Fly by wire throttle systems.
 

Mrs. Vegescoob's Micra 160SR has one, the first car we've had with this.
When I drive it I find that the throttle is reluctant to give me a "blip" when heeling and toeing or double declutching.
I'm assuming this is how it's set up. I can't find out any info on how the system works and the local dealer wasn't much help. It's impossible to get info out of Nissan UK as they just refer you to the dealer.
However I noticed in the Nov issue of Top Gear Magazine that the journalist running a Golf GTI has discovered that it won't allow brakes and power together.
So, is anyone up on these systems, on the Micra or in general, or has had similar on anything else with fly by wire?

on my fabia which has fly by wire, if you're braking the throttle doesn't work..

to test it try to acelerate with your left foot on the brake... nothing happens

it doesn't really bother me as i don't try and heel'n'toe.

i assume it's to prevent accidents when people panic and hit the brake and accelerator together rather than the clutch.

there are more numpties out there than people wanting to heel and toe. ;)

cheers matt

As MW says. Mass-market manufacturers have to design the entire engine starting with the emissions at the tailpipe so they usually have a "soft" fuel cut as soon as the brake light switch activates or when the clutch is pushed.

The VAG diesels have this system, and I think the new FSI motors do too

Thanks, just as I feared.
Set up for the British Standard Driver! Or any other country I presume.
Taking away driver options.
So that's probably also removed one of my dealing with tailgaters techniques.
Light touch on brake pedal to bring on lights while keeping on accelerator pedal.
Heeling and toeing isn't just for "making progress", I find it useful when, for instance, taking a downhill turn at a junction.
Thing is, some designer somewhere has programmed all this. All those development engineers and drivers, usually car enthusiasts, must use the techniques I and others use but perhaps they just get told to sort it this way. Emissions, safety, blah blah.
I'll have to keep the '99 Classic Turbowagon a lot longer then. Got a cable!

My 06 Forester FXT has fly by wire throttle apparantly, can't say I've noticed any difference whatsoever, can certainly brake and use the accelerator together so must be how they are set up..

Hmm, interesting, perhaps the Japanese have a different attitude.
Nissan's SR means Street Racer, although I'm surprised they used that in these times and it has an aluminium accelerator pedal and "alloy effect" brake and clutch pedals.
Just can't use "racing" techniques with the Street Racer.
Now to find a friendly Nissan technician with access to the diagnostics to find out if all this can be played with.

The SL55 I had a while back had fly by wire brakes as well as the throttle !

This thing has a touch of that too. EBA, emergency brake assist and EBD, electronic brakeforce distribution. ABS of course.
Not convinced about the EBA.

Every Volkswagen group car I've driven with this set up also had a distinct delay between pressing the throttle and the engine starting to rev:(

Trying to pull away from junctions in an unfamiliar car which kept fcuking stalling because I'd brought the clutch up before the computer had decided that I'd actually meant to press the throttle got really annoying after a bit:mad: never mind dangerous:eek:

After a while I adapted my driving style to suit. Get the throttle pedal mashed, and side step the clutch:D Probably didn't do the clutch, tyres or fuel economy any good, but they weren't my cars;)

My ibiza 130bhp tdi does the same.

First time i tried it i nearly head butted the windscreen !

The 1.8T has it too, apart from older ones. To be quite honest, it doesn't matter to me that my Octavia vRS has it :):)

the 350Z has a similar setup, although I have to admit it works very well. Incredibility responsive - it seems like Nissan spent thousands of pounds making it feel like a £2.99 throttle cable...:)

VAG diesels have done it for a while. The first time I realised was when using my left foot to light the brake lights to annoy a tailgater (i.e. put the lights on without actually braking) which cut all power :eek:

:lol1: Did the same first time i "dabbed" the brake pedal with my left foot

Im surprised that you go quick enough to worry about the braking systems on Mrs. V's car. Does she know you are using in a manner she would not like:lol1: :D :D

Can someone explain to me in leymans terms what fly by wire is exactly, I have never heard of it :confused:

'Fly by wire' means something is controlled electrically/Electronically. For the throttle, rather than having a throttle cable, giving a mechanical link between the pedal and the carbs/throttle bodies/injector pump, the control is electrical. A potentiometer, or could be encoder type device, (which will give a direct output changing as you press the pedal) will transmit a signal (current or voltage) to a reciever which will 'mimic' the action of a traditional cable at the carbs/throttle bodies/injector pump end. mmmm..... hope that makes sense!

Proby

Evo VII onwards are all electronic throttles too I believe