Forward collision warning testing

Bigair · 01-10-2013, 05:26 AM

Just got my 2013 Jazz Blue 300C and I'm still playing with all the gadgets (there are alot). My question is just how can I test the FCW (forward collision warning) system? I have tried driving up to stopped traffic and slamming on the brakes at the last minute, but no warning was forthcoming. Adaptive cruise seems to work fine and so does everything else. The dealer doesn't have a clue! Anybody found a way short of wrecking the ride?

**silver06hemic** · 01-10-2013, 07:48 AM

Hmmm... that's an interesting one... I would say that you might just want to trust it... bit like an air bag, or a seat belt... you can't test everything. Short of driving into a tree and testing air bags, collision warning system and seat belts simultaniously... also I'm thinking running up on traffic and ramming the brakes at the last second is going to get you a careless driving charge soon... I'm sure the dealer can pull codes and check if anything is flagged as an issue.

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**JonW** · 01-10-2013, 12:12 PM

What is your distance setting at? 1, 2 or 3? If the vehicle thinks the car in front is braking fast, then it will flash ALERT in the cluster and beep at you. If you are on the brake at all, it will not alert. I drive stop & go traffic in my commute, it will usually kick in a few times during the ride if the car in front brakes fast. It will also kick in when using ACC if it thinks you need to assist in braking. ACC will not fully brake during an emergency stop - it only regulates speed and moderately brakes.

**OoTLink** · 01-10-2013, 12:43 PM

You could try testing it on a dyno perhaps by taking a large object and lowering it in front of the car.. dunno if that brake slam would possibly damage the dyno though.

Alternatively, someone sitting in the passenger seat with a large fishing rod and lowering a sheet or something over the sensor while going down a street at low speed?

kampsvilleboy · 01-10-2013, 02:53 PM

I think I have mine set at the middle "2" setting. The only times I've had it go off is when traveling on a 2 lane highway and the car in front of me is going to make a turn and I get a little close to him while he is turning and I am swerving a bit towards the other lane to go around (I'm not completely in the other lane) just kind of anticipating that he will be through his turn and out of the lane before I smack him. The front corner of my car is probably still "seeing" the rear corner of his. The FCW thinks I shouldn't do this apparently.

toasteroven · 01-10-2013, 04:11 PM

I think you guys are confusing the FCW with the Adaptive Cruise settings.

Adaptive cruise distance follow settings are controlled by the button on the steering wheel; three settings, 1-3, close to far. Only active when the cruise is on and set; using the brake disengages, and using the gas results in a driver override.

FCW options are in the UConnect, and you can set near or far or off.

With FCW to far, I get the occasional night warning from a sign ahead on a curve. With the setting on near, I get both the gauge "ALERT" and chime if I'm going to smack into someone; if I follow to close to someone turning, someone merges too close in front of me, or I approach moving traffic at too high a speed. The system does not work with STOPPED traffic. I'd suggest checking your settings (it's under Safety in the UConnect settings) to make sure it's not off. If it is off, you will get a "FCW Off" light on your center screen.

If all these check out, it sounds like your FCW doesn't work properly. Warranty time.

**JonW** · 01-10-2013, 05:24 PM

Good description toasteroven. I was referring to using FCW with ACC (which is when my FCW usually warns me).

MIASRT8 · 01-10-2013, 08:15 PM

I get the forward collision warning a couple times a day, scares the crap out of me every time. Perhaps it's trying to tell me something about my driving style.

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toasteroven · 01-10-2013, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JonW

Good description toasteroven. I was referring to using FCW with ACC (which is when my FCW usually warns me).

Ah, gotcha.

Mine goes off whether I am using Adaptive Cruise or not. If in Adaptive Cruise, if the braking required is more than the 25% the system can use to keep the distance between me and the vehicles in front of me (remember, they have to be moving too), I get the alarm.

Snapping those pics today makes me want to take the car out. Damned snow.

hainesm · 01-10-2013, 10:22 PM

I've had my 2013 for two weeks and its gone off just twice. The first time I was driving like a crazy man down a road and some jack as* pulled out in front of me. The second time, again I was driving like a crazy man and some old lady at the last minute decided to turn and it went off.

I would say its a good functioning system but I can see myself turning it off even though I changed the setting to near.