Scary moment this morning in the T4R

[JasonCz]

So when I was out today, I found a nice straight stretch of empty 4 lane road to try to get BA to activate. The first few times I tried, I failed. The fourth time worked. I was only going about 35 and came off the accelerator and onto the brake very fast and pushed relatively firmly. Even though I was expecting it, it really surprised me. The truck almost came to an immediate stop. One side of me was impressed by the VERY short stopping distance, the other side is a bit nervous of activating it with someone behind me.

I recommend everyone going out and trying it out on an empty road, just so you know what to expect, and where the threshold is for it to activate.

 

[Ryan F.]

So when I was out today, I found a nice straight stretch of empty 4 lane road to try to get BA to activate. The first few times I tried, I failed. The fourth time worked. I was only going about 35 and came off the accelerator and onto the brake very fast and pushed relatively firmly. Even though I was expecting it, it really surprised me. The truck almost came to an immediate stop. One side of me was impressed by the VERY short stopping distance, the other side is a bit nervous of activating it with someone behind me.

I recommend everyone going out and trying it out on an empty road, just so you know what to expect, and where the threshold is for it to activate.

I recommend that eveyone go out and enjoy their 4 Runners.

 

[4Robber]

I recommend that eveyone go out and enjoy their 4 Runners.

We all love our trucks but it's not a perfect automobile...I'm not sure one exists.

Personally, I really like learning the good and not so good things about the 4Runner.

Not trying to be rude...

 

[Ryan F.]

We all love our trucks but it's not a perfect automobile...I'm not sure one exists.

Personally, I really like learning the good and not so good things about the 4Runner.

Not trying to be rude...

No, man, didn't hear you as rude at all. Nor was I trying to poo poo this thread at all. The brake assist saved a dog's life (crossing the road in front of me on a dark night). I was blown away. I was a Matrix owner and that site turned into a constant ***** session. I love that this forum is a perfect balance between posting concerns, and celebrating this truck. I love this thing. Thanks for keeping me in line in a way other than saying, "Screw yourself!" or something.

 

[JasonCz]

No, man, didn't hear you as rude at all. Nor was I trying to poo poo this thread at all. The brake assist saved a dog's life (crossing the road in front of me on a dark night). I was blown away. I was a Matrix owner and that site turned into a constant ***** session. I love that this forum is a perfect balance between posting concerns, and celebrating this truck. I love this thing. Thanks for keeping me in line in a way other than saying, "Screw yourself!" or something.

I understand what you mean. I do love the 4runner, but I also like knowing how and when all the systems work, and this is just one of them.

 

[4Robber]

I tested the Brake Assist tonight-

Just the fact that 5,000lbs can stop so quickly is pretty impressive. The front of the car really dips!


Pretty...pretty...good!

I'd recommend doing it w/ an empty car because **** will fly forward. My hat and gloves ended up in the melted snow on the passenger floormat.

 

[Snooperstyle]

Crazy Brake Assist

Brake assist almost caused an accident again this morning and I barely hit the brakes...a vehicle to rear-end me, and then proceeded to flip me the bird for stopping too aggressively...sweet. This time I went ahead and let off of the brakes since I knew it was doing its thing, and then tried to re-apply more gradually, and it did it again! Bouncing up and down three times. Felt like I had hydraulics or something!

I wonder if my heavier tires are making it more sensitive? Going in for the 10k service soon and will most certainly be putting this on the record...I don't feel safe hitting my brakes any more.

To re-ask the question, has anyone figured out if this can be adjusted at the dealer? Or turned off? I will attempt to answer this for everyone soon. Thanks!

 

[westwind77]

then proceeded to flip me the bird for stopping too aggressively...sweet.

I know this is serious but I had to laugh at that Personally the brake assist drives me up a tree, I am sure it is great, but I can see thing this causing accidents as well as preventing them. I think it is a great feature but it does need to be dialed down. I trip the brake assist once every couple weeks, I've learned to not have thing loose because of it! For where I live and where I drive it is not a big deal but I KNOW if I drove this in the places I used to live I would be pulling my hair out. Who knows, maybe you get used to it but I can see it getting triggered left and right in rush hour traffic.

 

[Antman]

I don't think I've had brake assist kick in yet but i did have an annoying experience with the "auto engine braking/tranny downshift thingy". I was doing some hard braking on a mtn road and had the trans downshift to help in the braking (I've had this before so it doesn't surprise me anymore), but it wouldn't upshift when I exited the corner and accelerated . It's the highest I've revved the motor so far. It didn't shift until I had almost come to a complete stop. Luckily it was a very quiet road. Served as a reminder to use the sport setting on mtn roads.

Not to hijack, but mine refuses to shift into a higher gear on my freeway Onramp at least once per week. It's weird, like 1/3 throttle slightly downhill and it just stays in the same gear until almost 5000 rpm and by that time I'm usually off the throttle completely like WTF? And then........it shifts. I will address this at my dealer next visit.

 

[Johnny Utah]

thanks for posting. i learned a few things reading these responses and, i'm glad you are okay.

I think I've triggered the BA a few times, just getting used to a new truck and how it performs. I've definitely seen all my stuff fly to the floor from the passenger's seat, and i know i scared the crap out of my girlfriend when the truck nose dived.

 

[philsey]

I was pondering BA last week, after reading about it on here. I had a BIG deer come up right in front of me on the interstate, doing 75 (me, not the deer).

Fortunately, I saw it, and was on the brakes real hard, but the BA did not engage. After the reports here, I can't help but wonder why. Real close call!

 

[joneseyyy]

Like most other people here, I nearly crapped my pants when the brake assist kicked in while driving the new T4r home from the dealership in NY...Now when it kicks in (pretty frequently in DC commuting, unfortunately), I can kind of anticipate it and ease off the brake to make it less abrupt.

 

[Arc.]

Is this a deal killer?

I've been in the market for a new 2011 TE for a few weeks and being doing my homework on this forum about the goods and the bads. This feature makes me very nervous because my dog is riding with me (either front seat or back seat) almost all the time. I suppose driving style factors in - do some of you drive like banshees riding people's tails? Or is the BA kicking on during firm even breaking pressure?

I drive from the burbs to downtown denver daily and I've had my instances where i was cutoff and had to put on the breaks pretty firmly.

I do NOT like the sounds of this feature and wasn't sure if anyone could provide a little bit more info. Of course, I was out testing driving a 2010 SR5 this past saturday, and not having known about this feature before I'm pretty sure if it had kicked on I would of crapped my pants.

 

[SeattleMike]

In my experience, the Brake Assist is triggered by a very quick transition between accelerator and brake pedals also known as panic stops. I've never had it come during normal braking, just when I switch too fast.

As a dog owner, I'd suggest you put your dog in the back. I know it's hard to deprive them of that front seat spot, but it's harder to bury them.

 

[DaveS]

It generally kicks in, in situations where you would otherwise hit something - either way you are stopping fast and an unrestrained dog is at best going to get seriously injured or at worst becomes a lethal missile heading into the back of a front seat occupant. The great thing about the T4R is the back window cranks down. I would get a crate for the dog and a tail pipe that vents the exhaust to the side and have the rear window down for the dog whenever they want it.

 

[Arc.]

In my experience, the Brake Assist is triggered by a very quick transition between accelerator and brake pedals also known as panic stops. I've never had it come during normal braking, just when I switch too fast.

As a dog owner, I'd suggest you put your dog in the back. I know it's hard to deprive them of that front seat spot, but it's harder to bury them.

It generally kicks in, in situations where you would otherwise hit something - either way you are stopping fast and an unrestrained dog is at best going to get seriously injured or at worst becomes a lethal missile heading into the back of a front seat occupant. The great thing about the T4R is the back window cranks down. I would get a crate for the dog and a tail pipe that vents the exhaust to the side and have the rear window down for the dog whenever they want it.

Thanks fellas for the feedback.

@SeattleMike - Lets say you are cruising at 65mph feathering the gas pedal and then you press on the brake very firmly briefly is BA kicking on dramatically even when the gas pedal was only lightly being touched? I've read in other threads is that its triggered from either a combo of gas/brake or just stomping on the brake.

This should be interesting trying to simulate this while test driving at a dealership....

 

[SeattleMike]

Thanks fellas for the feedback.

@SeattleMike - Lets say you are cruising at 65mph feathering the gas pedal and then you press on the brake very firmly briefly is BA kicking on dramatically even when the gas pedal was only lightly being touched? I've read in other threads is that its triggered from either a combo of gas/brake or just stomping on the brake.

This should be interesting trying to simulate this while test driving at a dealership....

I've never had it kick on in that situation. It's more like... You're doing 40 mph on 4 lane street, when the idiot in the oncoming left-hand turn lane decides he can beat you through the intersection, causing you to tap the brakes and bleed some speed rather than prove that his judgment was off, only to find that BA has decided that all 4500 pounds of 4Runner needs to stop right NOW! On the one hand, you look like a total noob who just discovered power brakes and on the other hand you are secretly impressed with how well this thing brakes.

It's not the speed of the truck, it's the interval between releasing the accelerator and engaging the brake. You'll know it when you do it because the brake pedal will pull down to the floor and the nose will dive deep enough to make you think the front wheels fell off.

 

[tlflow]

BA engages the brakes to the point of antilock. If you engage the anti lock yourself, BA would do nothing. Seems like the feature is based on the rate of change in the brake pedal position. I 'tested' the BA feature at 40 mph and 75 mph with a 3K trailer. I don't drive like a maniac but I do live in Houston, there are plenty of maniacs to go around here. It's a good feature, it will not hurt your dog ... or you. It's comes with VSC;

Brake Assist – Vehicle Safety

 

[westwind77]

IThis feature makes me very nervous because my dog is riding with me (either front seat or back seat) almost all the time.

Personally, after experiencing BA many times, I would NEVER put my dog in the front seat! Even the rear seat would worry me a little. Once it kicks the system decides when it wants to stop applying the brakes, by then your pooch would be face 1st into the dash. The last thing I would want you to do is not buy a 4R because of this feature, but it does exist, and yes it 'could' be a problem for a dog in the front if it kicks in. I would not want to see you animal get hurt.

I was pondering BA last week, after reading about it on here. I had a BIG deer come up right in front of me on the interstate, doing 75 (me, not the deer).

Fortunately, I saw it, and was on the brakes real hard, but the BA did not engage. After the reports here, I can't help but wonder why. Real close call!

BA is designed to take over for when it feels the driver can not apply enough pressure for a panic stop. In your case you provided enough, or more, than the system required. If you read into a lot of articles they actually reference it being designed for women or older people who react somewhat quickly from gas to brake but do not have the 'muscle' or speed to push down hard/fast enough. The system senses this and 'helps' the driver (not).

If you came around the corner and a deer jumped in front but then cleared your 4R, enough where you quickly took your foot from the gas to the brake and taped it to start hard, but then released pressure because you realized the danger was gone, then BA would take over and slam them on, even though YOU realized the danger was gone. The system thinks that you still need to stop, you just don't have the 'umph' to do it.

If you really want to trip it easily hit the gas hard then tap the brakes quickly with a little force, but then back off, you will have a fun ride! I like to test things out, so I know what to expect and when!

 

[Arc.]

Fellas,
I was just at the dealership testing out the BA feature. After re-reading your guys' comments, I'm not so sure I was engaging it properly.

The sales guy was eager to help me so he grabbed a 2011 SR5 and their parking lot was large enough to test it out in (well from what you guys said 10mph was good enough). He did it first, then I tried it. Each time, from a stand still, I floored it to about 20mph and slammed on the brakes. Sure there's nose dive, no biggie, the tires chirped, that was ok, tire marks left by the tires in the some-what new pavement, but it never felt like it was anything more than ABS kicking in. I've never slammed on the brakes as hard as I did today than in the 12 years of owning a 1989 and 4 years owning a 2002 for 4runner

I doubt I can ask if we can go out and get up to 50mph and try it, but am I attempting this correctly? The sales guy totally thought each of the 10 times (lmao) I tried, it was engaging each time. I'm going back Sat for another test drive, but I'm really starting to dig the new 4runner

Oh and the squishy brake thing everyone talked about, yes there is a "hiss" or whatever, but to me that isn't out of the ordinary, nor is it a big deal.