Hello all,
Regarding my 04 XF w/ 36K miles, the BAS ESP light has come on a couple of times after driving the car for 20 minutes or a half hour. Turn the engine off, restart, the light stays off for a while but comes back on after another 20-30 minutes then stays on steadily.

Today the local Chrysler dealer said they don't have the older computer for the car since this dealer has only had the Chrysler franchise for 2 years. So the next closest dealer is 70 miles away and I'll call them tomorrow.

So does anyone have an idea of what could be wrong and likely cost to fix? I've never had a car with this particular issue before.

Also, I'm assuming the car is safe to drive for now, since the brake pedal is fine, and I think the bas esp systems come into play is "extreme" driving conditions such as skidding/loss of control and /or emergency stopping. I exert great effort to avoid both those situations.

Any help is appreciated, thanks.

 

I have used the search function and have answered these questions to my satisfaction, thanks

 

So... What did you do to resolve the problem?

 

Mine just came on this morning. I would be interested in knowing what the fix is.

 

Had the same issue a while ago. It was caused by my battery going dead and sending varying voltage to the car. I also found a thread that said to reset the BAS but I forget how exactly that was done. I think it was something like "Crank the engine and center your steering wheel then turn your steering as far to the left till it stops as possible then as far to the right as possible then back to the middle position, turn the car off".
But you guys might check the search function and it's also in the manual I believe!

 

I haven't found a fix yet, but using the search button brought up several past posts on the BAS ESP topic. There was enough info in those threads to give me an idea of what the potential problems/fixes are.
Later today I will try the steering wheel centering fix. Although the post doesn't say if you should wait until the light is on to perform this fix, and it isn't clear which exact position the ignition key should be in, ie the first detent with no dash lights on, or the second detent with dash lights on.

Interestingly, one of the posts mentioned a "rough road" code as a possible indicator. Evidently a rough road can throw off wheel speed sensors or some other component of the system. I've owned my car for a year and a half and driven it about 8k miles, and the light has never come on until last week---------one month ago I moved and one of the new roads I now drive on is EXTREMELY rough. So rough in fact that some of the posts about owners having their wheels break over rough roads/potholes have remained in my mind. So maybe the rough road code will be the indicator in this case. I'll take the car to the Jeff City dealer next week.

 

I would recommend a new battery, if yours is over 3 years old.

If that doesn't do it, it is probably wheel speed sensors.

 

http://4x4icon.com/crossfire/bas_esp_03.gif
It doesn't say start just put the key in the stated position.

 

Thanks Boiler and BillF.

I think the steering wheel lock to lock method may have fixed the problem. Drove the car 15 minutes, no light, turned off the engine. Did the steering wheel lock to lock maneuver, restarted car and drove non stop for a little over an hour, no BAS light. In the past week, when the light did come on, it would be after driving the car for only 20 or 30 minutes.

From what I read in the post archives, the lock to lock steering wheel turns does a reset or repositioning of a "steering angle" sensor, something I've never heard of, and this has been reported to fix the problem.

So I guess I'll know for sure after driving the car some more. Since there was other interest in this topic, I'll post a follow up in a week or so.

Thanks again for the help and the responses.

 

I had to reset mine twice in almost 9 years, but then I've only got 21,000 miles on it.

 

I recall there is a thread on the forum that states fluctuations in tire pressure can make this warning light appear as well. You might want to just check all 4 tires to see what's up with the pressure then adjust if needed.

 

It happens to me once in awhile when the batteries go dead. Nothing else. Steering wheel lock to lock makes it go away.

 

Follow up to original post:

The suggested fix for the BAS ESP light---turning ignition on, turning steering wheel lock to lock then to center---- seems to have worked. Since performing this step, I've driven the car three or four hundred miles and the light has stayed off. So far so good.

Thanks to all who posted and offered advice, and the search function was helpful as well.

Thanks again.