PCS System Braking

Welcome. I don't drive through a lot of construction so I haven't had the experience. I had one false engagement on smooth payment several years ago. Does the car really slow down or is your brain just interpreting the sensation for deceleration?

Perhaps tire pressure is a factor. What is the tp and the brand & model of the tires?

 

I've never had a problem with steel plates. I think your best option is probably to get the dealer to calibrate it. It requires a special tool plus interaction with the computer via Techstream. The tool is a reflector target that you place directly in the center in front of your car. On the other hand, that tool (and using Techstream) is for left-right calibration, so if you want to attempt vertical calibration DIY first, you might be able to. In the meantime, I'd suggest turning it off all the time, since you probably don't want you or somebody else to get rear-ended while driving.

I'd suggest getting a copy of the repair manual, there should be some floating around for download somewhere. From what it says, there's a level rack attached to the radar sensor (although I've never noticed it), and you can place a level on it to measure if the sensor is level (assuming, of course, that you're on level ground, the tires are correctly inflated, there aren't any heavy loads in the car, etc.). From what I can gather, the sensor is supposed to point up 0.2°.

Mine has given the warning beep a couple of times when passing unusual objects, but it has never braked unnecessarily. The most notable warning I recall was when heading down a very steep slope towards train tracks - the tracks (and the road) were understandably detected as something in my path, which only changed when I hit the brief level patch of road where it crosses the tracks.

Has your car ever been in a front-end accident? Or has it always been like this (assuming you bought it new)?

 

After reading the owners manual (yes, -some- people actually DO read it) PCS has been turned off. I think I drove two days with it on. So 3 1/2 years with it off. It's never tripped on me.

 

I have driven through many construction zones with large steel plates on the ground and never had a false beep. The PCS works because it saved again last week when it warned me of driving too fast toward stalled traffic ahead of me. The ABS kicked on when I braked normally. I thought for sure I was going to rear-end the car in front of me.