Adaptive Cruise Control & Collision Warning System

[jholt26]

Hello,

 

Just picked up a 13 fusion hybrid with adaptive cruise and forward collision warning. My question is where are the sensors for the forward collision feature? Also, how far away does the system warn you? I was driving in the City today some cars were stopping in front of me and I never got a warning light. I was approaching fairly quickly and did have to brake a bit harder than normal. My sensitivity is set to high. Anyone have any idea where the sensors are and how and when the system warns you?

 

Thanks,

 

Jeff

[FusionDiffusion]

The radar sensor is located behind the driver's side of the lower grille. You should notice one side of the grille is different than the other. There is a picture in the owner's manual.

 

From what I understand, the warning will only sound if the system detects an imminent collision. If your foot was already on the brake (even slightly) I don't think it will sound the alert.

[terryb]

It is startling when it does its trick when you're looking the wrong way. :shift:

[acdii]

Dont worry, it will go off at some point and make you tinkle! When someone moves to the right or left turn lane and slows down before you clear them, it will go off. It does work...when you really dont need it.

[smr2112]

Does the automatic braking only work when the cruise is set ON with the adaptive cruise?

It won't brake in regular everyday traffic the way you describe it?

[Riggo]

Does the automatic braking only work when the cruise is set ON with the adaptive cruise?

It won't brake in regular everyday traffic the way you describe it?

 

Yes, that's how I understand it. It also doesn't brake the car fully to a stop, it only brakes a certain amount to keep it at the preset distance (with adaptive cruise on) and if it decides it needs more braking because of an impending collision the collison avoidance lights will flash and the driver must take over. The collision avoidance does precharge the brakes if it senses an impending collison but it won't stop the car for you. I've believe Volvo has a system where it actually brakes the car to a complete stop. I think Audi also has a system, or one in the works.

[RedLdr1]

The ACC only slows the car down when the Cruise Control is ON. There are five distance settings you can choose between for how close the system allows you to get before cutting power. The only time the collision alarm seems to sound on my FFH, and on my old SHO, is when someone slows to turn in front of me and leaves my lane partially blocked. I tend to keep a good distance behind other vehicles so it doesn't get to much usage.

[Riggo]

So I was going around a traffic circle today and a car was in the right lane in the circle just ahead of me. For some reason the collision avoidance system went off twice and it actually almost brought the car to a stop automatically. I guess since I was on a curve maybe it got confused?? Also, I never thought it was actually supposed to brake (my cruise control wasn't on), just precharged the brakes, but it actual brakes rather abruptly. Weird!

[Waldo]

So I was going around a traffic circle today and a car was in the right lane in the circle just ahead of me. For some reason the collision avoidance system went off twice and it actually almost brought the car to a stop automatically. I guess since I was on a curve maybe it got confused?? Also, I never thought it was actually supposed to brake (my cruise control wasn't on), just precharged the brakes, but it actual brakes rather abruptly. Weird!

 

The collision warning will never activate the brakes. I'm guessing that you probably got startled by the warning and subconsciously hit the brake pedal without even realizing it.

[djminfll]

If the Adaptive Cruise Control is on, it will brake for you, it won't if its not on. If the pre-collision warning was activated, the system may have detected a vehicle in your path STRAIGHT AHEAD OF YOU, rather than reading the direction of the lane. Mine does it when I go around one particular curve on the expressway almost every time.

[hermans]

Mine went off the other day. Someone, was across the intersection from me and waiting to make a left turn and was already partially in the intersection.

[Riggo]

 

The collision warning will never activate the brakes. I'm guessing that you probably got startled by the warning and subconsciously hit the brake pedal without even realizing it.

 

Haha uhhhhhh no. In fact, I was hitting the gas pedal trying to get it to speed up so people wouldn't run into the back of me. Maybe it was a malfuntion. I definitely didn't hit the brakes subconsciously and definitely didn't have cruise on.

[Waldo]

 

Haha uhhhhhh no. In fact, I was hitting the gas pedal trying to get it to speed up so people wouldn't run into the back of me. Maybe it was a malfuntion. I definitely didn't hit the brakes subconsciously and definitely didn't have cruise on.

 

Kind of like the opposite of unintended acceleration. People swear they are hitting the brake but they are actually hitting the gas. It just doesn't have the ability to use the brake when there's a collision warning. That would be like saying you tried to change the radio station and the brakes came on. If it's a malfunction it's a MAJOR malfunction.

Edited July 9, 2013 by Waldo

[Waldo]

Double post

Edited July 9, 2013 by Waldo

[Riggo]

Yep. Seems to have been a major malfunction then. I've had the collision warning go off probably 7 or 8 times before so it doesn't startle me when it happens. I was going around the curve and it went off with my foot on the accelerator and started to slow down abruptly. That's when I tried to actually speed up because my foot was still on the accelerator. I knew how the system was supposed to work as you can see from an earlier post I has posted on this thread.

[shaggy314]

Burried in the car manual describes pre-loading the brakes when the warning goes off so you have faster brake response. Adaptive CC will brake down to 20ish MPH.

[Riggo]

Yeah but does pre-loading the brakes actually cause a sudden decrease in speed? I thought pre-loading just meant the brakes were charged and ready to go at a much quicker response time, not that it would actually slow down the car. And since adaptive cruise wasn't on why would the car slow down.

[acdii]

It was scared? That is a puzzler, mine goes of a lot and has never slowed down. You probably didnt look, but if it did apply braking, your battery recharge would also be going.

[Riggo]

Yeah mine has gone off a lot too and hasn't slowed down before. I was also going around a curve pretty slowly, it was a traffic circle in the middle of D.C. Weird. Maybe it was scared like you said, ha.

[djminfll]

Mine only brakes when the ACC is on. I have had a couple of close calls where someone cut me off or blew a stop sign, and the strip of red lights in front of me flashed along with an audible alarm, but the brakes did not apply. It does, however, brake when the ACC is on. One of my pet peeves with the ACC is that the brakes will be applied sometimes if I'm in the middle lane and someone turns into the right lane, or if someone brakes in the right lane before making a turn. As I posted earlier in this thread, it always brakes when I am on the expressway at the same spot - the road is curving to the left and the system thinks I am driving straight ahead and am about to collide with the car in the right lane that is also curving left. I now release the ACC as I am approaching the curve, then resume once I am past it.

[expresspotato]

 

Yes, that's how I understand it. It also doesn't brake the car fully to a stop, it only brakes a certain amount to keep it at the preset distance (with adaptive cruise on) and if it decides it needs more braking because of an impending collision the collison avoidance lights will flash and the driver must take over.

 

I find this to be a huge safety risk - the car won't brake fully to a stop. Ether slowly as traffic's speed reduces below 20 KM/h or quickly as you're about to hit another car - it won't brake enough in either situation even when the system knows it should be braking more.

[Eddie Sessum]

I always thought active and passive were the difference in a car stopping and not. When I picked up my car I actually had someone slam on there brakes in front of me. When the car started beeping I had no clue wtf was beeping. When I saw the guy in front of me I def had a o-shit moment and I stopped about 2ft off there ass on a highway. My friend audi has the same thing and will throw u thru the windsheild if your not buckled up. My guess is if a cheapo VW or kia minivan will stop itself. Our cars do too.

 

After all, its trying to preserve its life. lol

 

System has nothing to do with adaptive cruise control tho I dont believe. Just uses the same sensors. Even if the braking system just slows itself to 20mph hoping you realize to put your foot on the brake by that point.

[acdii]

The ACC will slow the car as much as needed without interaction. I had the cruise set a few weeks ago on 290, and traffic slowed quickly and the car damn near slammed on the brakes, dropping it from 60 to 35 in a heartbeat, no collision alarm either. At that point I took over, but man did I have a smile on my face. That was COOL!

[Riggo]

I've had the ACC slow down so fast on the highway that the collision avoidance lights flashed and there is no way the car would have stopped without my intervention. It's still pretty cool how it slows down though.

[hermans]

Please....do not think the Collision Warning system will bring your car to a stop. It will only slow it down.

From the owner's manual:

"The vehicle will apply the brakes to slow the vehicle to maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front. The maximum braking which the system can apply is limited. You can override the system by applying the brakes.

If the system predicts that its maximum braking level will not be sufficient, an audible warning will sound while the system continues to brake. This is accompanied by a heads-up display; a red warning bar illuminating on the windshield. You should take immediate action."

Edited August 14, 2013 by hermans