Are you suddenly experiencing problems with the Adaptive Cruise Control of your BMW vehicle? If you notice that the adaptive cruise control system shifts to unnecessary hard braking or slows down more than usual while taking a corner, then that’s a sign that it is on the verge of developing a fault. Continue reading to acquaint yourself with what this system does, some signs that will tell you that your BMW’s ACC is about to stop working, and what you can do to fix it.
What Is Adaptive Cruise Control?
Adaptive Cruise Control is an important innovation in today’s automotive technology and is incorporated in different BMW models and other vehicles to enhance safe driving. It does this through the use of radar sensors, cameras as well as computers built into the car to identify the speed of vehicles in front of you and adapt the speed of your car. If the vehicle in front of you decreases its speed the ACC system will automatically bring your car’s speed to match the new speed limit. Once traffic disappears or when the car in front starts moving, the system increases the speed of your car to the desired speed limit.
As much as this technology is very helpful, it is not immune to having issues. As with all devices and systems, parts of the system may wear, fail, or become out of phase, which reduces the functionality of the ACC system. Let’s proceed to the signs of failure.
Symptoms of a Failing Adaptive Cruise Control
- Warning Light on the Dashboard: There are many signs that could indicate that something is wrong with your ACC system and one of the most obvious is a warning light that you see on your dashboard. Most BMW models have a particular icon for ACC problems, which generally looks like a car with a radar signal. This light means that the system is trying to alert you that it is faulty and you need to get it checked.
- ACC Not Maintaining Speed or Distance Properly: If your BMW is no longer driving at the right speed or right distance from the next car then this is an indication that something is wrong. The ACC system is intended to maintain a safe distance from the car in front of you, but when it begins to fail, it can have trouble with this. In some cases, your car may be too close to the car in front of you or it may not slow down or speed up correctly, and this makes the system very unsafe to use.
- Random Acceleration or Deceleration: An ideal working condition of the ACC system should see your car’s speed change seamlessly. But if your ACC is beginning to give you problems, you can expect a sudden and erratic acceleration or deceleration. This is not very comfortable especially when driving in areas with lots of traffic; this is an indication that the system is no longer interpreting the terrain correctly.
- Failure to Detect Vehicles: If your ACC system is beginning to go bad, it may not be as effective at identifying other vehicles on the road. This can cause high-risk scenarios in which your car maintains its maximum speed while there is a car gradually decelerating in front of you.
Fixing Problems With the Adaptive Cruise Control System
- Clean or Replace Sensors: If the sensors have become blocked or dirty then you can clean them so they work as they should again. In case they get damaged or do not function correctly, then they will require replacement.
- Update the Software: If the problem is associated with software, then, updating the car’s software should solve the problem. Your mechanic can look for updates and then download them for you.
- Professional Diagnostics: If you’re not quite sure what is going on with your adaptive cruise control, you should take your BMW to a certified repair shop for diagnosis and repair.
Come to Dieter’s Porsche & BMW Service for ACC Repairs in San Diego
At Dieter’s Porsche & BMW Service, we understand that there are sophisticated systems in BMW cars such as the adaptive cruise control system that need to be diagnosed and repaired. If you are having problems with your ACC please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team of expert technicians. We are based in San Diego, CA, and are the best service center for BMW repair and services for BMW drivers in nearby cities like Point Loma, Chula Vista, Mission Valley, and Coronado, CA. Book an appointment today!