Safety Warning
DIY auto repair can cause serious injury, fire, or vehicle damage. These guides are for informational purposes only. Always follow OEM torque specs, wear PPE, and consult a certified mechanic if you are unsure. You are solely responsible for your safety.
Stability Control
Stability control provides added stability during aggressive maneuvers. Yaw rate is the rate of rotation about the vehicle's vertical axis. The stability control is activated when the electronic brake control module determines that the desired yaw rate does not match the actual yaw rate as measured by the yaw rate sensor.
The desired yaw rate is calculated by the electronic brake control module using the following inputs:
- Steering wheel position
- Vehicle speed
- Lateral acceleration
The difference between the desired yaw rate and the actual yaw rate is the yaw rate error, which is a measurement of oversteer or understeer. When a yaw rate error is detected, the electronic brake control module attempts to correct the vehicle's yaw motion by applying brake pressure to one or more of the wheels. The amount of applied brake pressure varies, depending on the correction required. The engine torque may be reduced also, if it is necessary to slow the vehicle while maintaining stability.
Stability control activations generally occur in turns during aggressive driving. When braking during stability control activation, the brake pedal may pulsate.
Stability control can be manually disabled or enabled by pressing and holding the traction control switch down for five seconds.
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When to See a Mechanic
Stop DIY work and contact a certified mechanic immediately if any of the following apply:
- • You smell fuel, burning insulation, or see smoke.
- • Brakes feel soft, pull hard to one side, or make grinding noises.
- • The engine overheats, stalls repeatedly, or misfires under load.
- • You are missing required tools, torque specs, or safe lifting equipment.
- • You are not confident in the next step or safety outcome.