Sparktacus 10 Posted September 16, 2013 Share Posted September 16, 2013 How well does the Hill Start Assist work, especially for you manual tranny drivers? According to Chevy, the HSA is supposed to engage for a max of 2 seconds when the car is stopped on any angle (front or rear facing up or downhiill) when you release the brake to prevent the car from rolling when you get it into gear. I have played with this and not so much for me. At what point does the HSA actually engage and hold a manual drive Spark car from rolling? Link to post Share on other sites
tommyspark 24 Posted September 16, 2013 Share Posted September 16, 2013 I have an auto, but it works fine in but of our Sparks Link to post Share on other sites
Greg_E 211 Posted September 16, 2013 Share Posted September 16, 2013 It needs a pretty steep hill to engage, I find the parking brake to be more accurate and predictable if I need hill hold function. The auto trans. does not have hill hold, the transmission is always trying to push the car, so it doesn't need hill hold. Also I have never felt this working on a downward facing slope. Link to post Share on other sites
whoknew1985 5 Posted September 16, 2013 Share Posted September 16, 2013 I have the 5 speed on my car. I do not understand the technical nature of the system, but I have felt the system working when I take off from an sloped incline. The only thing I notice is that I do not have to rush when I move my foot from the brake to the gas pedal. There is about 2 seconds of time that my car will not roll to allow me to move my foot to the gas pedal. If you hold hesitate and go past that small increment of time, I have felt the car being released and rolling. It is an interesting system. I wish I had this when I first started to learn how to drive stick. Link to post Share on other sites
austex04 48 Posted September 16, 2013 Share Posted September 16, 2013 I think it has to be at least a 10% incline or more for it to work. I find it more annoying than useful, it's like trying to take off with the parking brake set for the first second or two. For those who are novices with manuals might like it, I don't. Link to post Share on other sites
Sparktacus 10 Posted September 18, 2013 Author Share Posted September 18, 2013 I will try this on a 10% or more incline. There's not many of those here in S. FL, lol, but I have encountered some rolling towards some precarious curbs when leaving parking spots in my manual transmission Spark. Parking Helen Keller style is not an option for me. Smikster 1 Link to post Share on other sites
WaltK 305 Posted September 18, 2013 Share Posted September 18, 2013 Mine is working well, I have the automatic, and occasionally I get stuck at a red light on a fairly steep hill. If I come to a normal stop, she will roll back, but I hit the pedal a second time, really firm, the car doesn't move. Link to post Share on other sites
Greg_E 211 Posted September 18, 2013 Share Posted September 18, 2013 The auto really has this? Shouldn't even need it, they must uncouple the torque converter when stopped to save fuel. Link to post Share on other sites
WaltK 305 Posted September 18, 2013 Share Posted September 18, 2013 The auto really has this? Shouldn't even need it, they must uncouple the torque converter when stopped to save fuel. I'm still trying to figure out why they are putting tachometers, in auto trans cars. Link to post Share on other sites
austex04 48 Posted September 18, 2013 Share Posted September 18, 2013 The auto really has this? Shouldn't even need it, they must uncouple the torque converter when stopped to save fuel. Even automatics will roll back a little when stopped on a very steep grade until you give it enough gas, that's why the autos also have it. Link to post Share on other sites
Sparktacus 10 Posted September 19, 2013 Author Share Posted September 19, 2013 I'm still trying to figure out why they are putting tachometers, in auto trans cars. Actually, from a gas-savings point: if you keep your RPMS lower, you save on gas, even on an automatic. Link to post Share on other sites
psquare75 35 Posted September 19, 2013 Share Posted September 19, 2013 I'm still trying to figure out why they are putting tachometers, in auto trans cars. Because race car. Link to post Share on other sites
HartfordSpark 0 Posted May 26, 2014 Share Posted May 26, 2014 Mine definitely engages at some times but not others. I've driven a manual transmission for decades so it is easy to notice when it works (but not so obvious when it doesn't). It has worked in both directions (backing up when pointed down hill and going forward uphill). I've noticed there seems to be some minimum stop time before it engages, since I can stop momentarily and intentionally roll back into a parking place without shifting into reverse. When I start up the car in same parking space, it does not engage and I will roll backwards when pulling out. Still not sure about the degree of incline--seems as though I have felt it work on both gradual and steeper hills. Trying to figure out if it is working as designed, and if so, what the specific parameters for engagement are. If anyone has more info, I'd be interested. Thanks. Link to post Share on other sites
djp 18 Posted May 26, 2014 Share Posted May 26, 2014 (edited) Mine only works occasionally, where my hubbys new subie wrx works in the extreme. I kind of hate it to be honest. Edited May 26, 2014 by djp Link to post Share on other sites
psquare75 35 Posted May 26, 2014 Share Posted May 26, 2014 steeper-ish hill, and you need to press the brake pedal farther than normal, in my experience. Link to post Share on other sites
parakalien 0 Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 I have the manual tranny and I've never felt it kick in. I've tried it on what I thought to be a steep hill and as soon as I release the brake it rolls back as though nothing is hindering it whatsoever. Maybe I need to try a steeper hill, or maybe mine is malfunctioning? Link to post Share on other sites
jibb3r 29 Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 At least with mine, it only works if the hill is extremely steep. I personally don't like it. Since it's not consistent, it throws me off when I try to accelerate and the hill brake is keeping me from moving!My driveway is steep enough, that it will kick in. I've tried it going both ways, and it definitely doesn't work going forward down the hill. Link to post Share on other sites
njresler 14 Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 If you give it gas it disengaged. Do if the clutch is still not at the friction point you'll never notice it Link to post Share on other sites
jibb3r 29 Posted August 1, 2014 Share Posted August 1, 2014 Mine definitely doesn't disengage when I try to accelerate and it's active. The first time the hill assist kicked in, I almost stalled. I figured I would roll back, so I was quick to hit the gas, and the hill assist kept me from moving at all. That's how I found out it worked. Link to post Share on other sites
buffyuna 6 Posted April 23, 2016 Share Posted April 23, 2016 Are you guys braking in neutral? They say that it it has to be in gear when you break, and that the force you use to break will determine the assist. Retired old Gearhead 1 Link to post Share on other sites
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