Auto Hold Question

Stroy · #1 08-14-2008, 02:36 AM

Hey all,

I tried searching but couldn't find an answer. I've noticed every now and then that the auto hold feature will change over to the actual park(red) mode when I'm stopped at a traffic light. It really startles me because I'll activate auto hold when I'm stuck in NYC traffic so I don't have to keep my foot on the brake constantly. Then, when I step on the gas when the traffic light turns green, I get the warning bell and the red parking brake indicator goes on and the truck won't move. It only happens on occasion. Does this sound normal? In the manual, it says that the auto hold feature is deactivated automatically if the vehicle is braked to a stop. That doesn't make sense though because I'll leave auto hold on and stop the truck and it usually stays engaged. Sorry for the long winded post. Thanks.

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jimsaq · #2 08-14-2008, 04:38 AM

Mine does the same thing about once a week maybe, asked the dealer to look at it when it was in for something else and as usual they couldn't find anything wrong.

Quote:

In the manual, it says that the auto hold feature is deactivated automatically if the vehicle is braked to a stop.

are you sure about that? my manual says:

Quote:

Automatic Hold is deactivated automatically:
- if the engine is switched off
- if the engine is running but the vehicle detects that the driver's seat is not occupied
- if the parking brake is applied whilst the vehicle is in motion to bring it to a stop

The indicator light on the instrument cluster changes from green to red and message AUTO H disappears.

Ucan · #3 08-14-2008, 10:22 AM

Hi,

What is automatic hold? I have never heard about it. How does it work?

Thanks,

Ucan

autoque · #4 08-14-2008, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stroy

In the manual, it says that the auto hold feature is deactivated automatically if the vehicle is braked to a stop.

Are you using the english version of the manual? It doesn't sound right. When the vehicle is braked to a stop, auto hold feature is supposed to be activated, not "deactivated"...

I would take it to a dealer. Since jimsaq says he also experienced the same thing, it seems like it's a universal problem. Maybe they have a software update that can fix the issue.

Ucan, it's written on the manual. Basically it's a little button right below the Parking Brake button. When activated, you don't have to hold on to the brake to stop the car from crawling forward, and is useful when you're waiting on a red light. When the vehicle comes to a stop fully, the parking brake will automatically hold the car from moving until you push the throttle to drive on.

BMWLOVER · #5 08-14-2008, 01:45 PM

Thats a really cool feature.

rh71 · #6 08-14-2008, 02:23 PM

It happened to me at a red light on my drive home on delivery night. I was freaked out that it may have malfunctioned so fast but I chalked it up to an anomoly. In the 7 months since then, it had only happened 1 other time and it was at a drive thru where I was waiting for a while. I think time stopped matters... it activates the actual red parking brake in case you forget that you're on autohold I presume. I haven't run any timed tests on this of course.

To be honest, auto hold is a nice feature in theory but it is not as intuitive as releasing the brake and going as normal. Even if you're stuck in traffic a lot I don't find it very helpful - without it, you're releasing the brake and don't have to hit the gas to inch up. On auto-hold, you're actually accelerating to inch up, then braking again. More hassle to hit 2 pedals to manage instead of without AH managing just 1.

Now auto-cruise control that helps you brake & accelerate in traffic - that's a much more practical option which doesn't yet exist here.

Stroy · #7 08-14-2008, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimsaq

Mine does the same thing about once a week maybe, asked the dealer to look at it when it was in for something else and as usual they couldn't find anything wrong.

are you sure about that? my manual says:

Hey Jimsaq,

I downloaded the 2008 x5 manual from this forum and it says auto hold is automatically deactivated if the vehicle is braked to a stop. It doesn't say parking brake. The actual manual I got when I got my X5 is in the truck. I'll check the manual tonight when I get my truck from the garage. Thanks to you and everyone else for your responses. Like rh71 said, it seems to happen if I'm at a very long light. It's happened maybe four times since I got the truck in May. I don't want to go to the dealer because it probably won't happen at the exact moment they check it just like the constant squeaking/rattling from the cargo space miraculously disappeared when I took it in to get checked out! It also says it deactivates if it detects that there is no driver in the front seat. Every now and then, I'll raise myself off the driver seat to reposition myself. Maybe that deactivated it.

Stroy · #8 08-14-2008, 04:32 PM

That must be an error in the manual I downloaded. They must have been referring to the parking brake when they said auto hold is deactivated when the vehicle is braked to a stop. It would be a pretty useless feature if it shut off every time you come to a stop.