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Here's a quick clip from the Popular Mechanics website:
"ABS at Work
There are many different variations and control algorithms for ABS systems. We will discuss how one of the simpler systems works.
The controller monitors the speed sensors at all times. It is looking for decelerations in the wheel that are out of the ordinary. Right before a wheel locks up, it will experience a rapid deceleration. If left unchecked, the wheel would stop much more quickly than any car could. It might take a car five seconds to stop from 60 mph (96.6 kph) under ideal conditions, but a wheel that locks up could stop spinning in less than a second.
The ABS controller knows that such a rapid deceleration is impossible, so it reduces the pressure to that brake until it sees an acceleration, then it increases the pressure until it sees the deceleration again. It can do this very quickly, before the tire can actually significantly change speed. The result is that the tire slows down at the same rate as the car, with the brakes keeping the tires very near the point at which they will start to lock up. This gives the system maximum braking power.
When the ABS system is in operation you will feel a pulsing in the brake pedal; this comes from the rapid opening and closing of the valves. Some ABS systems can cycle up to 15 times per second. "
I'll leave it at this point to you to do the rest of the research on your own. I think we've beat this subject to death, and there are other things to discuss besides ABS systems.
One more thing. When I was much younger and fresh out of College, I got a job as a Cop on the local Police Force.(Lasted about 4 years then got a real job!)
One of the best experiences I ever had was high speed driving training which included skid control on a skid pan equipped test track. It is my firm belief that all drivers should undergo that kind of training--maybe not as hard core as the one we did though. It is something I'll never forget, and that training has helped me get out of a few pickles over the years.
If there are allot, will Toyo Recall/Retrofit?
Will they Buy the Car back?
Other than that its a great car. Big, Comfy, Stylish.
More info needed!
According to the news, your New England area just had a record Winter storm for this time of year. Under those conditions, one could expect some difficulties. How do you think the automaker is responsible for all the problems you had?
Thank you so much for your installation instructions. I followed them nearly to the letter. The only exception was that I mounted beeper on the EXTERIOR of the of the lower center trim panel. It is at floor level and held on by two small screws. The wires are hidden and it cannot be kicked by any pass angers. My hearing is terrible, but that did the trick. Your instructions were outstanding and you really provided a service to the forum.
I just got a 2006 Avalon Limited with Navi and I have a couple of questions. First off I also have a 2004 Honda Acord EX with Navi and so far form what I can see the navi in teh Acord is much better. The touch screen makes it so easy to input and the screen just seems more detailed. Question 1, Is there any way to not have to push the OK button to get the navi up and running. I wish you did not have to open the control panel to say OK. I would like to be able to just say OK or have a button out in the open to push. 2. IS there any way to program an address while driving. I know they disable it for safety but what about my passenger doing it? I do not get that. The Honda allows it. I mean once you say ok to get the navi up and running that should be enough to let them off the hook. 3.Any way to get the audio to display test while driving? It say for safetly it will not display test but you have to read that and if that is the case then you should not look at anything. I love my new Avalon, it is about the best car I have ever owned so I don't mean to complain. I just hope there are some answers for these little problems I have. One last thing. Is there a full list of the voice commands the car will accept? I can only find the commands for the navi so far but I kow it does much more.
Thank you,
James
Thankyou for the weather report-but i was here.
To answer your questions. I used the Awell Parking Assist System. Their web site is: http://www.awellmarket.com and I bought it online for $ 110 including shipping. My system has four sensors, and yes, you have to drill four holes in the rear bumper.
I installed it myself primarily using another forum members input. See post #10362. It contains a link that will give you detailed installation information.
I suspect that it will be pretty expensive to have someone else install it. Awell has a list of vendors that will do the work. The sensors come in various colors. Their silver was a perfect match for my Titanium Metallic. I prefer four sensors over two, but I have no information to make a meaningful comparison. I did not install a screen. That could be a distraction. The warning beeper does the job but you still need to use your rear vision (although it is poor on the new Avalon) and not just depend on the beeper.
I suggest that you do a search on the forum. Try "parking sensors." There is lots of information avaliable and some photos. So far I love the system, but it hasn't been installed very long.
Regards
billyg
I do not have the nagivation on my Avalon, so can't address your issue. But many, many others have posted alot of info on the subject. Search it for yourself, read them all, and you will be an extremely informed owner!
zekeman1
If you want to drive safely, be safe, then look first at any RWD car, or for a dramatically better safety factor try one of the new Lexus AWD vehicles, the IS or GS, that uses front wheel drive torque unless the use of the front wheel's contact patch can be best dedicated to directional control wherein it quickly removes engine drive torque, leading or lagging, from the front.
Most likely, you can't put it in gear and drive off if it's started with only the remote starter.
Nonetheless, my earlier advice is well worthy of consideration. No Anti Skid, Traction Control, or ABS system in the world can work miracles. Those who naively think they do are asking for trouble.
A snow storm--in this case a bad one with heavy wet snow (the worst for traction)--is terribly dangerous, and one of the most difficult driving conditions drivers can experience.
Accellerating quickly from a stop in conditions like that is an impossible expectation, especially when another vehicle is coming from the side and one is trying to get out of the way.
I can guarantee that had Trac Control been disabled, this driver would have been worse off. The car probably wouldn't have moved at all! One wheel would have been spinning impressively though!
With the aftermarket remote I installed on my Tundra, you start the vehicle the same way, you can unlock the vehicle with the remote and the engine continues to run. You have to insert the key into the ignition BEFORE you begin to drive - if you don't, the engine dies - obviously an anti-theft feature. AND, the emergency flashers don't operate.
Hope I clarified for you.
zekeman1
Yes, the only change I would like to see the Avalon would be to turn the engine 90d and add a driveshaft for what I would consider superior vehicle dynamics - but, as you state it, you would have all FWD vehicles deemed unsafe?
My example was/is accelerating out of a residential street into traffic on a main thoroughfare and having the rear wheels on my 1992 LS400 slip/spin just briefly on wet "plastic" crosswalk paint/striping. The rear brakes go "thump, thump," to alleviate the wheelspin which is now already history but now my engine is fully dethrottled and I must wait seemingly EONS out in oncoming traffic before Trac gives me throttle control again.
I can understand the logic of providing a Trac disable capability on RWD vehicles but not FWD but I don't agree with it. Wheelspin/slipping on a RWD vehicle will be a lot more benign and recoverable, generally, than the same incident on a FWD vehicle.
There are times in adverse weather conditions when some wheelspin is desireable, say for rocking the car back and forth to get out of a "hole".
And by the way, my 2001 AWD RX300, summer tires always, "eats" wet or fresh snowfall for breakfast. It's the packed snow or ice or thawed and refrozen snow that requires me to use the chains.
Not by any means saying that the wet or freshly fallen stuff can't be hazardous if you overdrive your stopping or stearing capability.
For most modern day FWD vehicles the only sure way to accomplish that is to quickly shift into neutral when the need arises. The AAA is currently recommending exactly that.
Yes, FWD with a Trac system that INSTANTLY brakes a slipping driven wheel or wheels and just as instantly dethrottles the engine so the front contact patch can be dedicated to maintaining directional control (assuming the resulting engine compression braking isn't too great for the level of traction) makes FWD the absolute BEST solution for 99% of today's drivers.
You may notice that many modern day FWD vehicles' transaxles are automatically upshifting, some radically so, on closed throttle operations, "coastdown", to alleviate the potential for loss of directional control due to engine compression braking.
These systems are options on Avalons, money well spent??
Here's a clip from an excellent website entitled "How Stuff Works":
"Traction Control in the Snow
Many people mistakenly believe that traction control will prevent their vehicle from getting stuck in the snow. This couldn't be further from the truth. Traction control does not have the ability to increase traction; it just attempts to prevent a vehicle's wheels from spinning. For drivers who routinely drive in snowy and icy conditions, traction control, antilock brakes, and snow tires are must-have safety features."
So, I say again: "Do not expect miracles in snow conditions from any Traction Control System."
(Ergo--Do not condemn your Avalon Trac system if miracles don't happen when expected!)
Sorry if we got carried away on that topic Pat. Intent was to be helpful, because there really is a huge misunderstanding by a great many people re what those devices can and cannot do.
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wonder when TOYOTA is gonna make body kits for our cars
i already designed few lips with photoshop ! youl be stunned when u see them
ali
zekeman1
At first, I was skeptical. I noticed the hops a bit, but it didn't bother me.
Today, I decided to use the manual shift. I kept it in fourth for most of the ride, and used third and fifth once in a while. I could not believe how much smoother and relaxed the ride was. I think I've found a new way to drive the Avalon, and now in retrospect maybe the tranny is a real detriment to what's otherwise an outstanding drive.
Has anyone else experimented with this method of avoiding the gear issue?
anyway tell me what do u think guy
Before :
After
cuz i really dont like the low front end !
thanks
I am having problems with the navigation system over the last month or so. It seem that the voice directions are wrong at least 1-2 times every time I use it. One trip it gave wrong direction all of the time, lately it tells left or right turn and then a few seconds later it states left or right turn a mile or so ahead. Had I followed the navigation system I would have been totally lost.A couple of times it wanted to take me in a circle. The dealer wants more bad news before doing anything. ange1