Over sensitive ABS sensor?

[chrisash32]

Is that possible?

My 9n3 has scared me on all too many occasions now!

When i am breaking, if i go over something as little as a dip in the road (not even a pot hole!) the ABS sensor kicks in and the car stops breaking, then i have to step off and slam on (as i am about to hit the car in front!!)

Has anyone else experienced anything like this before? Or is it just me?

Also is it a fault or a feature?

Thanks

Chris

[dino]

ABS wont stop breaking completly, it pumps the brake pad to allow you to steer as well as brake.

Mine doesn't cut in every so easily as you mention though.

[chrisash32]

yeh, i feel the pump pushing the peddle back up.
But it doesnt stop! So all i can do is lift compleatly off and hit it again..

Its just quite scary as i never know when its going to do it.

[dino]

yeh, i feel the pump pushing the peddle back up.
But it doesnt stop! So all i can do is lift compleatly off and hit it again..

I dont understand why you need to lift off the pedal?

[chrisash32]

if i dont its just keeps juddering and doesnt stop!

[dino]

If your braking hard enough to have ABS kick in it should still be braking hard but more controlled. Unless some one can shed some light on this i'd suggest getting it looked at.

[makarious]

Hey

Im not sure if this is what you mean, but if i break suddenly even in a dip in the road like you say, I feel the brake pedal like sort of vibrating. Not sure if this is what you mean but I too have been a bit worried about it, been like thatf for a while.

But im no mechanic so maybe im just worrying over nothing, dunno?

[AndyGTi]

Sorry if this sounds vague but it might be something or might just be the way the VW ABS works.

One of the junctions I used to drive through had a metal manhole cover right in the braking area. If the lights went to red and I braked just before or on manhole cover I would get the ABS come in as it lost grip under braking. So I always lifted or only braked after manhole, but it wasn't a problem with brakes.

Also I think some of the strange feeling in brake pedal I get sometimes might be down to the EBD (But i'm sure someone will tell me I'm talking rubbish) but it does feel different to the judder from ABS.

So hope that helps, sorry if it doesn't

[johnparker]

Chris

I think ive experienced this in my '56 1.4tdi. I went over a double hole in the road surface while braking for a roundabout and the abs kicked in, in such a way that it felt like i traveled a few yards with no brakes at all.
Good job there was nothing in front!

John

[chrisash32]

Phew, so its not just me! lol.

Mine is in at VW on wednesday so i am going to mention it to them.

Thanks

Chris

[johnparker]

Let us know what they say mate!

[johnparker]

After my last post yesterday it happened again. Only the second time since i got the car in October - Spooky!
I was approaching a junction to join a main road and was braking quite hard while passing over a tarmac repair strip that went right across the road creating only a slight bump. My ABS went in to a much more than nesesary spasm and i only just managed to stop at the line with the brake pedal pushed as hard as i could.

I will be phoning VW about my brakes as im sure there is something wrong for 4 reasons.

1. The above
2. The pedal drops away sometimes when sat idling at traffic lights
3. It is possible to pump the pedal up until it is stiff with the engine running
4. The brakes are crap

[panda]

on my 9n, you can pump the pedal till stiff. Also if you put the handbrake on the pedal drops, I'm pretty sure the pedal drops when you depress the clutch also.

[chrisash32]

no luck from VW yet, its going back in again in 2 weeks.

chris

[johnparker]

I phoned VW and they want to check the car out (sat 14th)

They say the pumping up of the pedal is normal.

They are going to bleed the brakes and run a diagnostic.

They said that the pre-facelift polo had brakes that were too sharp so on the facelifted model they altered them to give more feel