Normally toggling the ESP button does the job. Is this not your experience?

 

I push the button once and the ESP light displays on the dash. however its NOT completly turned off, it still engages.

The only way I know to totally turn it off is by selcting centre diff lock and selecting low range.

VW42

 

As you have identified, the Touareg uses ESP and ABS to mimic a center diff when auto diffs are selected when in low range. What mode do you normally run in when in sand and what problems are you experiencing that make you think you need a full ESP disable? I completely agree that ESP should be turned off using the normal method when in deep sand/snow.

 

Does anyone know how to totally turn off the ESP? I was watching Fifth Gear and they were test driving the new ML and the merc test driver totally turned off the ESP 'By insurting a special code' to the ESP!!!. He was in the car when he did it!!

Is it as simple as holding the ESP button down in the Touarge for 5sec? or three pulses of the button? Does anoyone know if it can be turned off?

I would like to know for sand driving.:joy:

VW42

Not that I know of.

As an aside - The VW group's "ESP", Porsche's PSM/PASM, and Benz's ESC are never "off", but rather go into a "standby" mode when one presses the switch. In several of these systems, the stability program can be temporarily & momentarily reactivated by inputting a control (steering, brakes, or throttle) while the normal (if active) thresholds are exceeded.

 

I think on the Audi TT, you can press the button a couple of times to switch various forms of ESP/TC off. I tried it with the Treg, also tried holding the button down for a while. Nothing works.

The only other option you have is to pull the ABS fuses.