S3 ABS system rubbish ????

[ex_scoobydoo]

we have got some bad snow here at the moment, the roads are really bad, but my brakes seem a load of rubbish, the slightest touch and the abs starts banging away but i still seem to be out of control, ive had some near misses over the last couple of days were i have stopped just at the last second, i hardly touch the pedal and the abs kicks in but i still seem to slide and skid.
im a bit nervous driving down hills now it just dont feel safe at all.
is everyone elses like this ?

 

[nath]

yeah not a very good system ive had to put in reverse a couple of times as the brakes were doing nothing

 

[ex_scoobydoo]

ah at least its not just me

 

[ikbenben]

That's completely normal.
A non-abs car stop quicker in the snow then an abs car

 

[ex_scoobydoo]

when abs is working is the abs light on the clocks ment to come on or only when the ignition is first turned on it shows

 

[ikbenben]

Only briefly when you turn on the ignition.
If the light stays on then there is something wrong with the abs.

 

[Broken Byzan]

ABS is awful in the snow FACT. Makes no difference you have an S3 sadly. Brake earlier and gentler and the ABS won't need to try and interceed

 

[A3Tom]

ABS is awful in the snow FACT. Makes no difference you have an S3 sadly. Brake earlier and gentler and the ABS won't need to try and interceed

Indeed, when I was in Canada for a winter we had ours turned off as it was pure crap!.

Shame you dont have the option to switch it off for the 3 days a year its useless here

 

[<tuffty/>]

Slippery snow + wide wheels with sport tyres = ABS on acid... simples...

<tuffty/>

 

[MintyS3]

Dont use your brakes then. I can get to work almost without touching my brakes and I live 500ft above where I work. Engine braking is where its at.

 

[A3Tom]

Slippery snow + wide wheels with sport tyres = ABS on acid... simples...

<tuffty/>

Yep!!

 

[5ean]

What MintyS3 said.. Engine breaking is key in the snow.

 

[chancer]

ABS is awful in the snow FACT. Makes no difference you have an S3 sadly. Brake earlier and gentler and the ABS won't need to try and interceed

Absolutely spot on.
There is nothing wrong with the ABS, you need to modify how you drive in severe conditions. Unfortunately many drivers don't and then wonder why they end up coming to grief.

 

[S3 Nattie]

I when out last night in it and yes the ABS is rubbish lol. Did anyones exhaust note get louder. Was getting some nasty vibrations as if my exhaust was knocking or in half.

 

[ex_scoobydoo]

sleet and snow hitting under the car maybe ?

 

[ex_scoobydoo]

Absolutely spot on.
There is nothing wrong with the ABS, you need to modify how you drive in severe conditions. Unfortunately many drivers don't and then wonder why they end up coming to grief.

i have drove in these conditions many of times, the abs on the audi is a lot worse than other abs cars i have drove in snow, 5mph using the gears to slow 1st and 2nd, the dam things still work no better, you can not go down a steep decline with bends and not have to touch the brakes, the car picks up its own momentum, you end up going faster than you would using the brakes, very nerving, and it takes a lot to panic me when driving

 

[Westy]

I'm not 100% sure how FWD cars ABS works but the Audi detects everything via its 4 wheel speed sensors. If a FWD car only uses the activity of the front wheel then that maybe why the Quattros are more sensitive!

 

[S3 Nattie]

sleet and snow hitting under the car maybe ?

Ye I think so, well hope so. It was fine on dry roads but every now and then would sound as if the exhaust was in half. It only ever happened yesterday in the snow and wondered if anyone else has experienced something similar.

 

[Westy]

Ye I think so, well hope so. It was fine on dry roads but every now and then would sound as if the exhaust was in half. It only ever happened yesterday in the snow and wondered if anyone else has experienced something similar.

Only thing i'd experienced was funny noises from my suspension when going over speed bumps. I think it was where snow and ice had flicked up into the springs and shocks!

 

[S3 Nattie]

It was only making the noise in thick snow so I think it something to do with that. Sounded normal otherwise.

 

[Westy]

It was only making the noise in thick snow so I think it something to do with that. Sounded normal otherwise.

In which case I wouldn't worry about it too much mate.