Prado Hill-Start Assist

[sia535 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close sia535]

Hi,

First post here! Picked up a brand new Prado GXL 2.8 a few weeks ago, loved the car. However can anyone help me understand how the Hill-start assist works? Currently it just doesn't seem to work as I expected. Any slope that is a little steep the car rolls back. The hill holder on my inlaws corolla works perfectly, it holds the car regardless how steep it is. Read the user manual a couple of times and there's no procedure mentioned about it. Tried to apply more pressure on the brake pedal but nothing changes. Is this normal or I'm doing something wrong here. Thanks!

[cuda Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close cuda]

My understanding is that it uses the ABS to hold the vehicle while showing an alarm on the dash and will eventually start to roll back unless applying power or the handbrake. This is for an Auto I'm not sure how a manual would behave.

Thanks
cuda

[[email protected] Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close [email protected]]

I have asked the dealer about it before. They said you just apply throttle and it will go up anyway. The light will flash because the computer thinks you are losing traction.
In my own opinion, it is because applying brake suddenly while rolling back when offroad is quite dangerous. Just imagine you are on a steep uphill track. The last thing you should do is using sudden brake if rolling back.

[[email protected] Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close [email protected]]

I have asked the dealer about it before. They said you just apply throttle and it will go up anyway. The light will flash because the computer thinks you are losing traction.
In my own opinion, it is because applying brake suddenly while rolling back when offroad is quite dangerous. Just imagine you are on a steep uphill track. The last thing you should do is using sudden brake if rolling back.

[Guest Close Guest]

Hillstart assist is supposed to leave the brakes on after you release the brake pedal and then ease off when you step on the throttle. It doesn't seem to work very well on my Grande. I just use the handbrake.

[Cmt78 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Cmt78]

Hi,

I had the same concern last week at the dealership. It is normal operation according to to head technician. We tested it on some half decent slopes, just taking the foot off the brake and rolling back. It felt like after about half a metre it would detect rearward movement and engage the brake actuator and depending on the slope it would either bring the vehicle to a stop or reduce enough to apply the brakes or accelerator. During this the VSC light on the dash flashes and the audible alarm sounds. I thought this was happening because I would jump straight on the accelerator and maybe it would sense a loss of traction but when you just let it roll it engages automatically. Turns out it was just a coincidence. Apparently it's all linked with the ABS. Can't say that I am entirely happy but I think it's just something that I 'll have to get use to. It's a shame that there is very little literature available from Toyota regarding the intricacies of this system.

[sia535 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close sia535]

Hi,

I had the same concern last week at the dealership. It is normal operation according to to head technician. We tested it on some half decent slopes, just taking the foot off the brake and rolling back. It felt like after about half a metre it would detect rearward movement and engage the brake actuator and depending on the slope it would either bring the vehicle to a stop or reduce enough to apply the brakes or accelerator. During this the VSC light on the dash flashes and the audible alarm sounds. I thought this was happening because I would jump straight on the accelerator and maybe it would sense a loss of traction but when you just let it roll it engages automatically. Turns out it was just a coincidence. Apparently it's all linked with the ABS. Can't say that I am entirely happy but I think it's just something that I 'll have to get use to. It's a shame that there is very little literature available from Toyota regarding the intricacies of this system.

Thanks everyone, I just don't have to guts to let it roll back that half, city driving meaning you always have someone who's is only 20 cm behind you!! I'll just use the handbrake then!

[OzDriver Member Find all posts View Profile Close OzDriver]

Agree with all the the above. My 2.8 does not seem to have any effective hill start aid. My wife's car (Merc) does not not seem to roll back anyway, but also has an effective hill start control by pressing the brake pedal hard when on a hill (if needed). If off road then low range reduces roll-back due to the gearing, but not something that is a solution on road.

[Guest Close Guest]

Thanks everyone, I just don't have to guts to let it roll back that half, city driving meaning you always have someone who's is only 20 cm behind you!! I'll just use the handbrake then!

Try moving faster between the brake and accelerator pedals

[OzDriver Member Find all posts View Profile Close OzDriver]

This is more detail on the Corolla version - I will this on my steep driveway.
https://www.manualslib.com/manual/10....html?page=281

[OzDriver Member Find all posts View Profile Close OzDriver]

Tested my 2.8 and can confirm it also does a foot rollback before locking for about 2 secs (with some ABS type noise). Better than nothing but hardly a top design. A 1998 BMW auto I had never rolled back unless at a crazy angle. At least the Prado has a normal handbrake!

[Prado Late Comer Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Prado Late Comer]

I've got the same issue with my 150 series Prado, 2017 1GD model and have had my local dealer service manager and chief technician out to my house this morning. Both say the system is working optimally and within specification, even provided another 150 series to show it performed the same. Tested on various inclines, on different roads, and in all tests, both cars performed the same. I think this is very dangerous and a poor performing hill start assist that Toyota needs to modify. The service manager tried to explain that the 200 series Cruisers and 150 series Prado use the same system, which is different to every other Toyota model, including 4x4 Hilux and Fortuner and every other car I've ever driven with similar technology. I understand the philosophy behind the 4wd and not locking the brakes on a steep incline, but for the other 99% of kilometres driven (at least for my driving and off road use), my view is that this is unacceptable and a safety concern.

[120D4D Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close 120D4D]

Try moving faster between the brake and accelerator pedals

Agreed!

I've got the same issue with my 150 series Prado, 2017 1GD model and have had my local dealer service manager and chief technician out to my house this morning. Both say the system is working optimally and within specification, even provided another 150 series to show it performed the same. Tested on various inclines, on different roads, and in all tests, both cars performed the same. I think this is very dangerous and a poor performing hill start assist that Toyota needs to modify. The service manager tried to explain that the 200 series Cruisers and 150 series Prado use the same system, which is different to every other Toyota model, including 4x4 Hilux and Fortuner and every other car I've ever driven with similar technology. I understand the philosophy behind the 4wd and not locking the brakes on a steep incline, but for the other 99% of kilometres driven (at least for my driving and off road use), my view is that this is unacceptable and a safety concern.

Hardly a safety concern PLC, its not as if ADR's require hill start assist. Weren't we all taught to stop and start driving a car up a hill in our licence test?!

I still remember my test hill, though I hardly drive a manual these days (unfortunately)

[Bassett Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bassett]

My 2011 Shorty's hill start assist works really well, even when towing the caravan. It holds for a couple of seconds, plenty of time to get your foot onto the go pedal.