Had 3 more calls thsi week on the same subject!
"You looked at my brakes recently, and a couple of times the pedal has gone funny and had lots of noises when I'm braking a bit hard and in this snow. Can you have a look please?"
No proble, course I will look.
But its the abs kicking in thats the problem. Now thats easy enough to explain how it works and what id does , and causes, to peole when they want to know, but......
How many times in an emergency have people let go of the brake pedal because of the abs unsettlling them?
I know abs is poor in snow/ice/gravel but what happens in other circumstances? Is it actually of benefit if people don't know what it does?
Does everybody, before they respond, actually know what the abs feels like on theircar when it cuts in?
A lot of motorists think its just gives beter braking at all times!
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The ABS kicked in on my car for the first time, just about a month ago in early morning icy condition, when coming up (slowly) to a T-Junction. The pedal felt like it was pushing up against my foot, and there was a clicking/grinding sound. I knew straight away that it was the ABS, so I wasn't surprised in the slightest.
About two weeks ago, I was idly looking at the manual for my car, and it described in detail what the ABS felt like when it activated. Which was exactly what I felt :)
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When I am eventually dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century and get a car with ABS I will most likely find somewhere quiet, empty car park or such, and try it out. Really do not like the idea of driving round in a car and not knowing how it will handle in an emergency.
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I thought cars for a long time had ABS.... so how old a car are you driving Mookfish if you don't mind me asking.
It's not the feel of ABS I'd worry about. Too many think ABS improves stopping distances which it does not (they may be longer) but it stops wheels locking and allows you to steer.
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It's a 1998 ford escort, one of the last to be built in Germany, maybe they started fitting ABS to them all when they moved production to Merseyside?
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I tried mine out from around 50MPH on a dry road on a warm day, making sure nothing else was around, because I wanted to know what it'd be like in real circumstances.
I won't do it again in a hurry! It was all over before I could really appreciate what was happening and the seat belt hurt like walking into a piece of four by four.
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I have once experienced ABS in dry weather. Probably 10+ years ago though. I know what it feels like but most probably do not. Had ABS and TCS kick in last week,
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>>Does everybody, before they respond, actually know what the abs feels like on their car when it cuts in?
>>
I do and my offspring do because I took them out to demo it.
(As of today I know it feels very similar a broken spring rubbing on the tyre :-( )
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I am of the opinion that the majority of car users treat their vehicles like any other white goods and only in the most extreme circumstances do they R T F M.
Add to that the lack of concern for servicing etc as witnessed by lights not working and or tyres under pressure /worn out, neither of which need looking at the oily parts, it is easy to see that educating the masses re ABS is a pipe dream.
>>Is it actually of benefit if people don't know what it does?
>>
Possibly not but the rest of us should not be deprived of ABS.
Possibly brake assist would help more drivers than ABS?
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I have driven both and never really had to use it so I don't know what it feels like, I do know how to do an emergency stop an in a none ABS car though, something a lot of new drivers have never experienced.
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" I do know how to do an emergency stop an in a none ABS car though, "
And that fact alone makes you a bit better driver than not knowing !
Its an experience mark !
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I try out the ABS (or ALB on my current main mover!) when I get a different car. It's hard not to ease up when it is activated, though. I think its' usefulness in general is moot - it may stop people from skidding in some circumstances, but what if they do "ease up"? I've tried it when it's slippery, and don't like it then, in general.
If you can find an empty road, it's an eye-opener to perform an emergency stop from 60 or 70 per. Make sure your brakes all operate properly first.
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With ABS I suspect its the ability to brake to maximum and still steer out of trouble that needs highlighting - to the unaware. Perhaps a TV campaign?
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Used to be either way about ABS, was at a serious bump on the M74 last year, where the traffic investigators were doing their stuff, part of their tests was grip coefficient of the tarmac tested with same vehicle braking at 30, 50, 70, with ABS and ABS disabled. After seeing it with my own eyes I was converted, ABS everytime, the difference at all speeds in stopping distance was more than dramatic.
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when activated, it also makes a fearsome noise outside the car as well!, a couple of times when i have been in town, and somebody has had cause to trigger it, pedestrians were staring open-mouthed thinking something was wrong with the braking car. not because billy baseballcap had pulled out in front of him!
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I test my ABS occaisionally, wet, slippery road surface, just to be sure that it is working. Does anyone know if "using" the ABS now and then shakes up the ABS controller valves to their benefit?
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I was on a bus in the French Alps last week on a day when it was snowing. It had the ABS warning light on. My assumption was that they had taken the fuse out?
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As ABS is of limited benefit in snow had the bus driver perhaps turned the system off and hence caused the warning light to show?
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Could well be that the fault had been fixed locally, but the vehicle hadn't been to the main dealer's to have the computer re-set. We get that with our lorries, dealership is a two-hour round trip away so in management's opinion not worth the diesel.
Edited by Harleyman on 11/02/2009 at 18:22
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I didn't think you could turn off ABS on a vehicle. Traction control yes but not ABS.
When the ABS light comes on briefly and goes out it means it is working. If the light stays on there is a fault. Removing the fuse would mean the warning light does not come on but it also would not come on briefly with the ignition either.
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Been skiing Mapmaker?? Where did you go? Was in Risoul the week before you!
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Does anyone know if "using" the ABS now and then shakes up the ABS controller valves to their benefit?
I seem to remember the Escort manual (for Fords with purely mechanical/hydraulic ABS) recommended testing it every 6 months to keep things working properly.
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I occasionally 'test' my ABS to make sure it works and works as expected.Maybe once a year though. Only at 20mph or so in the ice or snow where there is nothing to hit!
From experience I prefer non-ABS cars in the snow, you seem to get better stopping power without.
Edited by Snakey on 11/02/2009 at 13:18
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In addition to ABS, how many drivers have experienced the FULL braking potential of their car via EBA or whatever acronym the manufacturer is using ?
Last Spring a dog ran out in front of me. I hit the brakes emergency stop style and the car thought he means business and almost performed the four wheeled equivalent of a stoppie.
The old car which was following me at what I thought was a reasonable distance was extremely close as the dog wandered off from in front of my car.
My car does not switch on the hazard warning lights or flash the brake lights like some of the new ones do now.
If you see a modern car in front with brake lights flashing or hazards and brake lights get ready to pull up pretty quickly.
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thats a relief, i always wondered what that strange clicking noise was when i hit the brakes on a asda car park full of snow... but i always get the same clicking noise when i reverse out the drive... must be resetting its self one wouldnt wonder?
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Last summer when I my MG ZR the ABS activated when a deer ran out in front of me whilst travelling @ 50mph.
It felt like I stopped on a sixpence! very impressed no doubt.
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Who was the guy who said the best safety feature would be to drive naked with a spike coming out of the steering wheel pointed at your chest?
I remember riding a bike helmetless abroad before the helmet law came in; tell you what, I did not go very fast!
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My local garage guy once told me most people only activate their ABS once a year or so. I found this hard to believe, but having read this thread I'm not sure anymore.
hmm ...
perhaps it's just the way I drive but mine must activate about once a week. LOL
Edited by scotty on 12/02/2009 at 01:33
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