Hill Hold Assist - Is Yours Working?
- Thread starter AndrewGS
- Start date
ThatTmoGuy
New member
i tested it today in the drive through, i thought by having TCS and stabiltrak off i would not get the assist. but i did 
DrPhoton
New member
Good point! It surprised me the first time it engaged even though I knew about it. My understanding is that it keeps the car from rolling the direction you don't want to go. If you're in first gear facing up hill it keeps you from rolling back. If you're in reverse and facing down hill it keeps you from rolling forward. Like the other folks have said, incline must be at least 5 degrees to trigger the feature.
TheOtherBryan
New member
The hill hold feature is pretty slick. It does require a fairly steep grade to engage. It caught me by surprise the first time it kicked in for me. Since 1993 every car I've owned has been a manual tranny. This one is the most user friendly of any I've had the pleasure to drive.
I must add also that running the A/C has little or no effect on engine power or the RPMs required to engage the clutch. On previous manual four bangers that I've owned the A/C nearly killed the motors and they each required intense throttle and clutch finesse to handle traffic. The Sonic handles it with the A/C on beautifully. Sorry to go off track a bit.
I must add also that running the A/C has little or no effect on engine power or the RPMs required to engage the clutch. On previous manual four bangers that I've owned the A/C nearly killed the motors and they each required intense throttle and clutch finesse to handle traffic. The Sonic handles it with the A/C on beautifully. Sorry to go off track a bit.
J T
New member
Preloader
The M32 Martyr
If taking off from a stop on a hill is shortening the life of your clutch, you're doing it wrong. :sadbanana:
I don't know many people that don't have to feather their clutch at least a little bit on a hill... Overreving and clutch dumps a la newbies or those not paying attention aside, of course.
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SSpeckerwood
New member
i will slip my clutch until i smell it, then i know its warmed up and ready for take off....
Preloader
The M32 Martyr
^ ^ ^This will add life to your clutch.
Feathering it in won't, regardless of the computer playing god with your brakes on hills.
Being hard on your clutch will make it last longer. Being soft on it (which I only do when I have sensitive passengers) is the fastest way to wear it out.
TheOtherBryan
New member
You may be right Preloader. I've always believed the contrary. However, recent observations suggest, especially in the case of the Sonic clutch, it wants to be pushed hard!
Oh I don't mean feathering it hard. I'm saying a little light feather to get going.
What I was referring to was the newbs who ride the sheat out of their clutch.
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Eric Smit
Enforcer
It's basic clutch physics. Your clutch is only being worn when it is being ridden. When it is fully engaged or fully open, there is no wear on your clutch.
-Eric Smit
Preloader
The M32 Martyr
I was fortunate in that I grew up in a transmission shop my dad owned and ran for 20+ years. I've seen him get 200k miles out of a single clutch. The faster you can get the friction disc mated to the flywheel the less it will wear.
One thing I miss about a mechanical linkage is that you can adjust it to grab clutch way down at the floor. Not only does this lessen the stress on the pressure plate, but it also takes the guess work out of finding the friction, and lessens the "feather" time.
tl;dr- dump clutch, longer life
One thing I miss about a mechanical linkage is that you can adjust it to grab clutch way down at the floor. Not only does this lessen the stress on the pressure plate, but it also takes the guess work out of finding the friction, and lessens the "feather" time.
tl;dr- dump clutch, longer life
DrPhoton
New member
I agree with you guys about fastest clutch engage = minimum clutch wear. However, I think RS Turbo's point is still valid. All other things being equal, there's got to be more wear on the clutch if you're rolling backward when you're trying to engage it as opposed to standing still.
Also, presumably there's some tradeoff between slamming the clutch to minimize clutch wear and wear and tear on the rest of the drivetrain.
Also, presumably there's some tradeoff between slamming the clutch to minimize clutch wear and wear and tear on the rest of the drivetrain.
Sonic1.4t
Banned
I also find myself wanting to take off before its off and it's annoying, the other day I was leaving my house and tried to reverse out of the driveway and the car wouldn't budge then 2 seconds later it started to go !! I'm old school and I have never had issues with a manual on hills so I'm not liking this feature but I still love my sonic !!!!!
laborsmith
New member
Are there fuses for the ABS, Traction Control, and/or Stabilitrak?
If so, pull them all. Two cautions: brakes will wear unevenly and if there is a collision, no matter who is at fault, disabling TC could cause questions.
If you drive not using a seat belt then disabling hill hold should be right up your alley.
Laborsmith
If so, pull them all. Two cautions: brakes will wear unevenly and if there is a collision, no matter who is at fault, disabling TC could cause questions.
If you drive not using a seat belt then disabling hill hold should be right up your alley.
Laborsmith
ChrisJ
Active member
My last truck (92 Chevy c2500HD) had a hydraulic clutch and it grabbed around 1/8" off the floor for most of the time I owned the truck and I hated it. When we rebuilt the clutch at around 180,000 miles and installed a new flywheel, fork, ball etc... it then grabbed around 1" off the floor and it was MUCH nicer to drive. Compared to that truck the Sonic is a dream.
whodoyouthinkyouaretoby
New member
It's an interesting feature. I actually forgot about it until I noticed it had engaged a few days ago. Definitely a manual and auto tranny feature.