Renault ALASKAN 2017 Driver's Handbook Manual page 252

While driving on a slippery surface, be careful when
braking, accelerating or downshifting. Abrupt brak-
ing or acceleration could cause the wheels to skid
and result in an accident.
Wet brakes
When the vehicle is washed or driven through wa-
ter, the brakes may get wet. As a result, your brak-
ing distance will be longer and the vehicle may pull
to one side during braking.
To dry the brakes, drive the vehicle at a safe speed
while lightly depressing the footbrake pedal to heat
up the brakes. Do this until the brakes return to nor-
mal. Avoid driving the vehicle at high speeds until
the brakes function correctly.
Parking brake running-in
Break in the parking brake shoes whenever the
stopping effect of the parking brake is weakened or
whenever the parking brake shoes and/or drums/
rotors are replaced, in order to assure the best brak-
ing performance.
This procedure is described in the vehicle service
manual and can be performed by an approved dealer
or qualified workshop.
ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS)
WARNING
The Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) is a sophis-
ticated device, but it cannot prevent accidents
resulting from careless or dangerous driving
techniques. It can help maintain vehicle control
5-50
Starting and driving
during braking on slippery surfaces. Remember
that stopping distances on slippery surfaces will
be longer than on normal surfaces even with ABS.
Stopping distances may also be longer on rough,
gravel or snow covered roads, or if you are using
tyre chains. Always maintain a safe distance from
the vehicle in front of you. Ultimately, the driver
is responsible for safety.
Tyre type and condition may also affect braking
effectiveness.
•
When replacing tyres, install the specified size
of tyres on all four wheels.
•
When installing a spare tyre, make sure that it
is the proper size and type as specified on the
tyre placard. (See "Vehicle identification" in
the "9. Technical information" section.)
•
For detailed information, see "Tyres and
wheels" in the "9. Technical information" sec-
tion.
The Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) controls the
brakes so the wheels do not lock during hard brak-
ing or when braking on slippery surfaces. The sys-
tem detects the rotation speed at each wheel and
varies the brake fluid pressure to prevent each wheel
from locking and sliding. By preventing each wheel
from locking, the system helps the driver maintain
steering control and helps to minimise swerving and
spinning on slippery surfaces.
Using system
Depress the brake pedal and hold it down. Depress
the brake pedal with firm steady pressure, but do
not pump the brakes. The ABS will operate to pre-
vent the wheels from locking up. Steer the vehicle to
avoid obstacles.
WARNING
Do not pump the brake pedal. Doing so may re-
sult in increased stopping distances.
Self-test feature
The ABS includes electronic sensors, electric
pumps, hydraulic solenoids and a computer. The
computer has a built-in diagnostic feature that tests
the system each time you start the engine and move
the vehicle at a low speed in forward or reverse.
When the self-test occurs, you may hear a "clunk"
noise and/or feel a pulsation in the brake pedal. This
is normal and does not indicate a malfunction. If the
computer senses a malfunction, it switches the ABS
off and illuminates the ABS warning light on the
instrument panel. The brake system then operates
normally, but without anti-lock assistance. If the ABS
warning light illuminates during the self-test or while
driving, have the vehicle checked by an approved
dealer or qualified workshop.
Normal operation
The ABS operates at speeds above 5 to 10 km/h (3
to 6 MPH). The speed varies according to road con-
ditions.