Audi hill-hold assist for the A4

[B_Boy]

please make a video!

[Jurisprudent]

I note that the brochure for the '10 A4 lists hill hold as being standard. I haven't actually noticed it do anything, however, so I'm not sure whether that was accurate.

I do note that the parking brake will usually automatically disengage, but sometimes it does not. Perhaps the reason it hasn't been disengaging is because my seat belt wasn't on yet? Not sure, I always wear it.

The entry into my office parking lot is on a fairly steep hill, and I have to swipe a card to get through the gate, so I was hoping the brochure was right. Is there a setting I need to set, or do I just need to do it manually and hope it releases?

[dieatomic]

i know on a tip car like my 09 a4 hill hold is automatic. if im on a steep hill and stopped in traffic it engages and when i press on the gas it holds it for half a sec and then releases.

[DavidB8]

Just looked through the 2010's and it's not a feature showing available for the A4. For Canada it shows A3,TT,R8 and US it shows Q5, R8. I just did a search on each site to find who had what. Now based on what people are saying with their EPB, it can be used as the function on a one off basis. Here is what Audi says about the EPB.

"It is released automatically when the car departs, and does not have to be released manually even when performing a hill start. The integral starting assist function determines the selected gear, accelerator position, engine speed, torque, direction of travel and the vehicle's angle of inclination. This prevents the car from rolling back when the parking brake is released automatically."

Sounds like they use the functionality of the AHA in the EPB here in North America.

[vajking]

lol i just noticed, the handbrake actually brakes when pulling it during driving.

It beeps and then brakes, that shouldnt be happening.

[DavidB8]

lol i just noticed, the handbrake actually brakes when pulling it during driving.

It beeps and then brakes, that shouldn't be happening.

That's what it's supposed to do.. The entire purpose of the hand brake is for emergency stopping.. Hence the adopted term Emergency Brake...

[HobbesA5]

I do note that the parking brake will usually automatically disengage, but sometimes it does not. Perhaps the reason it hasn't been disengaging is because my seat belt wasn't on yet? Not sure, I always wear it.

Yes, your seatbelt must be on for it to automatically disengage.

[vajking]

That's what it's supposed to do.. The entire purpose of the hand brake is for emergency stopping.. Hence the adopted term Emergency Brake...

How would it be good if it locks your wheels.

The only reason i can think that a hand brake would be good for emergency braking is if the braking system broke down, which is quite unusual.

[rlarsen]

How would it be good if it locks your wheels.

The only reason i can think that a hand brake would be good for emergency braking is if the braking system broke down, which is quite unusual.

Here you can read about how emergency braking is performed.

[DavidB8]

Well I can't speak to it locking your wheels. But yes it's there in case the main breaking system fails.. Which is why the old system operated via cable. Which is why the new system uses it's own motors. You don't think they would integrate a completely different system to activate your brakes if they could just put a lock on your petal break........

I honestly thought this was common knowledge. You may want to read your owners manual for a more in depth explanation.


Edit.. Never mind the manual look up +1

[vajking]

Here you can read about how emergency braking is performed.

Thnx man!

[ikotua]

the crap thing about the e-brake is that it takes about 0.5-1sec to actually brake. I've tested it and there is always some lag time. Manual handbrake is faster.

[buckeye96]

i know on a tip car like my 09 a4 hill hold is automatic. if im on a steep hill and stopped in traffic it engages and when i press on the gas it holds it for half a sec and then releases.

I was in Pittsburgh this week and noticed my 2009 P+ audi with the auto has hill hold. I was on a steep hill and after about 3 seconds on the brake I felt something do something. I took my foot off the brake and the car stayed put, when the light went green I pressed the gas and about a second later the car "released" and moved forward. Interesting. Never noticed it before here in DC, I guess the hills aren't steep enough. Pretty cool though.

[DavidB8]

Interesting, got your message. Do you have vag com? I'd like to see an Autoscan of your car if I could.

[DavidB8]

On another note, if someone here with the Hill Hold button wouldn't mind taking an Adaptation scan of module 53 that would be helpful. Basically go to applications then module mapping I think it is. Choose 53 for the module and enter a security code if there is one for that module. Can't remember but you can check the security tab of the module before you go to the applications.

Then choose CSV and adaptation options on the screen that comes up. Then I can see whats turned on behind the scenes. I noticed there are adaptions that show enabled and disabled and I'm wondering if any of those control hill hold.

Thanks in advance. You can email them to me at [email protected]

[buckeye96]

i don't have a vag, but if someone in the area wants to scan the car and send it to David I would be more than happy to help out.

And mine was automatic, no button to push. Could the button be for manual cars only?

[Comp4k]

My 09 Audi A4 P+ has some sort of assist for hills. I can actually hear it disengage it makes a kinda scrape sound when I press the gas.

[Wildcat216]

My 09 Audi A4 P+ has some sort of assist for hills. I can actually hear it disengage it makes a kinda scrape sound when I press the gas.

Comp4k and buckeye96 - You aren't setting the e-brake? The car just holds when you stop on a hill?

I wonder if this feature has been removed for the 2010s? I know my car will roll backwards when I am on a hill, steep or not. Being my first manual car, I still get nervous when the hill is really steep. I don't use the e-brake, though, because the first time I tried it, it didn't automatically disengage. I might not have had my belt on, though. Need to test this tonight.

[vtsquid]

Comp4k and buckeye96 - You aren't setting the e-brake? The car just holds when you stop on a hill?

I wonder if this feature has been removed for the 2010s? I know my car will roll backwards when I am on a hill, steep or not. Being my first manual car, I still get nervous when the hill is really steep. I don't use the e-brake, though, because the first time I tried it, it didn't automatically disengage. I might not have had my belt on, though. Need to test this tonight.

Please let us know how it turns out.I'm very interested in this.

[u2jrmw]

I am pretty sure in my 2010 P+ that the ebrake holds even if I accelerate. I had read about the feature, told my wife and then went to demo it and it just held me in place...

[CurbKiller]

There is a 'lite' version of Hill Hold that appears to be tied into cars with TPMS or in other words the ABS module that is required to have TMPS. The vehicle will be held briefly on an incline just long enough for you to hit the gas and go. I tested this on a US spec tip A4 2.0T. Was on a steep incline, pressed firmly on the brake and then let go. Vehicle didn't move a bit. Hit the gas and it released. It would however let go if I just lift off the brake and not hit the gas.

The version with the button behind the ebrake is the 'full spec' Hill Hold which is not available here in North America. My 2008 Passat has it standard, for what it's worth.

I'm basing the TPMS/ABS module tie in due to not having driven one Canadian spec vehicle with Hill Hold and we don't get TPMS and it's my understanding CND built A4's don't have the proper ABS system that allows it. Yet the half dozen or so US spec A4s I've driven all worked as described above.

Hope this help and doesn't confuse anyone :)

Perry

[u2jrmw]

I am pretty sure in my 2010 P+ that the ebrake holds even if I accelerate. I had read about the feature, told my wife and then went to demo it and it just held me in place...

I was wrong. Tried it on the way home. Just had to give it a little gas and off it popped. DO people think that is a "safe" way to use it?

[valida4]

I was wrong. Tried it on the way home. Just had to give it a little gas and off it popped. DO people think that is a "safe" way to use it?

Its a great feature. I use it all the time since I drive a manual and I dont like to hold the brake pedal at a stop. The only time the parking brake doesnt release though, is when I am on a hill with a considerable incline. In that case I would have to release the parking brake manually by pressing the button.

[Wildcat216]

I definitely do not have any sort of hill-hold on my 2010 manual P+. The e-brake does release when I get in first, though (seat belt on). I haven't tried it on a really steep hill, but I would be hesitant about counting on the e-brake to hold the car there anyway.

[DavidB8]

Well if you want it to work with seat belt off I did post the coding for that.

I definitely would trust the e-brake though. This isn't your normal e-brake, try and remember that our cars hold all 4 wheels not just the back like the old version.

[buckeye96]

This isn't your normal e-brake, try and remember that our cars hold all 4 wheels not just the back like the old version.

Really? I was wondering about that.

[rlarsen]

Really? I was wondering about that.

e-brake = holds on the rear wheels only (two wheels)
AHA = holds on all four wheels via ESP

[DavidB8]

Rene is probably right. I have been mistaken once or twice before.

I was reading an article that made it look like all 4 wheels were used and I noticed they said if hill hold gets hot that the emergency brake takes over making me believe that all 4 wheels where involved. Unfortunately I gave away the magazine last week so I can't reread where I went wrong. They say the emergency brake does make use of the ABS system and ESP system though so I thought it was a pretty safe bet all four.

Sorry if I miss informed. I still trust the brake on steep hill though.

[rlarsen]

The two systems are described in the Self-Study Programme 394 - Audi A5 - Suspension, which I've posted here: http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...=1#post4131628

[AudiAnnie]

Clutch-triggered EPB Release

I was wrong. Tried it on the way home. Just had to give it a little gas and off it popped. DO people think that is a "safe" way to use it?

Note: This is specific to the 2010 A4 6MT, North American market. I have not tried other MY or transmissions.

It seems quite clear that the automatic EPB release is intended to be an option for hill-holding. The release is triggered by the clutch pedal reaching the point where the clutch starts to grab. It has nothing to do with the accelerator. The synchronization is very precise, and yields a smooth take-off with no rollback, even on steep inclines. To my engineering mind, this is more than a strong suggestion that it's intended for hill-holding use. On this A4 model, though, there is no automatic engagement at all, so the driver must pull the EPB switch after stopping, in order to use this feature.

Other Audi models may have very different provisions. For example, on our 2010 TT with S-tronic, there is an automatic 4-wheel brake hold on an upgrade: After coming to a complete stop, the driver can take their foot off the brake and the brake pressure holds. It is released when the clutch starts to pass torque through after the driver depresses the accelerator (there may also be a time limit on the brake hold; I haven't investigated this completely yet). This is entirely automatic and requires no driver action other than operating the brake and accelerator pedals.

[ingrid]

Hello
I'd like to have audi hold assist function in my A4 2009 but I have electric parking brake with start/stop function.
I'd like to retrofit it and made some software coding changes.
it is possible that this could be done - I'd like to download the code from vehicle which has hold function and download it to my vehicle.

Thanks

[ingrid]

Hello
I'd like to have audi hold assist function in my A4 2009 but I have electric parking brake with start/stop function.
I'd like to retrofit it and made some software coding changes.
it is possible that this could be done - I'd like to download the code from vehicle which has hold function and download it to my vehicle.

Thanks

[HAWKiS5]

I like the AHA function a lot, but what annoyes me is that I have to put it on every time when I start the car! Is there a way (e.g. with VAGCOM) to make AHA by default ON when you start the car?

In fact the same question I have about High-Beam assist and for showing preset Memory Radio (and TV) stations first (now it always starts with a list of available channels, but I want to use the memory presets always)

[archrenov8]

My X3 has it, and since I have MT, it is rather useful. I never had a problem starting off on a hill without it using MT, but it is a nice luxury nonetheless.

[sciblades]

did any one find out about this? can it be retrofitted?

[DavidB8]

did any one find out about this? can it be retrofitted?

Only if your ABS module is capable of it. You have to check your PR codes or part number. If the PR codes for the car show 1AT then yes, of it has 1AS then no.

[ZLC022]

You know what, I wonder if there are even a need to have the hill hold assist fitted, just to have an extra led on your console, perhaps, but what I have found with my car was that on an up hill, I keep my car in drive and flick the handbrake to on... when i am ready, I simply hit the accelerator and off I go, it disengages the handbrake automatically with out me having to manually release it... to e, that's a form of hill hold assist, no?

[c99]

No, it's slightly different. AHA uses ESP/ABS not handbrake for this.

[Dasquade]

Sorry to bump this, but is there any more news found yet?
I would really like hold asssit but sadly i have the 1AS module (i bought the car second hand, 3.000km -10.000€ on new price). It is one of the most handy features i kinda miss in the car. Since i have an multitronic (front wheel) i could really use it (for lazy ness, i know you can use the e-brake).
*I was wondering if by any change, don't shoot me as i don't know anything about the module etc, it could be reprogrammed or does the other type of module have the needed hardware for TPMS and AHHA? Not sure if David and co. recent highlight/tillight cracking is something simular (guess not as in this case it is more hardware related).
*What module are we actually talking about? I read somewhere it was a module located in the arm rest but i suppose we are actually talking about the ABS electric module/ESP pump that is located in the engine bay...
*Is the pomp tied to the ABS electric module? In other words could one replace his 1AS ABS module with the needed 1AT type module without buying the full kit (pomp + module)?
*Can we actually fully replace an 1AS kit with a 1AT kit, offcourse make sure you stick to your car specs (front wheel -> front wheel module, quattro -> quattro module).

Just checking out my options if any of them are even possible.
PS: I don't really need TMPS...
PS: Who is up to sponsor David for a ABS replacement module to find it out... :)

[DavidB8]

The ABS Module is part of the brake pump so it's a very expensive unit. I haven't been able to find a used one on ebay that is a 1AT model. I don't know why the wreckers aren't selling them. A new unit is $1500 is to much for me to go out of pocket for this experiment. One day I hope to do the swap but not until I can buy a unit from ebay. I can't see anyone coughing up the money to sponsor this one :)