Jetta MK6 ESC/Traction Control Off Button

The current generation VW Jetta (A6, Typ1B)(2011 onwards), also known as the MK6 version, do not come with the option to turn off Traction Control or ESC for all markets.

Indirectly this can make the car quite dull in a sense that you can hardly do a handbrake turn, J-turn or some induced oversteer without the electronic nanny coming into play.

Thankfully for the VAG group, almost all their components are literally interchangeable across all models ranging from Audi to Skoda. With this in mind, I went out to source for an ESC off kit for the car.

Installation of the kit is very straightforward as it is literally plug and play as the ESC module in the Jetta is infact shared across all the PQ35 platforms. The only thing missing in the Jetta MK6 ESC module is the bloody "ESC Off" kit.

Grrr...

So what I did was to obtain the kit for my Malaysia Spec 1.4 TSI Twincharge Jetta and have it installed to the car. Just possibly the only Jetta MK6 in Malaysia with the option to have "ESC Off".

I've gotten the kit online here and the good folks at EA Autoworks installed it for me.
With installation fees of course.

Below is how it looks like after installing the "ESC Off" button.

Now, after the installation of this kit, it allows me a certain control over how much of fun before the ESC kicks in.

Why did I say so?

Because after installing the kit, and by pressing the "ESC Off" button, it only turn off the Traction Control (ASR). This basically means that I am allow only a certain degree of "wheel spin" and a very small degree of "oversteer" before the ESC cuts the fun.

So what I did was to do an "ESC defeat" by changing the coding of the ESP module.

With the "ESC defeat" coding done, I am able to turn off ESP completely by holding down the "ESC Off" button for 3 seconds.

With the ESC completely turned-off, yep, it is indeed fun time as you can do a complete 180 degrees handbrake turn, J-turn and more.

So at the end of the day, what is it that is being done?

Press "ESC Off" once - Disable Traction Control (ASR)

Press and Hold "ESC Off" for 3 seconds - Completely disable ESC

Note:

Electronic Stability Control (ESC) is there for a reason. Go figure.