My current car has an electronic throttle, such as the '04 Max does. The engine computer in my car is programmed to close the throttle when you have have both the accelerator pedal and the brake pedal applied for more than 5 seconds. (The engine speed goes to idle, no matter how far down you push the throttle pedal.)

While it's smart of them to have this kind of protection for the brakes and engine, I find it a little aggressive for my liking.

Why would I possibly be on both pedals at once, you may ask?

In the snow I have found that I get more stable acceleration if I use the brake some. I believe it helps to transfer some of the torque to the other front wheel, thus balancing the amount of power going to the two front wheels. I have found it somewhat helpful in the snow.

I'm wondering if the '04 Max has a similar interlock on the brake and accelerator pedals that prevents them from working simultaneously. Has anyone tried it? If there is an interlock, how long can you have both pedals applied before the computer overrides?

If I get an '04 Max, it won't be one with traction control. So that's why I ask the question.

 

I've never heard of that technique.

CM.

 

I have only seen that done when someone is trying to get a fast start, power braking as we used to call it.

 

Yeah, it's most commonly called "Torque Braking" and it is usually used for a better racing start with an automatic transmission. But that's done with the car at a complete stop.

I'm talking about the using the brakes lightly while the car is moving. This isn't for the purposes of going fast, but to try and get the car moving in the mucky stuff. (Traction was hell in the snow with my previous Maxima, when trying to get moving from a dead stop on a hill.)

I guess nobody has experimented with pressing both the gas and brake on the new Maxima. I'll have to try and check it out during a test drive.