PCS Activated for a Deer

Driving up towards the mountains a few days ago on a country road, I believe my PCS intervened before I reacted to a classic "deer in the headlights" situation.

Situation: Single lane road, no traffic, fields on either side. Cruise control off and cruising around the 50mph speed limit. Was having a conversation with my passenger, so I may have looked away for a split second. Deer jumped onto the road and struck a pose right in my path, 150ish feet away by my best guess, so there was some time for reaction at that speed.

I hit the brakes, but before I really pushed the pedal hard, my tires were already in a controlled ABS lockup. As I let off the pedal (it was clear the danger was avoided), the brakes were still being pressed automatically, and it finally let off around 15 mph.

It all happened in a couple seconds, but I really feel PCS may have bought me some time here. Anyone else with 2018-2019's had experience with PCS activating for deer or other potential road kill?

 

Good to hear it works. My wife lexus lx570 has had couple false positive braking but not major. It does work! Should prevent slowing traffic rear enders. I see them all the time now in Denver.

 

Didn’t work for me bought my new truck and at 800 miles on the odometer deer ran out in front of me bam. My deer was moving the whole time though and there was no avoiding it. I have heard others here say it saved their butts though.

 

Had nothing to do with PCS and everything to do with the Off Road's brake system. It's augmented brake booster works off of pedal actuation time, not how hard you push. So if you normally apply the brakes like in traffic everything works normal. If in a panic situation and you press fast, you go to full abs braking even though you didn't push it hard, just fast.
If it were the PCS you get lights and beeps and stuff.
The off road and the.Pro get these brakes to work with the terrain management. The SR SR5 Sport and Limited get normal brakes.

 

Sounds like a pretty legitimate explanation from the very little bit I do know about the brake booster system. I don't recall if I had the beeps and notifications on the dash, but I also wasn't looking. Thanks for the input

 

You stay here for awhile and you will find who is legit and who is... not legit lol.

#mchammerforlife

 

I've had one false brake alert, possibly related to the millimeter radar TSB. Will be fixed at my 10k service soon.

I really believe in the extra safety features, and I love the radar cruise control. That said, I'm still always hovering over the brake when using radar cruise near any vehicles...just in case the tech fails.

 

Last month my dad almost nailed a giant elk standing in the right lane of a highway in Michigain at 5am while on our way back from a Canadian fishing trip. He thought it was moving but it was actually standing still, so he didn't slow down as much as he should have. 10 yards from it we were probably still going 15 mph (pulling a boat). He swerved to the shoulder and it turned around and jumped over the same shoulder we were now on and into the woods; missing the front bumper by no more than two feet with us still going about 10 mph.

No intervention from PCS at any point, but the brakes did their job great.

All happened in about 6 seconds, nobody else on the highway. Almost pooped my pants as it surely would have totaled my truck.

One mile down the road from there there was a sign that said "Elk Crossing Next 12 Miles".

 

You mean 2 lane road right?? Not 50 on a one lane road?

G.

 

Stoners in traffic......

 

That is interesting info. I got to drive an OR last night for my first experience with the electric booster. It is certainly a unique feel.

If I am being honest with myself, I feel that both systems feel pretty capable in stock form with the understanding that it is all about the tires. With some sticky sport tires, the differences would probably be more apparent given the higher line pressures / clamping force of the OR / Pro system.

 

Exactly. It's all about the tires. Those guys who change pads will get maybe a different feel but zero improved performance.

 

At max braking, very true. Initial bite does have a flavor all its own though. There have been a few vehicles that I drove that had acceptable brakes, but you really had to dive into the pedal for them to bite and feel it. And, there were some that were all bite with not much past it. It is a neat characteristic.

It is funny that I really like the clutch in the Taco, esp with the ADM, but a bit more initial bite there would go a looong way.

 

Single lane as in one lane each way. Thought that was implied!

 

My PCS activated at 80 on the freeway. There was a rolled up windshield in the middle of the road. I was passing a semi truck and doing the final shoulder check to get back into the right lane when it activated. I don't remember the truck making the PCS warning but it happened really fast. It definitely saved huge damage and possibly taking me out of control.

 

True story^^
He even has the cool pants.