Hill climbing with auto's

why not Just put it in reverse?

Paul - I gather that you are referring to a "stall" recovery where you start off with your brakes on, engine off and in reverse gear ...and then turn the key to fire up the engine whilst it is already in reverse.

In and auto - you can't do it. You have to start in "park" and then shift it to reverse.

Paul
It is unlikely that an auto will stall on a hill, so the problem is not common. Eric.

Paul
The motor is unlikely to stall. Don't turn the engine off.

If you are stuck and not making further progress and want to reverse, just put hoof on foot brake and then engage handbrake (to give you time to gather your thoughts and sight the best return path), when ready put hoof back on footbrake, select reverse, release handbrake and gently remove hoof from footbrake. Reverse back down hill.

EV700

You can also put it in drive and roll backwards down the hill to give engine braking. You apply a bit of throttle to slow you down.

Not sure how bad this is for the tranny, but it beats having no engine braking at all especially if it's a hair raising situation to start with.

I may not have explained properly , or understood properly. I thought the idea was that if you are trying to climb a hill and get to a point where you can't go further, you then deliberately stall the engine so the car stops with the car in gear, I guess making it safer for you to think about how you are going to get back down. One article I read said that autos needed to use other techniques, but didn't elaborate on what those techniques were. I guess you just put the breaks on, slip it into reverse and hope for the best.

Thanks for your comments,
Paul.

Paul,

Just a little back ground info.

The reason why the manual transmission vehicles are stalled is to avoid using the clutch.
Once the clutch is depressed the gear box is no longer driving the vehicle and stopping the vehicle from going back wards.

Applying the brakes is the only way to stop the vehicle and if the hill is steep enough the brakes will not hold.

Brakes are designed to stop the vehicle going in a forward direction, in reverse they will stop the vehicle but not as well.

What happens when you are driving up a steep hill in a manual transmission vehicle? The vehicle would be in either 2nd low or 1st low, the vehicle looses traction and the vehicle is not going forward. If the clutch is used there is nothing holding the vehicle. It is the split second from applying the clutch and applying the brakes that cause the vehicle to start to lose control and take off backwards. The front wheels will lock up so that all steering is lost, the brakes don't work that well in reverse, and this is when it gets ugly.

Avoiding the split second that the vehicle is out of control is what the stall start is all about. Stalling the vehicle in gear means that the gear box is still holding the vehicle and the brakes are holding a vehicle that is not moving.

Using the clutch, when the vehicle is held by the brakes, to engage reverse is OK. The vehicle is then started in reverse gear while using the brakes to control the speed of the decent.

In an auto transmission, apply the brakes until the vehicle stops. Select reverse gear and then drive down the hill applying the brakes to control the speed.

Wayne

EV 700 and Wayne have explained this well...... sorry but I think that Gerhardp1 is wrong by saying to reverse in drive..... auto's will NOT last long doing that........

In an auto hill recovery.... apply footbrake, then handbrake leaving the car in drive.

Do NOT turn the engine off.

Do NOT select Park or Neutral.

Check where you are and where your wheels are and where they're pointing...

Select reverse..... release handbrake and slowly release footbrake (gently, auto's usually want to "run" downhill..) and you will safely reverse down the hill...

This procedure (AFAIK) is taught nationally by club DAPS's and accredited trainers etc.....

The other thing I meant to say was perhaps you might consider joining a club... most clubs run Driver Awareness Programs (DAP) and you will learn these techniques there...... if not, and you intend to learn from a book, practise it regularly..... it should be second nature so you don't have to think about it.... on a muddy slope and your car is starting to slide backwards out of control, you won't have time to read the book again!

We practise on our front lawn..... every month or so.....

Hi Paul

One other related point you may not be aware of which is more likely to occur with an auto vehicle is extended brake use causing the brake fluid to boil.

Particularly on long steep descents because there is very little engine braking from an auto it is necessary to use the brakes to control speed, this causes considerable heat to build up around the hubs and brake assembly. If the brake cylinders / pipes become hot enough the fluid will turn to vapour and you will immediately loose braking (don't know if split systems mean you still retain it on 2 wheels?). This situation is more likely to occur with old brake fluid which has absorbed water. Modern cars are pretty good in this regard but it can still happen. The only solution it to minimise brake use and/or stop from time-to-time on long descents to let things cool.

And make sure your brake fluid is changed at the appropriate service intervals.

Mike Harding

Thanks to all,

Great points made and many things clarified.

Cheers,
Paul.

I have heard that you keep the revs at around 1800 revs and use teh brake pedal to control speed. This keep the stall converter locked up and allows for engine braking to help decents.

I have watched the bloke who told me this idea do it on a steep downhill run and it seemed to work well.