Hello,

How do I get the Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) to turn off and to stay off when needed, such as when being stuck in the mud?

I just had a bad experience with being stuck in the mud, and the ESP just screwed me. I would shove rocks under my tires for traction. Drive out a little bit, only to get restuck again. The ESP would not allow me to spin my tires fast to burn out of there just when needed. My tires would just spin ridiculously slow causing me to get restuck again and again. I tried for 2 hours to get out. Somebody in a 4-wheel finally came along and pulled me out. What was sad, is that the slick ground was not that bad. The ESP was the real problem.

I have a 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie 2-wheel drive 5.7L Hemi.

I tried pushing the ESP off button. That did not work. ESP would come back on. I read after the fact, that holding the ESP Off button for 5 seconds works, but only for 4-wheel drive vehicles. Any ideas?

Thanks,
George

 

On my 2wd you just stop spinning, press the button and then it is mostly off. The light on the dash will light up and then you can roast the tires at will.

Came in handy when they were doing road construction on my street this summer

 

The "key trick" will turn ESP completely off. Hold the key in the starting position and it will be completely disabled as long as you hold the key. This is the only way to completely turn off ESP without disconnecting a sensor.

 

https://dodgeforum.com/forum/members...205t-photo.jpg
(sorry about the pic, not sure how to post non-linked pics)

out in west texas this weekend with very slick and flooded county and farm roads. if i remembered to turn the esp off before the tires started spinning it would stay off until the next time i started the truck. if the tires started spinning before i tried turning it off, it would not stay off.

 

I don't think 2wd rams can completely disable the esp with the button, they can only reduce how much it works. The 4x4 trucks can only turn it off 100% when in 4 high or 4 low which is a little dumb.

 

Its even more dumb that ESP still doesn't turn off in 4wd. I tested this on a sheet of ice once. I held the button in 4wd until the EVIC said "ESP off" and ESP was still active when the wheels spun. I even put it in 4wd low and ESP still worked. There is no button or setting on the truck that completely turns it off. The only way I know is to disable everything by turning the key

 

Really? I have disabled mine completely several times. When mine said esp off it was completely off, I could spin in the snow like crazy and it would never kick in. If yours is not turning off then go get it checked since you should be able to completely disable it when in 4wd.

 

they never completely disable. even holding the button and it says its completely off. been my complaint for about a year now. these trucks are brutal if you like to get in the mud. i mean mud! not lil construction site mud or trails through the bush. Gotta think twice where you go now. places i used to go worry me now that i got stuck through some stuff my old 06 had no problems with at all. even in 4lo you still go nowhere. no spinning wheels to clear mud out with these.

 

It fully disengages automatically on my 09 RAM Sport 4x4. The ESP does nothing without even touching the button, I think the ABS still works I didn't notice but other 4x4 I have had everything shuts off in 4x4.

 

So as soon as you put it in 4wd it says esp off in your evic? That shouldn't happen, you have to stop in 4wd and hold the esp button for about 5 seconds and then it will shut the esp off completely and bring up the message in the evic.