"L" mode regen braking doesn't activate brake lights

[dbsb3233]

Yikes! If the brake lights aren't coming on when the car is slowing down, that's not good. Doesn't matter what method the car uses to slow itself down, it should be able to detect if the rate of deceleration is above a certain threshold that mirrors the brake pedal. It's already doing that with 1PD, so there's no excuse to not do it with other regen slowing too.

I drive exclusively in Whisper+L mode. I don't like 1PD in the garage or parking spaces. I want 2PD. But I like a fairly strong regen. I also like the softer steering and wider pedal range that Whisper offers over Engaged or Unbridled. The only way to get all those things is to use Whisper+L. It's the ideal combo for my tastes, but I do wish Ford would just let us define our own profile by offering separate settings for regen level, steering wheel weight, and pedal range.

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[dbsb3233]

Agreed with your points. ??

There are other threads on this subject. Point 3 does apply to our cars. There is an accelerometer that illuminates the brake lights over a certain threshold. There is also a switch that sees brake pedal movement. ??

And clearly it's capable of it because it's already doing it for 1PD. Lifting up on the accelerator pedal so regen slowing kicks in is the exact same thing that happens when you have L on. Or for that matter, when you have Engaged or Unbridled mode on. They all apply regen slowing, just to varying degrees.

 

[HuntingPudel]

Yikes! If the brake lights aren't coming on when the car is slowing down, that's not good. Doesn't matter what method the car uses to slow itself down, it should be able to detect if the rate of deceleration is above a certain threshold that mirrors the brake pedal. It's already doing that with 1PD, so there's no excuse to not do it with other regen slowing too.

I drive exclusively in Whisper+L mode. I don't like 1PD in the garage or parking spaces. I want 2PD. But I like a fairly strong regen. I also like the softer steering and wider pedal range that Whisper offers over Engaged or Unbridled. The only way to get all those things is to use Whisper+L. It's the ideal combo for my tastes, but I do wish Ford would just let us define our own profile by offering separate settings for regen level, steering wheel weight, and pedal range.

LOL I am the reverse of what you like. I would actually prefer less regenerative braking along with less steering assist and stiffer suspension. I like to be able to roll the corners. As a right foot braker, less regen gives me more to play with. I know… I should be left foot braking. My driving coach used to hit me over the head with that all the time. Old dog here though. ??

 

[Kamuelaflyer]

And clearly it's capable of it because it's already doing it for 1PD. Lifting up on the accelerator pedal so regen slowing kicks in is the exact same thing that happens when you have L on. Or for that matter, when you have Engaged or Unbridled mode on. They all apply regen slowing, just to varying degrees.

It’s all much ado about nothing. The whole original point was simply that L doesn’t trigger the brake lights while 1pd does. Nothing more. Much of the rest was hyperbole and trolling for reactions.

Odds are the rationale is that L mode is similar to using a lower gear in a conventional car. No lights on that either. But if Ford wants to make the change, that shouldn’t be impossible. I won’t say easy as the module updates seem to require third party cooperation. But you can queue up the “You’re riding your brakes down that hill. They’ll fail!” complaints if they do that.

 

[dbsb3233]

LOL I am the reverse of what you like. I would actually prefer less regenerative braking along with less steering assist and stiffer suspension. I like to be able to roll the corners. As a right foot braker, less regen gives me more to play with. I know… I should be left foot braking. My driving coach used to hit me over the head with that all the time. Old dog here though. ??

Wait, what? Left-foot braking?? That's a huge no-no from everything I was taught about driving.

But that part aside, yeah, totally opposite wants. I know some people bought the Mach-E to be a sports car. While others bought it to be a luxury(ish) car. I'm the latter. Give me a soft comfortable suspension where I feel as little of the road bumps as possible! And easy steering, easy pedal with more range for finesse, but also smooth regen that makes driving even easier.

I guess that's a testament to how well the Mach-E does so many different things that it can be both a sports car and a luxury(ish) car. My biggest dislike is the stiff suspension on city streets, but other than that it checks most of the boxes for me.

 

[HuntingPudel]

Wait, what? Left-foot braking?? That's a huge no-no from everything I was taught about driving.
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For many years most guys find left foot braking and clutchless shifting to be the fastest way around the race track. I’m so used to right foot on the brake and gas at the same time, left on the clutch that I still drive like that under fire. I left foot brake just fine when not under fire and upshift clutchless, but braking into a corner under fire is two feet on three pedals. I just don’t have the talent to switch. Then again, Shane Van Giesbergen spanked the NASCAR Cup guys in Chicago braking with his right foot… ??

 

[dbsb3233]

It’s all much ado about nothing. The whole original point was simply that L doesn’t trigger the brake lights while 1pd does. Nothing more. Much of the rest was hyperbole and trolling for reactions.

Odds are the rationale is that L mode is similar to using a lower gear in a conventional car. No lights on that either. But if Ford wants to make the change, that shouldn’t be impossible. I won’t say easy as the module updates seem to require third party cooperation. But you can queue up the “You’re riding your brakes down that hill. They’ll fail!” complaints if they do that.

If the brake lights don't come on from L regen slowing, I have no doubt that you're right that they were stuck in the ICE mindset regarding L gear. Which is a failure IMO because if they remembered to activate the brake lights when there's regen slowing in 1PD (which is the same thing), they screwed up and failed to apply the same logic to both.

The whole point of brake lights is to show the driver behind you that the car is slowing down. Regen braking is still regen braking no matter which setting is used. The only part that should matter is the degree of it applied (i.e. how fast the car is decelerating). Any deceleration rate much greater than simply coasting should have the brake lights come on. They already figured that out for 1PD.

 

[dbsb3233]

For many years most guys find left foot braking and clutchless shifting to be the fastest way around the race track. I’m so used to right foot on the brake and gas at the same time, left on the clutch that I still drive like that under fire. I left foot brake just fine when not under fire and upshift clutchless, but braking into a corner under fire is two feet on three pedals. I just don’t have the talent to switch. Then again, Shane Van Giesbergen spanked the NASCAR Cup guys in Chicago braking with his right foot… ??

Ah, you mean for track racing. Yeah, whole different thing than normal street driving.

 

[Mach1E]

Wait, what? Left-foot braking?? That's a huge no-no from everything I was taught about driving.

But that part aside, yeah, totally opposite wants. I know some people bought the Mach-E to be a sports car. While others bought it to be a luxury(ish) car. I'm the latter. Give me a soft comfortable suspension where I feel as little of the road bumps as possible! And easy steering, easy pedal with more range for finesse, but also smooth regen that makes driving even easier.

I guess that's a testament to how well the Mach-E does so many different things that it can be both a sports car and a luxury(ish) car. My biggest dislike is the stiff suspension on city streets, but other than that it checks most of the boxes for me.

One asterisk would be that while it caters to a wide audience of different wants, it doesn’t offer a luxury ride in any setting or model.

Even the base suspension in my wife’s Lincoln Aviator puts the ride of whisper in my GTPE to shame. We just don’t have enough suspension travel.

For sure they do give us tons of settings to choose from, but many (myself included) think we need more customization. Like mag ride should be its own separate setting.

Same goes with regen (thus this thread).

 

[Kamuelaflyer]

If the brake lights don't come on from L regen slowing, I have no doubt that you're right that they were stuck in the ICE mindset regarding L gear.

I don’t agree with this part Tim. I don’t think they realized anyone would want to permanently keep the car in 2pd with L mode on as well. I think the original idea was to give the 2 pd driver an extra tool for downhill grades that they wouldn’t otherwise have. As usual, people are inventive..

 

[Jimrpa]

Which kind of makes sense

I don’t agree with this part Tim. I don’t think they realized anyone would want to permanently keep the car in 2pd with L mode on as well. I think the original idea was to give the 2 pd driver an extra tool for downhill grades that they wouldn’t otherwise have. As usual, people are inventive..

Which kind of makes sense. If you downshift an ICE car while going downhill to take advantage of engine braking, the brake lights don’t come on.

 

[Mach1E]

I don’t agree with this part Tim. I don’t think they realized anyone would want to permanently keep the car in 2pd with L mode on as well. I think the original idea was to give the 2 pd driver an extra tool for downhill grades that they wouldn’t otherwise have. As usual, people are inventive..

Definitely seems like that’s what they were thinking based on how it behaves and frankly by the name (Low).

 

[Mach1E]

Which kind of makes sense
Which kind of makes sense. If you downshift an ICE car while going downhill to take advantage of engine braking, the brake lights don’t come on.

And if you put it in Low…. ?

 

[Kamuelaflyer]

Definitely seems like that’s what they were thinking based on how it behaves and frankly by the name (Low).

@dbsb3233 has a point though. What he’s doing is not unusual. It may not be the norm but it’s certainly not out in left field either. Reworking the triggers for the brake lights to include the use of L is not a bad idea.*

* Presuming we’re correct in the presumption that L mode does not trigger brake lights.

 

[Mach1E]

@dbsb3233 has a point though. What he’s doing is not unusual. It may not be the norm but it’s certainly not out in left field either. Reworking the triggers for the brake lights to include the use of L is not a bad idea.*

* Presuming we’re correct in the presumption that L mode does not trigger brake lights.

I do agree, it “should” trigger brake lights. But it doesn’t.

I actually like that mode (2PD whisper with L) especially with the GTPE softer suspension setting.

But I wouldn’t use it if someone is tailgating. Just know the risks.

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