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ESC failure light keeps coming one!

11K views 23 replies 11 participants last post by  Realdocphil  
Please help! I am at wit's end! I bought a 2012 base Kia Soul, manual transmission. Everything is great but the ESC failure light keeps coming on. It stays on and I have tried many things to get rid of it and reset it on my ODB reader, but it comes back within a few times of driving.

Things that I have done to try to fix it:
  • Replaced clutch switch
  • Replaced brake switch
  • Sanded paint off of both grounds in the engine compartment
  • Changed brake light bulbs

These were all suggestions that I found on the internet, but alas, the problem continues. I do get a c1520 error message when I check the ABS codes, when I reset it the ESC light goes off but then comes back on as I mentioned earlier.

The only thing that I know of that was moded on the car is that a power door look and FAB was added. I am wondering if somehow that is shorting out the ESC?!? I am going to try replacing the Rail RH fuse too as that says the ESC runs off of it.

Really I don't think that there is any problem driving the car with the light on as the ESC might still be working, and I live in SoCal so not much rain and no snow to worry about causing traction issues, but this has become a bit of an obsession to solve the problem.

Any thoughts? Thanks in advance and BTW love the Soul. We bought 2 2012s within the last year, both manual base, just different colors.
I've gotta 2012 Soul 5 speed man. My ESC came and stays on too. Just saw on YouTube that replacing brake light switch made the ESC light go off.
 
The code is for your clutch switch. You said you replaced it, that doesn't mean the wiring to it is good. Going to have to look a little deeper into it. The switch is simple, just open or close single wire if memory serves right.
the clutch switch was bad on mine and got it changed out. Fixed the problem