2011 Ford Taurus Owner Guide 3rd Printing - Page 249

Driving 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. Electronic stability control 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). Switching off AdvanceTrac௡ If the vehicle is stuck in snow, mud or sand, and seems to lose engine power, switching off certain features of the AdvanceTrac௡ system may be beneficial because the wheels are allowed to spin. This will restore full engine power and will enhance momentum through the obstacle. To switch off the AdvanceTrac௡ system, press the stability control switch. Full features of the AdvanceTrac௡ system can be restored by pressing the stability control switch again, or by turning off and restarting the engine. When the AdvanceTrac௡ system is off, the stability control off light will illuminate steadily. Pressing the AdvanceTrac௡ control switch again OFF will turn off the stability control light. In R (Reverse), ABS and the engine traction control and brake traction control features will continue to function; however, ESC is disabled. 249 2011 Taurus Owners Guide, 3rd Printing USA (fus)