Anyone else tried the EBA system? Out of curiosity I hit the brake pedal very hard and quickly today at about 55mph on a damp, straight, deserted road. The results were spectacular. The car stopped in a dead straight line in an incredibly short distance with tremendous deceleration. Very reassuring but goodness knows how a following driver would be able to react quickly enough in a real emergency braking situation. Incidentally, I thought that the hazard lights were supposed to come on automatically but they didn't do so.

Incidentally, I thought that the hazard lights were supposed to come on automatically but they didn't do so.

i think you have to turn this on in vag-com or vas

The hazard light activation isnt coded into UK cars IIRC. I can't remember the exact reason, it might not be type approved maybe.

I agree that a tailgating driver would never react in time to that sort of braking. It's a good reminder to maintain a good distance from the car in front, it's easy to forget how quickly modern cars can come to a halt.

I think, when hazard lights are actually getting active, it is not indicated on the dash (may be to not getting the driver's attention at this moment).

And only the rear indicators are activated.

Is EBA a standard feature , and if so since when?

I can't remember if mine has it or not.

In some countries the brake lights flash rapidly when the ABS is activated which I thought was a really clever idea, but never taken up in this country.

i was following an astra the other day that lit up like an orange christmas tree when he realised he needed to stop for a train crossing!

Can be turned on via vagcom. IIRC smstext had his turned on recently.

I did ask the dealer to do mine at service, but they openly admit they forgot to do it when collecting the car.

mine are on but only operated once for me, you really need to jam them on hard to activate them and when they activate the left and right indicator lights on the dashboard do light up. dont know what it looks like from the back, maybe someone can follow me from a distance one day and tell me.

Do vrs's have brake assist?

I don't think I've got it but I'm not sure (06/07 car).

My Citroen C3 did this too. 2003 vintage. It's amazing how something as simple and effective as this has taken so long to filter through to some manufacturers.

In some countries the brake lights flash rapidly when the ABS is activated which I thought was a really clever idea, but never taken up in this country.

Brilliant idea indeed, our 10k Fiesta has this feature and its come on once when I had to use the brakes hard and the ABS was activated. Never noticed it activating on the Octy however so Im guessing its a setting within VCDS.

Edited 10 December, 200817 yr by FocusZtec

does the octavia 2 have this option??????????/

EDIT - For clarity.

As mentioned further down the thread EBA is always on. You need VAG-COM (VCDS) to enable Emergency Braking Hazard Warning Lights. This is were you slam on and the Hazard lights automatically come on. This is indicated on the dashboard and stays on until you press the Hazard light button (twice) or drive on and get over about 15-20mph

HTH

Carl:thumbup:

Edited 16 December, 200817 yr by Mater

The hazard light activation isnt coded into UK cars IIRC. I can't remember the exact reason, it might not be type approved maybe.

I agree that a tailgating driver would never react in time to that sort of braking. It's a good reminder to maintain a good distance from the car in front, it's easy to forget how quickly modern cars can come to a halt.

Its one thing having great brakes, ABS, EBD, EBA and hazard warning etc. BUT will the car behind you be able to react & stop in time not to hit you! :eek:

ive had to brake hard before when a cyclist decided (whilst plugged into ipod) to swerve straight out in front of me causing me to brake sharpish, the van behind had to brake even sharper and ended up swerving up towards the nearside bank... i honestly thought he would end up in the back of me (tyres squeeling from him). so i know how good the brakes can be

Yes it does and it is enabled in Vag-Com and all four lights flash and it is indicated inside the car when it happens

HTH

Carl:thumbup:

so do you mean that brake assist isnt on until you enable it, or brake assist is on, but you need to enable the four ways to activate.

ive had to brake hard before when a cyclist decided (whilst plugged into ipod) to swerve straight out in front of me causing me to brake sharpish, the van behind had to brake even sharper and ended up swerving up towards the nearside bank... i honestly thought he would end up in the back of me (tyres squeeling from him). so i know how good the brakes can be

Credit to that driver for swerving, though

brake assist is always on. the emergancy braking lights is the thing that you need to enable (the thing that warns the other drivers of your rapid decelleratation)

all Volvo's have hazard's and brake lights flash when EBA is active too, have done for about 12 months now IIRC.

Activated on my previous C30 once on the M'way when someone swung in front of me!

My MkI Octavia has EBA, but not the option to show the hazard warning lights. As I understand it, EBA detects the speed of brake pedal travel (rather than force) and automatically applies full force even if the driver 1) doesn't press the pedal all the way down or 2) begins to ease off too early.

Credit to that driver for swerving, though

Are we sure it wasn't that he skidded? :eek:

Are we sure it wasn't that he skidded? :eek:

In my experience skidding generally means that you continue in the same direction rather than changing direction. Hence why people are told to gently loose off the brakes (or why ABS does this for you...) if you're skidding so that you can maintain steering control and change direction

In my experience skidding generally means that you continue in the same direction rather than changing direction. Hence why people are told to gently loose off the brakes (or why ABS does this for you...) if you're skidding so that you can maintain steering control and change direction

.... but he went sideways towards the bank because one tyre lost grip causing the vehicle to slew.

In some countries the brake lights flash rapidly when the ABS is activated which I thought was a really clever idea, but never taken up in this country.

Except on every Vauxhall Astra since 2006, Vectra since 2005 and Corsa since 2007....