. Lock the steering wheel in the center and use your socket and ratchet to remove the main nut.
Mark the wheel’s position, so you know where the center is. After you remove the clock spring, you will see the sensor.
Take it out and put the new one back in. Connect everything back up and turn on the vehicle. You will also need to recalibrate the system for the light to turn off.
#3. Replace Wheel Speed Sensor.
Each of your vehicle’s wheels has a speed sensor, which monitors the wheel’s motion. Your vehicle’s ESP and BAS rely on these sensors to monitor your vehicle’s traction, so they can take appropriate action when your wheels start to slip.
The ESP BAS light typically turns on when your vehicle loses traction, but it should turn off once your vehicle regains control.
If it stays on, then there’s a chance that your wheel speed sensor is the issue. Generally, however, a wheel speed sensor issue will turn on the anti-lock braking system (ABS) light first.
#4. Install New Brake Switch Sensor.
With your OBDII code scanner, you can hunt down the problems with the brake switch sensor. Unlike some of the other sensors, this one is inexpensive.
You will find it located above the brake pedal. Simply unplug the defective sensor and put the new one in. You might also need to reset any codes that were set to turn the light off.
#5. Repair Brakes.
If it’s time for a brake job, get it done and see if it turns the light off. Put the car up on jack stands and take the wheels off. When you unbolt the brake caliper, make sure you rest it somewhere, so none of the lines break.
From here, you can remove the rotor and replace it if needed. You might prefer to have it resurfaced if there is still plenty of material available. Additionally, it’s not hard to replace the brake pads.
The problem comes in when the caliper is stuck. Unless you have advanced brake system expertise, you might need to have a professional help out.
How much does it cost to fix ESP BAS light errors?
The cost of fixing the illuminated ESP BAS light on the dashboard depends on the cause of the problem and the mechanic doing the fix.
For instance, if a lousy wheel speed sensor is the root cause, you will spend $150 to $250 for replacement. And if worn brake pads are the cause, you’ll pay $100 to $300 for replacement.
FAQs.
Q: Is it safe to drive with the ESP BAS light on?
Driving with ESP BAS warning light on the dash is dangerous because the problem may cause you to lose control of the vehicle in bad weather conditions.
For instance, a faulty wheel speed sensor can cause your vehicle to veer off the road or crash into other cars.
Therefore, you should not drive with ESP BAS light on to avoid putting yourself and other road users at risk.
Q: Where is the ESP sensor located?
The ESP BAS light in a Dodge charger, the ESP BAS light in a Dodge magnum, and the ESP BAS light in a Jeep Commander have a similar location.
The ESP BAS light is on the dashboard underneath the fuel meter. However, the ESP system uses different car sensors to assist drivers in bad weather conditions. It does not use a single sensor.
Q: How do you clear the ESP BAS light on Mercedes?
In Mercedes, just like other vehicles, you can clear ESP BAS light through the process I mentioned earlier. You can turn the car twice to the left and twice on the right before returning it to the center.
However, if the light appears due to a defective wheel speed sensor or faulty brake switch, you must replace them.
Q: What sensor does ESP use?
The Electronic Stability Program works with car sensors like the Wheel speed sensor, steering angle sensor, brake switch, etc. It also works with ABS. The ABS is an important component of the vehicle that assists the braking system to perform its duty.
The ESP uses these sensors to restore traction to your wheel. The ESP BAS is always active, but the light only pops when there is a malfunction in the vehicle stability system or when the system is trying to regain traction.
Q: Is ESP the same as traction control?
No. ESP and Traction control are not the same and do not work the same way. Though traction control is a part of ESP, it serves a different purpose.
The ESP is responsible for stopping your car from sliding or spinning corners. Traction control, on the other hand, offers more traction to the wheels under power.
Final Words
Electronic Stability Program (ESP) and Brake Assist System (BAS) are safety mechanisms designed to help the driver control the vehicle in bad weather conditions. So, adhering to this ESP BAS light can reduce the rate of accidents.
ESP BAS light is a warning light informing you of an issue with the electronic stability system or your Brake Assist system.
Through regular maintenance of your vehicle, you will easily identify defective parts. You can easily solve this issue by following all the guidelines mentioned above. But if the issue persists, you can get help from a professional.