The model i drove did not have hill hold as far as i know and yes i did notice a slight hesitation when pulling off from a standstill, mentioned this to the dealer and he said that by putting slight pressure on the accelerator pedal but not enough to make it move it reduces the lag when you do eventually move off, almost like preselecting/loading a gear before changing. Hope this helps and it would not put me off buying this engine/box combo IMHO.
Hill Assist / Hill Hold Assist
- Thread starter hittchy
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The model i drove did not have hill hold as far as i know and yes i did notice a slight hesitation when pulling off from a standstill, mentioned this to the dealer and he said that by putting slight pressure on the accelerator pedal but not enough to make it move it reduces the lag when you do eventually move off, almost like preselecting/loading a gear before changing. Hope this helps and it would not put me off buying this engine/box combo IMHO.
Maybe the start/stop works on the accelerator rather than the brake for all s-tronic boxes whether it has hill hold or not?
97catalunya
Registered User
Perfect thank you
always worry when no one else seems to go for the option. Having come from a Subaru Impreza and a 4.7ltr Jeep I wanted to combine the comfort and luxury of the Jeep with the sportiness of the Subaru, I know it won't be as quick still but it will be just as much fun, oh but without the 11mpg When test driving I didn't notice at what point exactly the engine kicked back in, it was so quick as so seamless I presumed it was when lifting the brake. It apparently takes 0.2 seconds to fire up!
Great thread and a great help.
I've just joined and we have an A3 on order. Not having had an electronic handbrake I've been reading up in preparation so this helps. We did order hill hold after a quick google on it.
I've just joined and we have an A3 on order. Not having had an electronic handbrake I've been reading up in preparation so this helps. We did order hill hold after a quick google on it.
More info on HH & HHA in the FAQ's here -
http://www.audi-sport.net/xf/thread...stions-on-the-8v-chassis.198794/#post-2286206
http://www.audi-sport.net/xf/thread...stions-on-the-8v-chassis.198794/#post-2286206
Just to clarify for any new members:
There is always the confusion between Hill Hold which is a standard item on all A3s and Hold Assist which is the £90 option. Audi have not helped by using similar name although the Glossary on the Audi UK website now refers to Hill Start Assist rather than Hill Hold. Hill Start Assist is the one that just stops the car from running backwards on a hill when you take your foot off the brake and put it on the the throttle. Hold Assist holds the car still whenever you stop, on the flat or on a hill just as though you still had your foot on the brake pedal. It comes with a switch next to the EPB to switch it on or off.
There is always the confusion between Hill Hold which is a standard item on all A3s and Hold Assist which is the £90 option. Audi have not helped by using similar name although the Glossary on the Audi UK website now refers to Hill Start Assist rather than Hill Hold. Hill Start Assist is the one that just stops the car from running backwards on a hill when you take your foot off the brake and put it on the the throttle. Hold Assist holds the car still whenever you stop, on the flat or on a hill just as though you still had your foot on the brake pedal. It comes with a switch next to the EPB to switch it on or off.
Hey all. Firstly wanted to say this is a brilliant thread and after reading decided to retrofit Hold Assist to my A4. I didn't do it myself and had a retrofit specialist do the work and I'm very impressed with them and the excellent service they gave me.
However I do have one query that I'm sure you can all help me with. Basically whilst driving at night I noticed the light in the new button under the hand brake is very bright. I tried to dim using the knob to the left of the headlight controls but it didn't make any difference which seems odd. So can I ask if anyone else has had this retrofit and does the bar light and illumination dim with the rest of the console lights?
Thanks in advance.
However I do have one query that I'm sure you can all help me with. Basically whilst driving at night I noticed the light in the new button under the hand brake is very bright. I tried to dim using the knob to the left of the headlight controls but it didn't make any difference which seems odd. So can I ask if anyone else has had this retrofit and does the bar light and illumination dim with the rest of the console lights?
Thanks in advance.
If you find the warning light on the Hold Assist button is very bright, think what the driver behind is thinking when you are in a traffic queue about your brakes lights being on all the time you are using the Hold Assist. This is the reason that, although I have Hold Assist, I never use it. Even the Highway Code (114) says you should use your parking brake to deactivate the brake lights to minimise glare to drivers behind you.
Need to check when it's dark but from memory it's the same brightness as the light on the handbrake switch - how does yours compare to that ?
Clocked over 2k miles now and finding myself leaving HA (UH2 £90) off most of the time but switching it on when I'm in a que of stop start traffic where it's not stopped for long enough for me to apply the H/B. For the money I'm glad I had it but could live without it. At junctions I'd rather be on the footbrake ready to go.
Clocked over 2k miles now and finding myself leaving HA (UH2 £90) off most of the time but switching it on when I'm in a que of stop start traffic where it's not stopped for long enough for me to apply the H/B. For the money I'm glad I had it but could live without it. At junctions I'd rather be on the footbrake ready to go.
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That is a very good point.
To be honest the salesman didn't do a particularly good job of explaining Hold Assist to me and the more I read about it the more I wish I hadn't bothered!
Still at least it was only £90 which in the grand scheme of things is peanuts I guess
Oh I didn't realise the brake lights remained on when using hold assist. In fact I thought it was the opposite as that was what I thought would be a benefit by not sat on the brake pedal in traffic!
It does appear to be the same level as the handbrake but that's not on when I'm sat on the motorway, so doesn't really get noticed!
It does appear to be the same level as the handbrake but that's not on when I'm sat on the motorway, so doesn't really get noticed!
That's what I thought originally but all Hold Assist does is keeps the pressure in the brake circuit and therefore the brake lights stay on. On the A3 just clicking the EPB is a much better option in my opinion and you don't even have to release it but just drive away and it automatically releases.
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...which begs the question what the hell point is there to this hold assist malarkey?
Features in cars are mostly dictated by the marketing department.
RYuill
Registered User
If briefly stopping and starting let it do its thing and if stopping for a while (eg. traffic lights) pull the EPB, how difficult is it?
Apparently, very
For example, some people even struggle to use their foot to keep the brake pedal applied
Haha, I do it every day in the van and I welcome any options that make it easier. Why bark when you've got a dog to do it? 
Sometimes using the dog warps brake discs, and sometimes the dog craps all over the car behind
After hearing the brake lights stay on when use hold assist I had a quick look on my car and found when you let go of the foot brake when the green P light is on the dash the rear brake lights go off.
This to me is the benefit as I don't have to sit on the foot brake and wear out my left finger by switching the handbrake on. Plus as an extra bonus it pulls off quicker...
This to me is the benefit as I don't have to sit on the foot brake and wear out my left finger by switching the handbrake on. Plus as an extra bonus it pulls off quicker...
That happens when the EPB takes over holding the car from the Hold Assist. This can take sometime to happen. When you drive away it is then the EPB that is releasing rather than the Hold Assist in the same way as if you had clicked the EPB switch so it does not pull away any quicker. Page 95 of the A3 Owners Manual explains. It is possible it is different on other models.
I suppose the next problem will be wearing out your arms having to turn the steering wheel!
drummerdimitri
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This is my favorite option on audis and vw's. I don't think it is offered by other car brands but it is just so simple and convenient especially when paired with the auto start stop feature on an A3.
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What????? You mean I can't do this.............................wtf, I'm cancelling my order right now
Of course you can.... Providing like this chap someone else is drivingWhat????? You mean I can't do this.............................wtf, I'm cancelling my order right now
It may be different as I'm talking about my A4 B8.5 and to be fair this is an A3 thread but mine doesn't use the full handbrake when using HA and the dash P goes green. This is definitely quicker for pulling away than the red P light, that does use the full hand brake. When on green and pulling off it simply is quicker than when using the full handbrake
Your description of the red and green lights are different for the 8V A3.
In the 8V A3 HA very rarely goes to green (applies EPB) instead usually holding the car on hydraulic pressure (red).
In a 8V A3 HA will operate 99% of the time with the brake lights ON, blinding the driver behind.
And in a 8V A3 HA releases with a delay.
Hold Assist is NOT a good option in many situations on a 8V A3.
Been discussed numerous times ad naseum on this forum
http://www.audi-sport.net/xf/threads/hill-hold-assist.240501/page-3#post-2420911
Last edited:
colour coding the other way around with Hold Assist:
In the 8V A3 HA very rarely goes to *red* (applies EPB) instead usually holding the car on hydraulic pressure *green*.
Previous poster: Hold Assist is a bit marmite. Some people don't like it but personally I think it's great. Since it is a option, that gives us all freedom of choice to have it or not.
Do agree with veeeight that there are times when it is bad for your car eg after spirited drive or long slow retardation.
John.
Psyman79
Sarcasm is hard on a forum ;)
Thats surely the wrong way round, mine only goes red when i stop and turn the car off, HA is always green.
Edit: typing a bit slow there
Ah yes, momentary confusion (too many assists):
HA on hydraulic brakes with full retina burn mode = Green
HA on EPB (rare) = Red
On a 8V, has anyone actually timed how long before it goes from Green to Red, and/or under what conditions?
HA on hydraulic brakes with full retina burn mode = Green
HA on EPB (rare) = Red
On a 8V, has anyone actually timed how long before it goes from Green to Red, and/or under what conditions?
And there was me thinking I was going colour blindAh yes, momentary confusion (too many assists):
HA on hydraulic brakes with full retina burn mode = Green
HA on EPB (rare) = Red
On a 8V, has anyone actually timed how long before it goes from Green to Red, and/or under what conditions?
I clearly have super-hero eyesight as I've never felt blinded by another car's brake lights. Nor have I ever been flashed by anyone for leaving my brake lights on. Nor have I ever been pulled over by the police at the lights after having blinded them for several minutes waiting on red.
This forum is also the only place I've ever heard any commentary about how much of a problem this is.
The way some people paint it you'd think Audi had installed naval searchlights in the rear clusters and that you'd have to have the morals of Hitler to inflict this on other road users...
Nope. Whilst the manual says it changes over after a period of time, I have never seen it happen. If the wait is that long, I usually get bored and apply EPB myself to stop annoying the car behind.
Personally I'm not over bothered during the day but I do find it annoying at night as it's so un-necessary and is pure lazyness on the part of the driver in front. How much effort does it take to use the EPB.
Without wishing to sound like a d*ck (quack quack), the answer is 'more effort than I'm prepared to expend given I've only ever experienced push-back against brake lights from a few people on this forum'.
If I spent my life getting flashed / beeped / flipped off at every set of traffic lights I'd change my behaviour but until that day I'd prefer to keep using HA.
Just because you personally aren't affected by dazzling bright brake lights - it doesn't mean that everyone else isn't
Deja Vu from a previous thread:
Not dazzling the driver behind with bright brake lights, falls under 2 categories:
1. Consideration
2. Good Practice/Advisory
Agreed that if you are the last in the long line of traffic, its sensible to keep your brake lights on until someone else draws up behind.
The wording in the Highway Code is "should" (as opposed to "must") - which is where the good practice/advisory comes in. It is good practice, but because its mentioned as a "should" in the highway code, means, that if it were to be shown as a contributory factor in an incident, you could be prosecuted for it (under a relevant Act),
eg: You "should" not cross/enter hatched area bordered by a broken white line - it's legal to do so, but, if it can be shown that it is a contributory factor in an incident, you can be prosecuted. On the other hand, you "must" not cross/enter a hatched area bordered by a solid white line.
But just because you personally aren't affected by dazzling bright brake lights - it doesn't mean that everyone else isn't
As you get older, macular degeneration sets in, and cataracts, and these conditions make you much more susceptible to starbursts, halos and glare in your eyesight, particularly in night vision.
We've had 3 pages of this already, in this thread
http://www.audi-sport.net/xf/threads/hold-assist-and-brake-lights.209289/
Deja Vu from a previous thread:
Not dazzling the driver behind with bright brake lights, falls under 2 categories:
1. Consideration
2. Good Practice/Advisory
Agreed that if you are the last in the long line of traffic, its sensible to keep your brake lights on until someone else draws up behind.
The wording in the Highway Code is "should" (as opposed to "must") - which is where the good practice/advisory comes in. It is good practice, but because its mentioned as a "should" in the highway code, means, that if it were to be shown as a contributory factor in an incident, you could be prosecuted for it (under a relevant Act),
eg: You "should" not cross/enter hatched area bordered by a broken white line - it's legal to do so, but, if it can be shown that it is a contributory factor in an incident, you can be prosecuted. On the other hand, you "must" not cross/enter a hatched area bordered by a solid white line.
But just because you personally aren't affected by dazzling bright brake lights - it doesn't mean that everyone else isn't
As you get older, macular degeneration sets in, and cataracts, and these conditions make you much more susceptible to starbursts, halos and glare in your eyesight, particularly in night vision.
We've had 3 pages of this already, in this thread
http://www.audi-sport.net/xf/threads/hold-assist-and-brake-lights.209289/
Highway Code
114
You MUST NOT
use any lights in a way which would dazzle or cause discomfort to other road users, including pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders
use front or rear fog lights unless visibility is seriously reduced. You MUST switch them off when visibility improves to avoid dazzling other road users (see Rule 226).
In stationary queues of traffic, drivers should apply the parking brake and, once the following traffic has stopped, take their foot off the footbrake to deactivate the vehicle brake lights. This will minimise glare to road users behind until the traffic moves again.
Law RVLR reg 27
https://www.gov.uk/general-rules-all-drivers-riders-103-to-158/lighting-requirements-113-to-116
114
You MUST NOT
use any lights in a way which would dazzle or cause discomfort to other road users, including pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders
use front or rear fog lights unless visibility is seriously reduced. You MUST switch them off when visibility improves to avoid dazzling other road users (see Rule 226).
In stationary queues of traffic, drivers should apply the parking brake and, once the following traffic has stopped, take their foot off the footbrake to deactivate the vehicle brake lights. This will minimise glare to road users behind until the traffic moves again.
Law RVLR reg 27
https://www.gov.uk/general-rules-all-drivers-riders-103-to-158/lighting-requirements-113-to-116
