ESP Controller Simulation: How it Works

Translated on 08-08-2026, 8:50.

Hello,

I'm currently assembling a VW FSI engine for training purposes. Some auxiliary components are not installed. In this case, the missing ESP control unit is causing problems. I have managed to simulate the vehicle speed. This simulated speed is also displayed on the instrument cluster. Nevertheless, the engine control unit reports a "plausibility error." I'm using an Arduino with a CAN shield to generate the CAN signals, and it works quite well.
I will send the speed information under the identifier:
0x5A0 ?? XX XX ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? - In XX XX, the speed is indicated (least significant byte first).
Why is the correct driving speed displayed in the instrument cluster, while the engine control unit identifies the ESP information as implausible?

Who can help? Thank you very much!

Translated on 08-08-2026, 8:51.

While I'm not very familiar with Volkswagen vehicles, I suspect that the wheel speeds and the checksum are incorrect.

Last edited on 28-07-2014, 12:12, edited 1 time in total.

Hello,

The engine control unit expects the ESP to provide individual wheel speeds (VL, VR, HL, HR). If nothing is received, a "speed" reading would also seem implausible to me, because without rotating wheels, the car could only be flying.

Best regards, Rainer.

Translated on 08-08-2026, 8:53.

Thank you to 'Postmann' and 'CAN-Diagnosis' for the suggestions regarding where the error might be located. To fix the problem, it would be great to get more detailed information.
Perhaps someone has specific information about what needs to be sent.

That would be great!

Last edited on 30-07-2014, 18:30, edited 1 time in total.

General structure of wheel speeds is similar to that of:
http://www.canhack.de/en/viewtopic.php?t=2056

Of course, the ID and factor can be different...

Joined: 09/29/2016 Posts: 2 Karma: +1 / -0 Premium Support

Hello everyone,

Okay, I'm reviving this old thread because I'm currently working on setting up a dashboard with a Golf 7 instrument cluster, and I need information about simulating ESP (Electronic Stability Program) values. This unit will never be installed in a car again; it's intended for standalone educational purposes at the university.

I would like to set the speed displayed on the instrument cluster. As far as I've been able to find out so far, the following CAN IDs (from the ESP control unit) are involved in the Golf 7:

fd
31b
65d

For all of them, the 8-bit checksum is located in the payload (data segment of the CAN frame), and I simply don't understand how it is calculated.
Can someone help me? Specifically: According to which formula is the sum calculated? Unfortunately, it won't work properly without the correct checksum

.

30-01-2017, 14:27 Subject: ESP Controller Simulation: How it Works

Please provide some excerpts from a log file containing wheel speed data, including the checksums, so that we can have some examples of the checksum formats.

Best regards, Rainer.

CAN-Diagnose · Translated on 08-08-2026, 8:58.

Hi everyone...

As it stands now, the combination doesn't actually need the checksum.
I'm currently unable to share any excerpts. They come from a source that prohibits me from making them public. Unfortunately, I don't own a Golf 7 myself. However, I'm on a good path to figuring it out despite that.
What I know so far is that the checksum is calculated internally within the control unit using a lookup table, and it likely refers to the remaining part of the data payload.

I'll keep you updated.

Sure, here is the translation of the text from German to English:

"LG" can be translated as "Best regards" or "Sincerely". It is a common abbreviation for "Liebe Grüße", which means "Warm greetings" in English.