Dumb questions, but I’ll be smarter with the answers!

2018 SR5

Dumb question #1: with the cruise on and a vehicle in front of me the truck appropriately slows; do the brake lights go on or is it just “internal” braking that doesn’t actuate the brake lights via a pedal switch?

Dumb question #2: my front headrests constantly migrate up to the first notch; is there any way to keep it seated in the bottomed-our position?

By the way, 2,300 miles from SC to OK and back; average mileage was 17.3.

 

I dont believe the brake light activates. Cruise just let's off the gas or coasts to decrease speed to match car in front of you.

Haven't had the headrest issue. Must have vibrations forcing it up. Maybe velcro to underside of headrest and top of seat to keep in position.

 

The braking is more active then coasting—that’s where my question lies...

 

Gonna have to get a convoy and test this out.

 

Yep I have to agree with this.

OP I like your name haha.

 

#2>>>>My headrest does the same thing.

 

1. Yes 100% brake lights come on. I tested this theory about 6 months ago.
2. Can’t help you there sorry

 

The brake is applied. It doesn’t just let off the throttle. It’s so abrupt some times it’s annoying as hell.

 

I completely agree (annoying). Smooth speed transitions are in the best interest of safety and smooth traffic control. As a driver, I try to anticipate the need to slow down and do so in a manner that does not alarm following traffic. The radar response is too abrupt for me in many cases so I tend not to use it in heavy traffic.

Dan

 

If the distance to the vehicle ahead is closing fast enough that the truck is exercising "collision avoidance" that's one thing...I would expect the brake lights to come on in that situation.

If the brake lights come on every time it reduces cruise setting to that of the car ahead, then that's another thing altogether. Speed adjustment should happen (at distance and time) long before you're avoiding a collision. No brake lights should be required...it should be like lifting your pedal foot. If it's waiting long enough to adjust speed that brake lights are required, I have no desire to have it.

 

Same here, thought I was losing my mind

 

I love when someone pulls in front of you switching lanes and the radar cruise slams the brakes on.

I’m waiting to be rear ended.

 

This^^^^

 

I can't say if the lights come on or not. I'll have to check that.

But hard braking? I haven't experienced that except in heavy traffic and/or when someone cuts me off; both situations I would have had to hard break anyway (you can mitigate this even by adjusting the distance control to 'closer' when in traffic). Instead, with the distance set to max, the decel is well controlled and relatively comfortable.

I love the feature. Probably one of my favorite things about the truck. Just takes some learning on what it likes or doesn't. The most annoying thing about it is when cruising at 45 or 50 on a two lane and someone in front is turning. The system will hold the decel for far longer than needed (I get it; the car is still there as far as TSS is concerned), but I've learned you can override that; just take over using the gas, then let back off when clear and the system picks right back up.

This isn't a "fully dynamic" type cruise control. This is a "dumb" version. Use it as such and I think your experience will improve.

 

I can typically anticipate this and immediately shut the adaptive cruise off. I prefer to be in direct control of that type of situation in order to avoid abrupt braking. The Tundra is of a size that smaller vehicles are not able to look past it very easily to prepare themselves for these types of traffic dynamics. Being in a full size pickup, I can.

Dan

 

@Cement brake lights are applied I have tested this theory

 

Actually, I guess the Yoda's thinking on the brake lights isn't too strange for this feature.

When approaching slower traffic entering cities, the first thing I would do is disable cruise by...applying slight pressure to the brake pedal which would activate the brake lights. In that respect, I suppose the truck is doing exactly what a driver would do, and what is familiar to other drivers. The truck then just resets the cruise to match the traffic speed, as a driver might.

Turning on the brake lights is not what I have a problem with, it's waiting until brakes have to be applied with effect that would worry me.