NorthFx4

I sympathize with you, and while I have not been driving as long as you or luv2hike27 I did a convoy operations course back in 06 in Blackwater, and their driving instructors were top notch. We did a lot of basic skills before working up to PIT, Ram thru's, and ultimately convoy driving. Work with ABS and non-ABS in Crown Vic's, and man that was an eye-opener using them side by side. For a driver who has been taught, and who maintains that skillset of using threshold breaking techniques you can squeeze that much more performance out of the vehicle. But not everyone has had that benefit sadly, and that is why ABS are now mandatory.

Interestingly, my old man, and my wifey's old man drive very similarly. I always had previously thought my old man was a really good driver, but this Xmas I did a trip with him out East, and I have to say his driving mannerisms appear to have gotten worse. We had an atrocious snowfall through Ontario/Quebec while we were driving to Nova Scotia, and he consistently got to close to the vehicle infront of us given the vehicles ability to stop in those conditions. On a side note, I'm never doing that trip again without my truck, cars just scare me. In any case, he frequently would pump the breaks under hard breaking conditions, among other bad breaking habbits. Suffice it to say if I go on a trip with him again I'm driving, and we're going in my truck. Don't care if his Volvo was rated very safe.

I grew up with ABS being common, so I suppose for me there is no great big adjustment. The only thing we as drivers can do is maintain are awareness of these issues and try to prevent.

flanneljunkie

Something doesn't seem right about that. I've had the ABS keep me from stopping on an ice covered downhill road/intersection, but never on wet pavement (unless it was actually black ice). Could you have faulty ABS wheel sensors? My only experience with faulty sensors is that it disables the ABS system. Seems like your system was happening when it probably should not have.

Overall, I think ABS has been a wonderful thing in vehicles. Threshold braking works, if you know how to do it. Many drivers can't even operate the simplest of automobile functions these days, so I think ABS as a whole has helped.

What I really hate, is the assisted braking on late model vehicles. When the vehicle measures how quickly I let off the gas, move the foot to the brake, and apply pressure and then think that it knows how much brake I want to apply.. well, that just goes too far.

For example, I was test driving a truck (2012 Tundra), and was following a slow moving vehicle on a 50mph two lane road. After following for about a half mile or so, there was a straight stretch to pass. I check to make sure it is clear, engage my signal, move over and accelerate (to the speed limit, we were about 15mph under). As soon as I hit the gas and moved over, the truck turned his left signal on to make a left turn. I immediately moved from the gas to the brake in an expedient manner, but hardly panic. The truck saw my quick movement and assumed I wanted to panic brake (assisted braking). Even though I placed a normal amount of pressure on the brake to slow down, I must have had 90-100% brake force and had it not been for the ABS, I would have been at full lock.

It was an eye opening experience, and a realization that there needs to be a point where we need to take the responsibility to learn how to operate the equipment we use, and stop relying on automatic systems to do everything for us.

More info on brake assist: Toyota Brake Assist

21RRF150

iTrader: (1)

X2^

Everything you've said OP, does not sound like typical ABS(anti lock brakes, not automatic by the way) operation. To lightly press the brakes, and have it engage does not sound right. I have to stand on my pedal hard, for my ABS to engage. Been that way on every vehicle I've ever owned. And I've always come to a complete stop. I'd get it checked.

Unless the road was way more slick than you say it was. And the ABS sensed that the wheels were locking up, and sliding. In which case you would've went thru that intersection either way.

The only time my ABS worked like you say yours did, was back on my S-10. I had an ABS sensor fault. And it worked like you say yours did. The ABS would kick in, but not completely stop.

luv2hike27

Don't know what to tell ya, other than I would not recommend disconnecting the abs, although you may not get a ticket, if you have a crash and your insurance company finds out it was disabled they may not cover you or at the least drop you.

I strongly suggest the Smith system to everyone. When we started driving, there where not as many vehicles on the road, let alone distracted drivers on cell phones, computers, ipods or watching dvds! Just the occassional moron reading a book, newspaper or shaving and applying makeup! Now there doing all that and texting! with that being said, yes its up to us to avoid them so we have 2 choices adjust how we drive on a daily basis or be stressed out and maybe crash or cause one.

Ultimately the driver ( me included) is responsible for putting the vehicle into motion and barring a mechanical failure not of our doing or being hit by someone else we just have to adapt to new technology if we are in a new vehicle. Sorry to

Smith system -

aim high in your steering
keep your eyes moving
get the big picture
make sure you are seen (eye contact)
leave yourself an out ( if your gonna crash make it the softest spot) mail box not a tree or pole.

luv2hike27

.
The only time my ABS worked like you say yours did, was back on my S-10. I had an ABS sensor fault. And it worked like you say yours did. The ABS would kick in, but not completely stop.[/QUOTE]

If the abs system fails, blows a circuit etc, the fall back system is conventional braking, ie; threshold

I have had to correct some awful driving habits in students aka rookie cops over the years and some of the worst actually drove and only used the abs constantly until they got to the academy. They had to be shown that if abs fails, your back to skidding and sliding and crashing. They of all students had the hardest time adapting to and successfully navigating a threshold braking exercise. We have training cars set up so that with the flip of a switch we can turn the abs off or on in the middle of a maneuver and that was an

HCFX2013

Just thought I'd throw in that it's anti-lock brake system, not automatic brake system..

Personally to me it sounds like either a malfunction or an icy patch. I have to hit my brakes hard to tip ABS and even then with my faded brakes it barely happens. Mind you, this is in dry conditions but I've never had an issue stopping in the wet...don't know what to think here.

Shol'va

Do you brake with your left foot?

Centexguy

If ABS kicked in at 5mph then I'm betting you hit something slick or a bump or something else. I'm willing to bet that if I stood on my brakes at 5mph it would just stop the truck instantly and ABS would never come in to play.

deerhunter42

It kicked in at more then 5mph and I had slowed down to 5mph when I went across the intersection but it would not stop, it was not skidding that much and that was caused by the ABS. But you could feel the truck still under power, wheels turning and pulled me across.

No ice, temp was above 50 degrees.

I will have it checked out, I don't remember this happening with my 2008 or my 2010 F-150's. But this is a rare situation, (once is still to many) and everything has to be just right for it to happen. That was the way it was with my Explorer when it happened a couple of times.

Centexguy

Was the truck still trying to accelerate or something? What do you mean under power? When I hear that I think the truck is trying to accelerate while you are trying to brake which would definitely make it difficult to stop.