[Frankie18SS]

It always engaged very intermittently for me. I don't mind it but it's never been reliable because sometimes it engaged on a slight incline and other times, it lets the car roll back on a steep incline.

I accidently figured it out. It has to do with how hard you're pressing the brake pedal. If you're in an incline (doesn't take much of an incline) and just pressing the brakes enough to hold the car, it won't engage. If you're already at a stop and press the brakes harder, it'll engage when you let off the brakes.

It's kinda nice to be able to engage it at will instead of using the parking brake or hoping it'll randomly come on if needed.

[nicktechla]

Yeah, it has to have enough brake pressure to hold the car.

[red_johnny]

That's probably why I never experienced a problem. I was taught in drivers ed that you always press the brake hard after a stop in case of a rear end collision. I do it without thinking anymore in every vehicle I drive.

[Deputy Dog]

OK well I never noticed that. Maybe because I naturally just keep good pressure on the brake. I'll test it today.

[madscotsman]

Still can't figure this out on my 1LE. Doesn't matter how hard I push the brake pedal when I stop. Car randomly applies the assist and not consistently enough for me to trust it to not let me roll into the car behind me. My driveway is probably between a 20-30 degree incline and it never consistently applies the assist when I try to get it to work to figure it out.

[cthompson07]

The amount of brake pressure doesn't do anything in my experience, my hill start still is intermittent at best.

[Jaxcam02]

does this come on every trim level?

[Mighty Mouce]

If you dont want to use Brake Assist. just keep it in neutral with brake on. Right before you take off put it in gear quickly just as you release the brake and apply gas. That won't give it time to engage.

[geaux_tigerss]

I wish hill assist could be disabled entirely.

[madscotsman]

I wouldn't mind it if I could get it to work when I wanted/needed it to. I think I've seen it pop maybe 2x since I've owned the car but i stop on the same hills at lights regularly where if you let off the brake, you could easily role into the car behind you, and no hill assist........................... The electric e-brake DOES come in handy for starting on a hill sometimes though...

[Frankie18SS]

Originally Posted by Jaxcam02

does this come on every trim level?

I thought it was all manuals but the owners manual says "if equipped" so I'm not sure.

[Frankie18SS]

Originally Posted by Mighty Mouce

If you dont want to use Brake Assist. just keep it in neutral with brake on. Right before you take off put it in gear quickly just as you release the brake and apply gas. That won't give it time to engage.

You can actually take off without disengaging the parking
It's in the owners manual.

[Blue_6.2]

Originally Posted by Frankie18SS

It's in the owners manual.

From page 207 of the 2019 Owner's Manual:


Hill Start Assist (HSA)
Hill Start Assist (HSA) may
automatically activate when the
vehicle is stopped on a grade. This
feature is designed to prevent the
vehicle from rolling, either forward or
rearward, during vehicle drive off.
During the transition from releasing
the brake pedal to accelerating to
drive off on a grade, HSA holds the
braking pressure to prevent rolling.
HSA will not activate if the vehicle is
in a drive gear and facing downhill
or if the vehicle is facing uphill and
in R (Reverse).


The key word here is "may". It "may" automatically activate, which implies it may not.

I have found neither rhyme nor reason as to when it works and when it doesn't, so I am going to blame some woman named May.

[arpad_m]

Originally Posted by Jaxcam02

does this come on every trim level?

Originally Posted by Frankie18SS

I thought it was all manuals but the owners manual says "if equipped" so I'm not sure.

My A8 2SS has hill start assist, too, I see the activation message on a regular basis.