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Braking
See Brake System Warning Light on page 3-25.
Braking action involves perception time and reaction
time. Deciding to push the brake pedal is perception
time. Actually doing it is reaction time.
Average reaction time is about three-fourths of a
second. But that is only an average. It might be less
with one driver and as long as two or three seconds or
more with another. Age, physical condition, alertness,
coordination, and eyesight all play a part. So do alcohol,
drugs, and frustration. But even in three-fourths of a
second, a vehicle moving at 60 mph (100 km/h) travels
66 feet (20 m). That could be a lot of distance in an
emergency, so keeping enough space between
the vehicle and others is important.
And, of course, actual stopping distances vary greatly
with the surface of the road, whether it is pavement
or gravel; the condition of the road, whether it is
wet, dry, or icy; tire tread; the condition of the brakes;
the weight of the vehicle; and the amount of brake force
applied.
Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive
in spurts — heavy acceleration followed by heavy
braking — rather than keeping pace with traffic.
This is a mistake. The brakes might not have time
to cool between hard stops. The brakes will wear out
much faster with a lot of heavy braking. Keeping
pace with the traffic and allowing realistic following
distances eliminates a lot of unnecessary braking.
That means better braking and longer brake life.
If the engine ever stops while the vehicle is being
driven, brake normally but do not pump the brakes.
If the brakes are pumped, the pedal could get harder
to push down. If the engine stops, there will still be
some power brake assist but it will be used when the
brake is applied. Once the power assist is used up,
it can take longer to stop and the brake pedal will be
harder to push.
If the vehicle has the 2.0L turbocharged engine, it has
a hydraulic brake boost feature as part of the Electronic
Stability Control which supplements the power brake
system to maintain consistent brake performance
under conditions of low brake booster vacuum. Low
brake booster vacuum conditions can include initial
start up after the vehicle has been parked for several
hours, very frequent brake stops, or high altitude driving.
When hydraulic brake boost is active, minor brake
pulsation or movement might be felt but this is normal.
If brake pedal feel changes or the brake pedal feels
hard to push, the system might not be receiving the
intended brake boost and the SVC BRAKE SYSTEM
DIC message may be displayed.
Adding non-dealer/non-retailer accessories can affect
vehicle performance. See Accessories and Modifications
on page 5-3.
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