Hill Start Assist

[viper Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close viper]

Can anyone explain to me how the Hill Start Assist works in a 2007 VX D4D Auto?

Ive had mine for 2 months now and am yet to see this work.

The manual says "the system helps to prevent the vehicle from rolling back while you move your foot from the brake to the accelerator pedal" and then says "the system will operate for 5 seconds maximally when all of the following conditions apply.

When the transmission is in "D", "4" ,"3","2" or "L"

When the brake pedal is not depressed"

So do you have to have your foot on the brake in first place to get it to work? How do you know its going to work if you have to take your foot off the brake to find out? Does it work everytime you stop on a hill? What if you are just hill holding on the throttle? Will it activate if you then release the throttle?

Might be ok in a manual but seems to be a bit of overkill in an Auto - cant the same control be had by holding your left foot on the brake and gradually releasing as you simultaneously accelerate with your right foot? :shock: :?

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

Hill Start Assist

Viper, it works in D or any forwards combination. When the car starts to roll backwards on a steep hill start the brakes kick in to arrest the backward motion. It only holds for a few (5 ish) seconds. I think the idea is that during a hill start it holds the car while you move your foot from the brake to the accelerator. The gearbox does a pretty good job holding the Prado on most hills and it takes a fairly steep hill to make the HSA kick in. Must say at first I thought it was going to be some clever electronics like the Descent control (which is sadly too fast anyway) but effectively HSA is just automatic brakes to stop you rolling backwards into whatever is way too close behind. I think that HSA allows the car to roll back too far (feels like half a metre or more) so I will still use the handbrake for hill starts anyway. One of the many uses for a handbrake!

[ABD Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close ABD]

"Hill Start Assist is a feature of some semi-automatic, cluchless transmissions, which prevents the car from rolling away when trying to pull away on an up or down gradient, simulating a "handbrake hill start" manual drivers will be familiar with. The system engages automatically when a gradient of 3% or more is detected; it then acts to hold the car stationary for two seconds after the brake is released giving the driver time to apply the throttle."
From Wikipedia

[halojump Member Find all posts View Profile Close halojump]

Dont have my Prado yet but I have HAC in the current model RAV4. I know also the new Kluger works the same way.

Go find a steep hill. Keep it in drive.

Push down the brake pedal until you hear a beep and the TC\VSC light flashes.

Release the brake pedal and you'll stay still on the hill for a bit.

You could of course just do a hill start with the hand brake on ... 'like in days of yore' when most people had basic driving skills.

I think its a pretty pointless thing personally....

[viper Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close viper]

Thanks Fellas - seems like a leap of faith to me - or something that would be very useful to a driver with only one leg. The hills Ive been on so far musnt have been steep enough to set it off.

[zjed Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close zjed]

on any steep stuff you should be left foot braking.

[MUMSRIG Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close MUMSRIG]

Subaru have had a mechanical version for years...

It worked in conjunction with the front brakes and the clutch (manual only).

Whilst on a hill, the brake pedal has to be fully depressed then released and the front brake callipers will remain engaged..... When the clutch is released there is an extra cable that is pulled and the brakes release as the clutch engages and you drive away...

These things were bloody brilliant if you used them correctly....

Unsure of how the Prado version works, however in a manual it would be pretty darn handy if taking off on a slippery slope when you need to have a bit more clutch/throttle control.....

Mitch

[D4D Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4D]

on any steep stuff you should be left foot braking.

Agreed in an auto

[D4D Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4D]

Unsure of how the Prado version works, however in a manual it would be pretty darn handy if taking off on a slippery slope when you need to have a bit more clutch/throttle control.....

Use the handbrake in a manual

[bitdist Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bitdist]

Or if you have stalled, then just keystart without touching any pedals...

[pshenton Member Find all posts View Profile Close pshenton]

Works bloody great on a 30 degree incline. Any slight roll back in muddy steep conditions and the swift reapplying of the brakes can cause a slide. Have tested this out several times an I feel very comfortable in keeping my foot OFF the brake on steep slippery inclines or declines when possible. This feature may not be that useful exiting the Westfield car park but in the bush its a real peace of mind feature.

[RichardM Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close RichardM]

I am also a bit miffed on this feature. I just traded my subaru liberty for my first Prado and the hill start feature worked famously on the suby. I have a very steep driveway and when I pull up and stop in "D" in the Prado, then release my foot off the brake, the Prado takes off backwards!! Is hill start assist a feature on GXL models or only VX & Grande?

Cheers

Richard

[RichardM Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close RichardM]

I will answer my own question after a little research. HAC on VX and Grande only. I obviously didn't read the glossy brochure too thoroughly before buying:>)

Richard

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

Also GX and GXL automatics with the appropriate safety pack (s).