Okay, we realise the headline might seem a little bit paradoxical, but here at My Auto Shop, we know the importance of staying calm no matter what situation you’re in, especially when it’s of the automotive variety.
So you’re driving along, music blaring (invariably, right?) and you spot a red light up ahead. Coolio. Happens all the time. You squeeze the brakes, but there’s no response.
Oh no. You’ve now got the brake pedal pressed firmly against the floor, and you’re showing no signs of coming to a halt, at all. Before you do anything, remember to breathe.
There’s nothing fun about a brake failure, and it can be quite an alarming experience. It’s rare, but it does happen, and it’s worth knowing what to do if it ever happens while you’re out on the road. Quick segue here – our How do I know if my brakes need replacing article is an essential read on the subject.
There are a couple ways you can handle the situation.
Downshift, now!
A useful technique to slow down your car if you’ve just touched the brakes and nothing has happened is to shift down a gear using the gear stick. This can happen in any car, whether it’s manual or automatic. For manual, it’s the stick shift that you’re used to to go down a gear.
Skipping gears risks locking the wheels. You should be able to manually choose your ratios with the gear shifter or paddle shifters in what is known as a ‘sport’ mode or ‘sequential’ mode in an automatic, which allows you to be in control of what gear your car is in and change them on the fly without the car’s computer taking over.
What happens when you downshift?
When you downshift, the vehicle engages its engine brakes, restricting airflow and creating a vacuum inside the engine – providing resistance to your cylinders. As a result, the engine slows down, and the car slows down too.
Don’t go into neutral
Avoid putting your car in neutral, whether you’re driving a manual or an automatic transmission vehicle. Neutral gear will disable all engine braking and allow your vehicle to freely continue forwards – not good!
Also, if you find yourself in neutral and try to shift directly into a gear that’s too slow for the speed you’re going, your wheels may lock up, causing you to lose control of the vehicle.
Use the handbrake in an emergency, without question
A quick word of caution before you yank the handbrake up – you will want to ensure you’re moving at a decreasing speed, even if you can’t bring it to a complete stop. If you’re hurtling full-speed ahead and jam the emergency brake, you’re looking at one helluva skid-out – which is potentially really dangerous.
Try to avoid using the steering wheel
Within reason, because ultimately you are still driving the car – but try to avoid losing control of the vehicle, avoid sharp or sudden steering. You’ll be able to safely halt and maintain control by using gentle steering inputs.
Need help? The My Auto Shop crew is here to help. Head on over to the service area, give us an idea of what you’re dealing with and we’ll put you in touch with the right mechanic for the job.