Hill-start assist
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1st Gear
Joined: Feb 2016
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Hill-start assist
Sorry for the long thread, but here goes:
I just leased a 2016 B8 Special Edition A4 2.0 6MT with S-Line trim. It is one of the last A4s to have manual transmission as the 2017 B9 A4 will not be offered in a manual, at least not in the US according to the dealer.
I just discovered that it has Hill-start assist, which prevents the car from rolling backward before accelerating on an uphill; it supposedly also works on a downhill. The system engages automatically when a gradient of 3% or more is detected in a manual transmission and holds the car stationary for 2-3 seconds after the brake is released giving the driver time to apply the throttle. It is also supposed to release when the accelerator pedal is depressed.
I find this system to be highly annoying and frustrating. While it may be helpful for novice manual transmission drivers, it is not that useful for experienced drivers. First, it is unpredictable - I cannot tell when it is going to engage even knowing about the 3% gradient rule. It does not always release promptly when the accelerator is depressed. It has caused me to nearly stall several times even after "practicing" to get used to it. Second, there are times when you want the car to roll back a little on a hill without having to put the car in neutral or reverse. Third, it is potentially dangerous. I almost stalled in front of oncoming traffic while making a left turn because it did not release right away. If it had stalled, there could have been a serious accident.
It takes away some of the manual control and fun of a manual transmission. There should be an option to turn the system on or off as needed, but there is not. Has anyone had these issues? Is there any workaround to make it more seamless? Is there any way to turn it off without taking it to an independent mechanic? Audi Service may not be allowed to disable it for safety issues. I heard that it can be turned off using VAG-COM.
Apparently, this system has been around since 2010 or earlier, especially in Europe? I did a search and did not find any recent discussions on the forum.
By the way, this is different than Hill-hold Control, which is a button labeled A behind the electronic parking brake and not available in North America.
I just leased a 2016 B8 Special Edition A4 2.0 6MT with S-Line trim. It is one of the last A4s to have manual transmission as the 2017 B9 A4 will not be offered in a manual, at least not in the US according to the dealer.
I just discovered that it has Hill-start assist, which prevents the car from rolling backward before accelerating on an uphill; it supposedly also works on a downhill. The system engages automatically when a gradient of 3% or more is detected in a manual transmission and holds the car stationary for 2-3 seconds after the brake is released giving the driver time to apply the throttle. It is also supposed to release when the accelerator pedal is depressed.
I find this system to be highly annoying and frustrating. While it may be helpful for novice manual transmission drivers, it is not that useful for experienced drivers. First, it is unpredictable - I cannot tell when it is going to engage even knowing about the 3% gradient rule. It does not always release promptly when the accelerator is depressed. It has caused me to nearly stall several times even after "practicing" to get used to it. Second, there are times when you want the car to roll back a little on a hill without having to put the car in neutral or reverse. Third, it is potentially dangerous. I almost stalled in front of oncoming traffic while making a left turn because it did not release right away. If it had stalled, there could have been a serious accident.
It takes away some of the manual control and fun of a manual transmission. There should be an option to turn the system on or off as needed, but there is not. Has anyone had these issues? Is there any workaround to make it more seamless? Is there any way to turn it off without taking it to an independent mechanic? Audi Service may not be allowed to disable it for safety issues. I heard that it can be turned off using VAG-COM.
Apparently, this system has been around since 2010 or earlier, especially in Europe? I did a search and did not find any recent discussions on the forum.
By the way, this is different than Hill-hold Control, which is a button labeled A behind the electronic parking brake and not available in North America.
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