Scary moment this morning in the T4R
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westwind77
New member
The whole key to this is the ASSIST feature! If you hammer the brakes hard enough the system knows that it does NOT have to assist you. You need to make a FAST gas to brake transition but it does NOT mean to push the brakes to the floor. A fast transition, quick hit of the brakes, then BACK OFF pressure quickly, that is when the system 'thinks' it needs to ASSIST you and slams them on. Just make sure your seat back is in the upright position and your items are stored safely!
tlflow
New member
I find gripping the seat tightly with my butt cheeks really helps during panic braking. I find the other features of VSC more disconcerting. The one that beeps at you before steering your car with the brakes, not sure what it's called, anti-skid system (ASS?). I have only tested that one going downhill with a trailer and turning. The trailer pushed the rearend a bit and I got some help. It almost put me in a ditch.
Oh man...I left foot brake. I have a feeling the BA would kick on constantly for me because I can press the brake sooner and it'll probably keep thinking I'm doing a panic stop.
Oh well. I sat in 2011 4Runner TE yesterday. Didn't take it for a test drive, but it was very nice. It's also the first 4Runner I got into without hitting my head against the a-pillar. I really wish I could afford it cause it was the blue one and TE, which is exactly what I wanted.
However, after reading this thread, I'm a little worried, but I'll cross that bridge when I'm able to buy. Guess that's what the test drive before buying is for.
Oh well. I sat in 2011 4Runner TE yesterday. Didn't take it for a test drive, but it was very nice. It's also the first 4Runner I got into without hitting my head against the a-pillar. I really wish I could afford it cause it was the blue one and TE, which is exactly what I wanted.
However, after reading this thread, I'm a little worried, but I'll cross that bridge when I'm able to buy. Guess that's what the test drive before buying is for.
kmiller8821
New member
NICE
I almost spilled my gaterade reading this. While I definitely understand you, the way you said it was just f*in halarious.
I have a small datschund, and he always rides in his pet carrier. This was funny to read, but definitely could be serious. Just a reminder to always secure your pets. My little guy definitely deserves it.
I've never had BA kick in, I'll have had it for a year in June. I frequently drive in Dallas traffic, I may have to test this in a parking lot one day to see what it does. I'm now curious. "Nose diving till the wheels falls off" as mike says. ha
After failing to activate it the first time and getting more advice here, I went back for another try. I think I was able to engage it - I was gunning it getting up to about 30 and even going down a road with a good slant, I tapped the brakes and let off and it decided to keep braking for me. Assuming that's what it is, it didn't freak me out, who knows I was probably doing it wrong again.
The dealership now thinks I'm a weirdo :nerd:
The dealership now thinks I'm a weirdo :nerd:
rickwol
New member
Damn, I have a German Shepherd. Had him in the back seat after purchasing one of those nice pet back seat covers to keep his shedding fur off the seats. The darn thing is very padded and slippery to begin with. Well he was simply lying back there and all I did was slow down a bit and he slipped right off that pad and into the back of my seat. Heck, if that brake assist kicked in he'd probably be in pretty bad shape today.
Snooperstyle
Member
FWIW, had my 10k service this morning and the "master" tech said nothing was wrong with my BA after he test drove it...sigh...
Snooperstyle
Member
More Brake Assist Info
I got the unusual opportunity to tour the Bosch plant in Charleston today with a friend of mine who works there. He is not even allowed to let his own wife in the plant normally, but today was an open house that they had for Bosch's 125th anniversary. Very impressive what they do over there indeed. So,he introduced me to the guy who is in charge of the assembly line which makes the brake assist modules for certain Toyotas (not 4runners, but the Camry, and other ones made in America). He showed me one of the units that they had on display, which goes in a Camry. The unit has an electronic control module right on it that controls the ABS system and the BA system. That control unit is linked to the ECU. The guy explained to me that there is absolutely NO way whatsoever to change the sensitivity of the brake assist using the tech computer at the dealership hooked up to the ECU or in any other manner. Bosch makes the electronics within the module to specific specs provided to them by Toyota, and even Bosch can't change the sensitivity without recalibrating the machines on the assembly line. He also said that if you pull the fuse for it, that it is likely to be the same fuse for the ABS system, although that may be vehicle-specific. He said the only way that we 4runner owners are ever going to get rid of or reduce the sensitivity of the brake assist will be if Toyota gets enough complaints from owners (or accident incidences) and then subsequently asks their suppliers (not sure if Bosch makes the ones for the 4runner) to change the specs for newer models. I suppose if there are enough problems, thy could recall the ones in our 2010 and 2011 t4rs, but pretty unlikely. I know I will be writing my letter to corporate Toyota about it. Don't waste your time trying to ask the dealership to adjust it, but DO ask them to make note of it on your invoices when you go in for basic service. Hopefully this info can help others who are as frustrated as I am about the BA system being too sensitive. If you feel the same as I do, please write Toyota. Every bit helps.
I got the unusual opportunity to tour the Bosch plant in Charleston today with a friend of mine who works there. He is not even allowed to let his own wife in the plant normally, but today was an open house that they had for Bosch's 125th anniversary. Very impressive what they do over there indeed. So,he introduced me to the guy who is in charge of the assembly line which makes the brake assist modules for certain Toyotas (not 4runners, but the Camry, and other ones made in America). He showed me one of the units that they had on display, which goes in a Camry. The unit has an electronic control module right on it that controls the ABS system and the BA system. That control unit is linked to the ECU. The guy explained to me that there is absolutely NO way whatsoever to change the sensitivity of the brake assist using the tech computer at the dealership hooked up to the ECU or in any other manner. Bosch makes the electronics within the module to specific specs provided to them by Toyota, and even Bosch can't change the sensitivity without recalibrating the machines on the assembly line. He also said that if you pull the fuse for it, that it is likely to be the same fuse for the ABS system, although that may be vehicle-specific. He said the only way that we 4runner owners are ever going to get rid of or reduce the sensitivity of the brake assist will be if Toyota gets enough complaints from owners (or accident incidences) and then subsequently asks their suppliers (not sure if Bosch makes the ones for the 4runner) to change the specs for newer models. I suppose if there are enough problems, thy could recall the ones in our 2010 and 2011 t4rs, but pretty unlikely. I know I will be writing my letter to corporate Toyota about it. Don't waste your time trying to ask the dealership to adjust it, but DO ask them to make note of it on your invoices when you go in for basic service. Hopefully this info can help others who are as frustrated as I am about the BA system being too sensitive. If you feel the same as I do, please write Toyota. Every bit helps.
