Problem with the Hill Decent Control?

[benathon]

I don't know if I'm experiening problems with mine or not and wanted to know if this was normal to you guys who use it.

I went snowboarding and decided to try it out because of the recent snowstorms. At any rate, I turned the system on as I was going down the mountain. To my understanding the system is supposed to slow the car down without applying the breaks? I used it for under a minute and it just kept slowing my car down dramatically like the car was shutting down or something, is that how it is supposed to work? It was smooth at all. Just curious...

[motordavid]

Normal, Ben...

If you step on the gas, lightly and slightly, you can
increase your downhill descent speed a bit.
I've run mine in 1st gear, (slow obviously, due to
high gear ratio reduction), 2nd gear and 3rd. All in
manual trans. That dramatic slow down you feel is
normal. And, keep you feet off the brakes! If you
want to slow down, while moving, simply lift off gas
and you will feel it come to a near crawl. Very effective
on our Mtn roads, in winter.


From memory, my '01 HD feature will "kick off"
over ~20 mph and go back to "normal"/non-HD...
YMMV.

GL,mD

Edit: go find a steep descent, empty of obstructions,
and practice getting the feel of it. It really, really works.

[pm_wizard]

It is meant for offroad use at VERY slow speeds, not to slow your vehicle down on the roads. The idea of HDC is that if you go down a steep muddy track (for example) it will keep all four wheels tracking so you don't skid, and to keep the vehicle moving in a straight controllable manner. But this is done at walking speeds, not road speeds!

John

[xx3]

The noise made might be uncomforting. But it works.

It might sound like its breaking your brakes or causing harm to your car, but its normal. The reason you hear the noises you hear, is because the car is doing very quick short bursts of braking instead of a gradual press that a human applies...

[AzNMpower32]

I've actually found places to use HDC to its full extent. What you are describing is normal. The grinding noise is also normal.

When you first press HDC, nothing happens for 3-4 secs and then the car applies the brakes and slows the car down to walking speed, about 3 or 4mph. You do NOT need to touch the pedals. However if you choose to accelerate or brake temporarily, you may do so with the gas or brake pedal. Once you lift off the pedals, HDC will regain control of the vehicle and get you back to that walking speed.

What many people dont know, you can control the speed at which HDC operates/walks you downhill. If you feel like you wanna "set" it to go downhill faster, use the cruise control buttons the same way you would accel/decel while using cruise control. For this, you do not need to use the gas/brake pedals, just the cruise +/- buttons.

HDC also works when the vehicle is in reverse. If for some reason, you need to back down a steep snowy hill or driveway, put the vehicle in R and push HDC.......it WILL work. (I don't know but it should be the same for manual transmission.......I have an automatic).

[X5Jay]

Originally Posted by AzNMpower32

I've actually found places to use HDC to its full extent. What you are describing is normal. The grinding noise is also normal.

When you first press HDC, nothing happens for 3-4 secs and then the car applies the brakes and slows the car down to walking speed, about 3 or 4mph. You do NOT need to touch the pedals. However if you choose to accelerate or brake temporarily, you may do so with the gas or brake pedal. Once you lift off the pedals, HDC will regain control of the vehicle and get you back to that walking speed.

What many people dont know, you can control the speed at which HDC operates/walks you downhill. If you feel like you wanna "set" it to go downhill faster, use the cruise control buttons the same way you would accel/decel while using cruise control. For this, you do not need to use the gas/brake pedals, just the cruise +/- buttons.

HDC also works when the vehicle is in reverse. If for some reason, you need to back down a steep snowy hill or driveway, put the vehicle in R and push HDC.......it WILL work. (I don't know but it should be the same for manual transmission.......I have an automatic).

Never knew the cruise buttons could be used for this. Do you have to switch on cruise control first?

[AzNMpower32]

Originally Posted by X5Jay

Never knew the cruise buttons could be used for this. Do you have to switch on cruise control first?

Don't switch on cruise control (not that it will work <25mph anyway). Just use the +/- buttons.

[benathon]

Originally Posted by motordavid

Normal, Ben...

If you step on the gas, lightly and slightly, you can
increase your downhill descent speed a bit.
I've run mine in 1st gear, (slow obviously, due to
high gear ratio reduction), 2nd gear and 3rd. All in
manual trans. That dramatic slow down you feel is
normal. And, keep you feet off the brakes! If you
want to slow down, while moving, simply lift off gas
and you will feel it come to a near crawl. Very effective
on our Mtn roads, in winter.


From memory, my '01 HD feature will "kick off"
over ~20 mph and go back to "normal"/non-HD...
YMMV.

GL,mD

Edit: go find a steep descent, empty of obstructions,
and practice getting the feel of it. It really, really works.

Thanks for the reply and the information. I guess it is a good idea to try it out to get a feel of it. I tried it out for the first time and thought it was broken or something... Now I just need to find a steep hill...

[X5Jay]

Originally Posted by AzNMpower32

Don't switch on cruise control (not that it will work <25mph anyway). Just use the +/- buttons.

Thanks AzN! Still learning new stuff about my X after 2.5 years!

[Mikeroo]

benathon...

Most hills on 70 I just throw it in 3rd. From what I understand it is for slow speeds on steep inclines not the paved passes in the mountains.