Do Automatic Brakes exist?

[naturoses]

I have been experiencing this from few weeks now and felt that I should bring to your attention to seek help.

The situation I am used to is as follows: Press gas pedal and release and I found that car moves freely without feeling any deceleration. This is how I used to coast to the red signal light etc etc.,

Now, the current situation is as follows: I press gas pedal and when I take my foot away, I see rapid decelaration. If it is going in 40-50mph, I clealry saw the other day it being decelerated to 20-30 or even less in less than a minute or so. I clearly feel "that deceleration" as if somebody puts some brake on even though I am not even touching the brake pedal. Is this normal?

Please advice...

Many many thanks

[TrailDust]

Never experienced anything like that myself. My baby loves to keep coasting and coasting.....

[Financeman]

Have you purchased new tires that have a higher rolling resistance than the originals? Perhaps tire inflation levels are a bit low...though I would think the low pressure warning light would illuminate if this were the problem.

[jeffs3820]

What is the road condition? Dry? Wet? Snowy? Was car warmed up? Make sure emergency brake is disengaged.

[MikeyD25]

While I don't recommend doing this at high speed, or for a long length of time, have you tried coasting with the transmission in neutral (N) to see if the same condition exists?

What you're experiencing could be the vehicle's on-board computer (ECM) shutting off the fuel to the injectors while your foot is off of the accelerator and the vehicle is in gear to make your H/L more fuel efficient.

Just my .02!

MD

[allanbradl]

My awd 2011 accelerates when I shift to heutral while coasting, in D rpm drop down by about a third of the range and then slowly deccelerate, shifting to neutral feels like some sort of " liberation" if not acceleration, effortless coasting I would call it, unlike being in a gear when it feels artificialy restricted. Strange, weird feelin of car being held by something.

[nickhl]

Originally Posted by allanbradl

My awd 2011 accelerates when I shift to heutral while coasting, in D rpm drop down by about a third of the range and then slowly deccelerate, shifting to neutral feels like some sort of " liberation" if not acceleration, effortless coasting I would call it, unlike being in a gear when it feels artificialy restricted. Strange, weird feelin of car being held by something.

You may need to check whether your handbrake/parking brake is properly disengaged. With stock Toyo A20, I have to say my HL really won't slow down much in coasting condition. As a result, I have to brake a lot more than my previous Mini Cooper S automatic (which slow down as soon as I'm off throttle) when approach traffic light stop/in traffic.

[typesix]

Believe that the lockup of torque converter stays on during much of coasting, causing the drag feeling, that combined with the fuel injection system shutting off fuel when coasting unless engine rpm is too low. I feel the same with my 2004 Highlander especially at city driving, it is not a downshift, as manually shifting into a lower gear does not have the same feel or effect.

[TrailDust]

If I remember correctly, the fuel injection system only shuts off when cruise control is engaged. Maybe summerwind or one of our other resident gurus can confirm that.

[allanbradl]

Originally Posted by typesix

Believe that the lockup of torque converter stays on during much of coasting, causing the drag feeling, that combined with the fuel injection system shutting off fuel when coasting unless engine rpm is too low. I feel the same with my 2004 Highlander especially at city driving, it is not a downshift, as manually shifting into a lower gear does not have the same feel or effect.

Exactly "the drag feeling", well if it is normal I accept it "as is".

[typesix]

Modern fuel injection systems cut off fuel when coasting except to maintain minimum engine rpm.

[naturoses]

Originally Posted by Financeman

Have you purchased new tires that have a higher rolling resistance than the originals? Perhaps tire inflation levels are a bit low...though I would think the low pressure warning light would illuminate if this were the problem.

No, I have same tires which came with the vehicle (I have Toyo tires)

Originally Posted by jeffs3820

What is the road condition? Dry? Wet? Snowy? Was car warmed up? Make sure emergency brake is disengaged.

Road condition is dry and sometimes wet due to snow.

Originally Posted by MikeyD25

While I don't recommend doing this at high speed, or for a long length of time, have you tried coasting with the transmission in neutral (N) to see if the same condition exists?

What you're experiencing could be the vehicle's on-board computer (ECM) shutting off the fuel to the injectors while your foot is off of the accelerator and the vehicle is in gear to make your H/L more fuel efficient.

Just my .02!

MD

I also tried your suggestion: I tried going at 60-65mph on the highway and then took the foot of the gas pedal and saw rapid deceleration.

One day in the city driving at went a 40-45 mph and then took the foot of the gas pedal and saw rapid deceleration. I wanted to see how far it goes deceleration wise and I have noticed that when it hit +/- 20 mph, it observed that it started rolling freely and I was pleasantly surprised.

Originally Posted by nickhl

You may need to check whether your handbrake/parking brake is properly disengaged. With stock Toyo A20, I have to say my HL really won't slow down much in coasting condition. As a result, I have to brake a lot more than my previous Mini Cooper S automatic (which slow down as soon as I'm off throttle) when approach traffic light stop/in traffic.

Handbrake/parking brake not engaged.

Things to know about my driving habits:

I am very light footer in terms of pressing the gas pedal. I never or try my best not to cross 2000 RPM under most circumstances. While entering the highway, I may reach 2500-3000 rpm and settle down again at 2000 RPM or so and maintain speed at around 60-65 mph (highway) and 30, 40-50 mph normal driving etc.,

I do put my feet on the brake pedal but making sure I am not pressing the brakes.

Whatelse to do??

I took my car this saturday to the Dealer (Boch Toyota) and they inspected and found nothing wrong with it at all

Please share your thoughts...

Also, please forgive because I am slow to respond these days, Thank you all