2021 HONDA CLARITY PLUG-IN brakes

428
uuWhen Driving uVehicle Stability AssistTM (VSA ®), aka Electronic Stability Control (ESC), System
Driving
Vehicle Stability AssistTM (VSA ®), aka Electronic
Stability Control (ESC), System
VSA ® helps to stabilize the vehicle during cornering if the vehicle turns more or less
than what was intended. It also assists in maintaining traction on slippery surfaces.
It does so by regulating engine and motor output and selectively applying the
brakes.
When VSA® activates, you may notice that the
engine and motor do not respond to the
accelerator. You may also notice some noise
from the hydraulic brake sy stem. You will also
see the indicator blink.
■VSA ® Operation
1 Vehicle Stability AssistTM (VSA ®), aka Electronic Stability Control
(ESC), System
The VSA ® may not function properl y if tire type and
size are mixed. Make sure to use the same size and
type of tire, and the air pressures as specified.
When the VSA ® system indicator comes on and stays
on while driving, there ma y be a problem with the
system. While this may not interfere with normal
driving, have your vehi cle checked by a dealer
immediately.
The indicators for the Vehicle Stability Assist
TM (VSA ®)
System, Vehicle Stability AssistTM (VSA ®) OFF, low tire
Pressure/TPMS and Collision Mitigation Braking
System
TM (CMBSTM) may come on along with a
message in the driver information interface after
reconnecting the 12-volt battery. Drive a short
distance at more than 12 mph (20 km/h). The
indicator should go off. If it does not, have your
vehicle checked by a dealer.
VSA ® cannot enhance stability in all driving situations
and does not control the entire braking system. You
still need to drive and corner at speeds appropriate
for the conditions and always leave a sufficient
margin of safety.
The main function of the VSA ® system is generally
known as Electronic Stab ility Control (ESC). The
system also includes a traction control function.
VSA® System
Indicator
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430
uuWhen Driving uAgile Handling Assist
Driving
Agile Handling Assist
Lightly brakes each of the front and rear wheels, as needed, when you turn the
steering wheel, and helps support the vehi cle’s stability and performance during
cornering.1 Agile Handling Assist
The agile handling assist ca nnot enhance stability in
all driving situations. You still need to drive and
corner at speeds appropriate for the conditions and
always leave a sufficient margin of safety.
When the VSA ® system indicator comes on and stays
on while driving, the agil e handling assist does not
activate.
You may hear a sound coming from the engine
compartment while the agile handling assist is
activated. This is normal.
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437Continued
Driving
Braking
Brake System
Use the parking brake to keep the vehicle stationary when parked. When the
parking brake is applied, you can manu ally or automatically release it.
■To apply
The electric parking brake can be applied any
time the vehicle has battery, no matter which
position the power mode is in.
Pull the electric parking brake switch up gently
and securely. u The parking brake and brake system
indicator (red) comes on.
■To release
The power mode must be in ON in order to
release the electric parking brake.
1. Depress the brake pedal.
2. Press the electric parking brake switch.
u The parking brake and brake system
indicator (red) goes off.
Manually releasing the parking brake using
the switch helps your vehicle start slowly and
smoothly when facing down hill on steep hills.
■Parking Brake1 Brake System
When you depress the brak e pedal, you may hear a
whirring sound from the engine compartment. This is
because the brake system is in operation, and it is
normal.
1 Parking Brake
You may hear the electric parking brake system
motor operating from the re ar wheel area when you
apply or release the parki ng brake. This is normal.
The brake pedal may slightly move due to the electric
parking brake system opera tion when you apply or
release the parking br ake. This is normal.
You cannot apply or release the parking brake if the
12-volt battery goes dead. 2 If the 12-Volt Battery Is Dead P. 545
If you pull up and hold the electric parking brake
switch while driving, the brakes on all four
wheels are applied by the electric servo brake
system until the vehicle comes to a stop. The
electric parking brake then applies, and the
switch should be released.
Electric Parking
Brake Switch
Electric Parking
Brake Switch
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Continued439
uuBraking uBrake System
Driving
Your vehicle is equipped with disc brakes at all four wheels. The brake assist system
increases the stopping force when you depress the brake pedal hard in an
emergency situation. The an ti-lock brake system (ABS) helps you retain steering
control when brak ing very hard.
2Brake Assist System P. 444
2 Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) P. 443
■Foot Brake1Parking Brake
The parking brake may not be released automatically
while the following indicators are on:
•POWER SYSTEM indicator•Transmission system indicator
•Parking brake and brake system indicator (amber)
•VSA® system indicator
•ABS indicator•Supplemental restraint system indicator
1Foot Brake
Check the brakes after driving through deep water,
or if there is a buildup of road surface water. If
necessary, dry the brakes by lightly depressing the
pedal several times.
If you hear a continuous me tallic friction sound when
applying the brakes, this is caused by the brake wear
indicator rubbing on the brake rotor and indicates
that the brake pads need to be replaced. Have the
vehicle checked by a deal er. If you hear only an
occasional squeak or squeal when you initially apply
the brake pedal, this may be normal and caused by
high frequency vibr ation of the brake pads against
the rotating brake disc.
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uuBraking uBrake System
440
Driving
1Foot Brake
Applying constant pressure to the brakes while going
down a long hill can cause the brakes to heat up,
resulting in a loss of stopping power. Therefore,
when descending a long hill , release the accelerator
pedal and allow regenerati ve braking to slow the
vehicle down. To adjust the rate of deceleration, use
the deceleration paddle selector.
When the high voltage battery has fully recharged,
regenerative braking may not be possible.
2 POWER/CHARGE Gauge P. 124
2 High Voltage Battery Charge Level Gauge
P. 125
2 Deceleration Paddle Selector P. 394
Do not rest your foot on the brake pedal while
driving, as it will lightly apply the brakes and cause
them to lose effectiveness over time and reduce pad
life. It will also conf use drivers behind you.
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443
uuBraking uAnti-lock Brake System (ABS)
Driving
Anti-lock Brake System (ABS)
Helps prevent the wheels from locking up, and helps you retain steering control by
pumping the brakes rapidly, much faster than you.
The electronic brake distribu tion (EBD) system, which is part of the ABS, also
balances the front-to-rear braking distribution according to vehicle loading.
You should never pu mp the brake pedal. Let the ABS work for you by always
keeping firm, steady pressure on the brake pe dal. This is sometimes referred to as
“stomp and steer.”
■ABS operation
You may hear an operating noise when th e ABS is working. Depress the brake pedal
and keep holding the pedal firmly down. On dry pavement, you will need to press
on the brake pedal very hard before the AB S activates. However, you may feel the
ABS activate immediately if you are trying to stop on snow or ice.
ABS may activate when you depres s the brake pedal when driving on:
• Wet or snow covered roads.
• Roads paved with stone.
• Roads with uneven surf aces, such as potholes, cracks, manholes, etc.
When the vehicle speed goes unde r 6 mph (10 km/h), the ABS stops.
■ABS1Anti-lock Brake System (ABS)
NOTICE
The ABS may not function correctly if you use a tire of
the wrong size or type.
If the ABS indicator comes on while driving, there
may be a problem with the system.
While normal braking will not be affected, there is a
possibility that the ABS wi ll not be operating. Have
your vehicle checked by a dealer immediately.
The ABS is not designed for the purpose of reducing
the time or distance it takes for a vehicle to stop: It is
designed to limit brake lockup which can lead to
skidding and loss of steering control.
In the following cases, yo ur vehicle may need more
distance to stop than a vehicle without the ABS:
•You are driving on rough or uneven road surfaces,
such as gravel or snow.
•The tires are equipped with tire chains.
The following may be observed with the ABS system:
•Motor sounds coming from the engine
compartment when the brakes are applied, or
when system checks are being performed after the
power system has been turned on and while the
vehicle accelerates.
•Brake pedal and/or the vehicle body vibration when
ABS activates.
These vibrations and sou nds are normal to ABS
systems and are no cause for concern.
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uuBraking uCollision Mitigation Braking SystemTM (CMBSTM)
446
Driving
■When the system activates
At system’s earliest collision alert stage, you can change the distance ( Long/
Normal /Short) between vehicles at which aler ts will come on through audio/
information screen setting options.
2 Customized Features P. 308
■Vibration alert on the steering wheel
When a potential collision to an oncoming detected vehicle is determined, the
system alerts you with rapid vibration on the steering wheel, in addition to visual and
audible alerts. u Take appropriate action to prevent a co llision (apply the brakes, operate the
steering wheel, etc.).
1 When the system activates
The camera in the CMBS
TM is also designed to detect
pedestrians.
However, this pedestrian detection feature may not
activate or may not detect a pedestrian in front of
your vehicle under certain conditions.
Refer to the ones indicating the pedestrian detection
limitations from the list. 2 CMBS
TM Conditions and Limitations P. 449
The system provides visual, audible and tactile alerts of a possible collision, and
stops if the collision is avoided.
u Take appropriate action to prevent a collision (apply the brakes, change
lanes, etc.)
Beep Visual Alerts
Audible Alert
Tactile Alert
1 Vibration alert on the steering wheel
Vibration alert function is disabled when the electric
power steering (EPS) system indicator comes on. 2 Electric Power Steering (EPS) System
Indicator P. 96
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450
uuBraking uCollision Mitigation Braking SystemTM (CMBSTM)
Driving
■Vehicle conditions
• Headlight lenses are dirty or the headlights are not properly adjusted.
• The outside of the windshie ld is blocked by dirt, mud, leaves, wet snow, etc.
• The inside of the windshield is fogged.
• An abnormal tire or wheel condition (wrong sized, varied size or construction,
improperly inflated tire, etc.).
• When tire chains are installed.
• The vehicle is tilted due to a heav y load or suspension modifications.
• The camera temperature gets too high.
• Driving with the parking brake applied.
• When the radar sensor in the front grille gets dirty.
■Detection limitations
• A vehicle or pedestrian suddenly crosses in front of you.
• The distance between your vehicle and the vehicle or pedestrian ahead of you is
too short.
• A vehicle cuts in front of you at a slow speed, and it brakes suddenly.
• When you accelerate rapidly and approach the vehicle or pedestrian ahead of you
at high speed.
• The vehicle ahead of you is a motorcycle, bicycle, mobility scooter or other small
vehicle.
• When there are animals in front of your vehicle.
• When you drive on a curved, winding or undulating road that makes it difficult for
the sensor to properly detect a vehicle in front of you.
• The speed difference between your vehicle an d a vehicle or pedestrian in front of
you is significantly large.
• An oncoming vehicle suddenly comes in front of you.
• Another vehicle suddenly comes in front of you at an intersection, etc.
• Your vehicle abruptly crosses over in front of an oncoming vehicle.
• When driving through a narrow iron bridge.
• When the lead vehicle suddenly slows down.
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