mike120877

I'm curious, does the US version of the TSX have Electronic Brake Assist? I saw that it was a new feature for '06 - but when I got to the Acura website, they mention nothing of it?

Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks

jpt

all TSXs have 4-wheel antilock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution. I'm not sure if "electronic brake assist" is something different or not.

ninjamyst

they mentioned it in the US 2006 TSX brochure....but it maybe just some marketing gimmick.

mike120877

Hmmm....that would seem rather shady. I'm reading on all the car review websites that it does have it, i'm just surprised Acura themselves would not
have it listed. I have sent emails to a few dealers and am waiting for their reply.

kboosman00

2004-2005 DOES not have Electronic Brake Assist. I believe it's standard on the 2006 though.

aaronng

Our AUDM 03-06 has always had brake assist.

Zoopa

Brake Assist measures the driver's "attack" of the pedal. If the driver attacks the pedal quickly, as if in a panic, but does not depress the brake pedal far enough to activate ABS, the computer detects it, and will activate ABS based on attack speed.

Do you just look at the pictures when you check out the magazines?

Schizm

you got it almost right.

The TSX does brake harder if you quickly hit the brakes. Studies have proven that most drivers do react to an emergency with enough time but do not apply enough force to the brakes and avoid the situation. So the computer rates the speed with which you initially press the pedal. It will increase the amount of total force applied if the brakes are engaged quickly.

The ABS will not become a factor until a wheel has stopped turning or is slowing too quick relative to the other wheels.

So, yes there is some form of assistance.

TSXdawg

I'm almost certain that the US versions have Brake Assist. In Canada, it is listed on the acura.ca website. I also noticed that it is not listed on the US Acura website and found it kinda odd since it is a good selling feature.

mike120877

Got answers from 3 dealers, but none of them seemed to know (rather alarming) they responded that the TSX has traction control and VSA. I'm going to the dealership today to find out for myself. Is Brake Assist mentioned in the Owner's Manuals anywhere?

Thanks

curls

I noticed in my Helm's manual that is says "Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD)" and says it was added to the VSA system. Whether that means added for the 2005 model, or added to VSA for all TSX's, I'm not sure.

But it does mention it. It also says it basically proportions brake pressure to maximize rear wheel brakeing w/o locking, w/o driver intervention.

For those with a Helm's, it's page 19-40.

aaronng

EBD is different from brake assist. You're right that EBD proportions the braking force during ABS, but brake assist actually increases braking force until the ABS is engaged, based on sensors determining that it is an emergency stop eventhough you are not pressing the pedal hard enough.

junktionfet

Speaking of this, I got to experience this first hand tonight. It is a very interesting sensation. I am normally a pretty sedate driver, and even when I'm driving "aggressively", I am still progressive with my application of throttle and brake.

I was trying to find my way to someone's house and I was about to miss a turn, so I hit the brake pedal much quicker than I normally do. I was well within the car's ability to slow down gracefully and make the turn with no drama.

However a half-second after the calipers clamped down, the nose of the car took a dive and I was suddenly in a full tilt ABS stop. I immediately released the pedal, a bit freaked out. As soon as I eased off the brakes, my rate of deceleration went back to what I expected. I had shrugged off so much speed that I actually needed to coast briefly to reach the intersection.

Upon some quick research, it seems that Honda's implementation of EBA is adaptive. It "learns" what your normal braking habits are and assumes what an "emergency" stop would be like. Since I never go around stabbing the pedals in the car, the system must've interpreted a quicker-than-normal stop as a real emergency.

Adaptive brakes, adaptive throttle, adaptive transmissions, adaptive cruise control, adaptive seats! The automotive industry is going crazy with this stuff, and they are generally doing a lousy job of it. I realize these features are meant to help clueless and distracted drivers, but why must we all be punished?