Brakes (Operation): Description and operation

Operation

ABS

The purpose of ABS is to prevent vehicle wheels locking during brake application, thus maintaining vehicle steerability and stability. This allows the vehicle to be steered while the brakes are applied, even under emergency conditions, and to avoid obstacles where there is sufficient space to redirect the vehicle.

WARNING: ABS is an aid to retaining steering control and stability while braking: l ABS cannot defy the natural laws of physics acting on the vehicle. l ABS will not prevent accidents resulting from excessive cornering speeds, following another vehicle too closely, aquaplaning, etc. l The additional control provided by ABS must never be exploited in a dangerous or reckless manner which could jeopardise the safety of driver or other road users. l The fitting of ABS does not imply that the vehicle will always stop in a shorter distance.

NOTE: During normal braking the feel of the brake pedal on vehicles equipped with ABS will be the same as that on non ABS vehicles. During anti-lock braking operation the driver will experience feedback in the form of a pulsating brake pedal and solenoid/pump motor noise from the ABS modulator.

The anti-lock braking function is automatically enabled whenever the ABS modulator is in the normal braking mode.

While the anti-lock braking function is enabled, if the ABS ECU detects a wheel decelerating faster than the average, indicating it is about to lock, it operates the ABS modulator in the ABS braking mode for the affected wheel.