Question about noise this morning...

[chrissy]

I was driving to work and had to downshift from 4th to 2nd...when I downshifted it felt like the car didn't pop into 2nd gear right away and when I put my foot on the brake to slow down I felt the peddle vibrating against my foot and heard a grinding like sound...called boyfriend and he said that it was probably the anti-lock brakes. I think the part of road I was on was a little slippery so maybe he's right? Help, don't like strange noise

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[M-B-Michael]

Yup,

Sounds like ABS noise to me.

The dealer should explain things like this to customers that may not know details like this. That way there would be less concern when it happens.

[mctwin2kman]

Sounds like ABS to me. Also if on slippery raod and you downshift with this Rear Wheel Drive car you may lock the rear end up for an instant which can be not good. I let my wife know this as she did it on snow but did not panic but did not know what happened either. You have C7 and summer performance tires so you will get a little more ABS action and ESP action than a non-C7 car. I thought there was something wrong as well, because the ESP can get noisy when getting on it in slippery conditions even when disabled. It still somewhat works and I freaked out from klunking noise in the rear end. The dealer and I verified it was just the residual effects of ESP and that I went farther than the computer liked so the ESP acted. The strange sounds are all normal on my car, so I would assume yours to be the same as it is the same year and we got them pretty close to each other.

[TimmyC230boy]

MB has the ESP light blink when its working why not have the ABS light blink when the ABS is engaged. That way you will know its working

[avlis]

Originally posted by TimmyC230boy
MB has the ESP light blink when its working why not have the ABS light blink when the ABS is engaged. That way you will know its working

No thanks. The pulsating pedal and the typical "grinding" noise is enough of a signal to me that the ABS is doing it's job. I don't need another idiot light...

[chrissy]

Thanks for all of your help...i thought I broke something. I have seen my ESP light come on a few times so far but wasn't sure what the noise this morning was cause no ESP light. All part of getting to know my new baby I guess Anyway, glad you guys are here to help people like me who don't know much about these things.

[avlis]

chrissy,
Slightly off-topic...I don't know how much snow is still left in PA, but I always suggest finding an empty, unplowed parking lot and practice spin-outs, panic braking, acceleration, ESP on, ESP off, etc. Not only is it great fun, but you learn the car's limits prepare yourself for any "real-world" maneuvers.

[chrissy]

There's not really any snow on the streets, just some ice from the snow melting this morning...I think I'd feel better driving in nice fluffy snow rather than ice:p That is a good idea though.