SSpeckerwood
New member
Yes it is. Automatics get better fuel economy when in neutral at a stop
hill hold
- Thread starter klystron
- Start date
ChrisJ
Active member
2 weeks ago I test drove a 2012 1.4 turbo sonic with MT and tried out the hill hold and was surprised how well it worked.
Now that I own essentially the same car, but a different one as the wife didn't like the color of the car I test drove I've tried out the hill hold in various places. It has never worked.
Now, the place I test drove was a much steeper hill, maybe I need to try there but the video claims a 5% grade in EITHER direction forward or backwards should work. Maybe I'm wrong but 5% grade doesn't sound very steep.
Maybe the sensors in the sonic arn't as sensitive as they claim? My previous sonic with the 1.8 + auto sometimes would hold a lower gear too long if I was stuck in traffic going up a hill at 5 mph and then went over and started doing down hill. It would hit like 3k with almost no throttle before it decided to shift. Kind of like it didn't realize I was now going downhill, not up.
Now that I own essentially the same car, but a different one as the wife didn't like the color of the car I test drove I've tried out the hill hold in various places. It has never worked.
Now, the place I test drove was a much steeper hill, maybe I need to try there but the video claims a 5% grade in EITHER direction forward or backwards should work. Maybe I'm wrong but 5% grade doesn't sound very steep.
Maybe the sensors in the sonic arn't as sensitive as they claim? My previous sonic with the 1.8 + auto sometimes would hold a lower gear too long if I was stuck in traffic going up a hill at 5 mph and then went over and started doing down hill. It would hit like 3k with almost no throttle before it decided to shift. Kind of like it didn't realize I was now going downhill, not up.
Swordsmith
242hp/252 ft-lbs BNR EFI
I've been driving my Sonic for about 9 days now, and I've only had the Hill Hold go on once; last night. I went out with a friend, and when I dropped her off at home, I'd parked nose up in her driveway. I had the clutch in, went to drift backwards into the street by just pulling my foot off the brake, no reason to actually bother putting it in reverse... and it just sat there. A couple seconds later, it rolled. Oh, I realized, hill hold.
It wasn't a particularly steep grade, but I didn't get out to measure how steep it was.
I've been driving stick a long time now, and I don't normally roll backwards, so I can't say whether the system would have engaged any other time. I guess I could go look for a parking lot with some slope to it, where I could experiment. It would be nice to know the parameters a couple months from now when my son starts learning to drive.
It wasn't a particularly steep grade, but I didn't get out to measure how steep it was.
I've been driving stick a long time now, and I don't normally roll backwards, so I can't say whether the system would have engaged any other time. I guess I could go look for a parking lot with some slope to it, where I could experiment. It would be nice to know the parameters a couple months from now when my son starts learning to drive.
klystron
Banned
I test drove a vw golf tdi today and stalled when hill hold came on. I freaking hate it. I could hear it running against the brake and the car just died under me. I hope this is something I can turn off on a sonic with HPTuners if I decide to buy.
Going to drive a Sonic LTZ auto on Monday. If I like it I will either order a manual or wait until they have one to test drive. I am leaning towards LTZ instead of RS because I want the best economy I can get. I spend most of my time on the interstate going 70 so I want the taller gears.
Going to drive a Sonic LTZ auto on Monday. If I like it I will either order a manual or wait until they have one to test drive. I am leaning towards LTZ instead of RS because I want the best economy I can get. I spend most of my time on the interstate going 70 so I want the taller gears.
ChrisJ
Active member
Ok so I was wrong.
Leaving work Friday I tried the hill hold again and it worked. I doubt you will have any problems with the Sonic as I couldn't even tell it was there when I took off. Just the fact that it didn't roll back at all when I took off as slowly as possible without letting the clutch up before letting off the brake.
Leaving work Friday I tried the hill hold again and it worked. I doubt you will have any problems with the Sonic as I couldn't even tell it was there when I took off. Just the fact that it didn't roll back at all when I took off as slowly as possible without letting the clutch up before letting off the brake.
Swordsmith
242hp/252 ft-lbs BNR EFI
I'm with ChrisJ on this, I've never once had a problem due to hill hold, it really isn't noticeable, in fact we both report being unsure it was working until we actually tested it. But it is there, and while it's not going to make any difference to me after decades of driving stick, I'm sure it will help my son and anyone else who is just learning to drive a real car; I recall the pressure of potentially rolling back into someone at a stop on a hill as being the single real problem of that experience.
In fact at one point I remember having to get out and go explain to the tailgater behind me that he'd have to back up a few feet, since he was too close to go around me and I'd be certain to hit him. Wouldn't try that in today's Road Rage age, I'd probably get shot! I also recall at least once giving up and swapping seats with my Dad so he could get the car moving. Ah, good times.
In fact at one point I remember having to get out and go explain to the tailgater behind me that he'd have to back up a few feet, since he was too close to go around me and I'd be certain to hit him. Wouldn't try that in today's Road Rage age, I'd probably get shot! I also recall at least once giving up and swapping seats with my Dad so he could get the car moving. Ah, good times.
Bumping an old thread as I see no reason to start a new one. I've got about 300 miles on my car now, and the hill hold worked for the VERY FIRST TIME tonight. Now, I live in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. We have a few hills here. I put the car in positions where I figured it was going to have to work. Nothing. Then tonight, it worked at a light I've been stopped at 10 other times. I also don't feel I need it, but don't mind it being there. I just wish it was reliable. Anyone else feel like it's sorta hit-and-miss on whether or not it's going to work?
Swordsmith
242hp/252 ft-lbs BNR EFI
I do not. On the same hill in the same spot, it works, or doesn't work, very consistently for me. The "will it work or not" part is, again in my car, only based on whether the spot I am in is steep enough to trigger it. Experience with the car means now I generally know whether it will or not, but at first it did seem pretty random.
If you are coming to a full stop, clutch all the way in, at the same spot, and you are getting inconsistent results, there may be a problem. Test it out in a parking lot or driveway where you don't have to worry about anyone else and can really get a very repeatable situation. If your stealership has a hilly lot, that would be ideal, since then you can take your service tech and show her the problem
Don't want to hear "could not repeat the problem, and no engine code"
If you are coming to a full stop, clutch all the way in, at the same spot, and you are getting inconsistent results, there may be a problem. Test it out in a parking lot or driveway where you don't have to worry about anyone else and can really get a very repeatable situation. If your stealership has a hilly lot, that would be ideal, since then you can take your service tech and show her the problem
Don't want to hear "could not repeat the problem, and no engine code"