ATC Activation???

catherinef
catherinef Forum Participant Posts: 647
edited June 2016 in Towcars & Towing #1

Had a very odd expereince when towing to Oxfordshire this morning.  We came around a roundabout onto the M4 slip road at Chippenham,

Pretty much as soon as I straightened up in the inside lane there was a jolt (I believe the car brakes being pulled on) plus a screech (caravan brakes).

I'd certainly not applied the brakes as I was accelerating down the slip road. 

I got out just to make sure the handbrake hadn't sprung up and applied itself - it hadn't.  There was a feint burning smell from the Audi's rear brakes.

Does this sound like it was an ATC activation?  It was definitely not the car.

Comments

  • NutsyH
    NutsyH Forum Participant Posts: 534
    edited June 2016 #2

    ATC wouldn't actvate the car's rear brakes; only those on the caravan. 

  • catherinef
    catherinef Forum Participant Posts: 647
    edited June 2016 #3

    May well not have been the cars brakes that came on, definitely the caravan It was as though there was a big jolt almost as though the handbrake or similar had been applied on the caravan and it was only for
    a moment, but enough for me to stop the car and check everything was OK.

  • xtrailman
    xtrailman Forum Participant Posts: 559
    edited June 2016 #4

    That's the ATC operating.

    It can occur on islands, slowing down will stop it activating. However when mine has operated like that i've only had a jolt never a screech of the tyres, could be the brakes on the caravan are over adjusted.

  • catherinef
    catherinef Forum Participant Posts: 647
    edited June 2016 #5

    Xtrailman, it was the brakes screeching/whining.  We've done about 250 miles now with this new caravan and the brakes have made this exact noise when I've approached traffic lights before now.  Normally where I've braked slighty more firmly.  

    It's very difficult for me to explain how many changes of direction the caravan went through in the run up to it and it was a downhill slip road.  

     

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