One of those automotive features that you didn’t realize you needed until you used it is the auto hold button. The auto-hold button helps to lessen the tiresome aspects of driving since many of us commute in cities with constant stop-and-go traffic.
Once your car has come to a complete stop, Auto Hold button will apply the brake to maintain that position.
For instance, the Auto Hold button can help you stop at traffic lights or in congested areas by retaining the brake pressure once you’ve stopped your car.
What is an Auto hold?
Auto-Hold is a system that automatically applies the brakes when you release the foot brake and maintains the vehicle’s motionless position. The hydraulic ABS/ESP unit controls the system.
Auto hold, sometimes known as the “electric parking brake,” is an additional braking feature that is present in the majority of current cars and trucks.
It is more likely to serve as an alternative function to the traditional hand brake (also known as the “emergency brake”) lever that is typically found on older cars, SUVs, and trucks. This feature does more than just stop your car, though.
Traditionally, stopping your car is maintained using the hand brake lever, which allows you to let off the brake pedal comfortably. By pressing the button on your central panel to activate the auto-hold function, you will receive the same benefit.
Importance of Auto Hold in a Car
The auto hold will stop the car from rolling backward in this case since some drivers find it difficult to prevent rolling when pulling off a hill.
Driving in hectic start-and-stop traffic is another advantage of auto hold. You don’t need to maintain your foot on the brake pedal or engage the parking brake once you’ve come to a stop since auto hold engages the brakes for you.
This might not seem like a big thing, but for people who spend a lot of time in congested city traffic, auto hold offers that extra help to ease the burden of driving.
You benefit from greater comfort and safety thanks to the auto-hold extension of the electric parking brake. Using the hydraulic ABS/ESC unit prevents your car from unintentionally rolling away when it is stopped or moving.
When you bring your car to a complete stop, Auto Hold preserves the most recent amount of braking force applied. The four-wheel brakes won’t disengage until you let go of the pedal.
The ABS wheel speed sensors detect any rolling and instantly increase the braking force until the car comes to a complete stop once more.
As soon as you push the accelerator pedal and release the clutch in manual transmissions, Auto Hold reduces the braking force.
Even with the auto hold feature activated, you can continue to move your automobile ahead. This is advantageous if you are driving on a busy route since it allows you to take your foot off the brake pedal sometimes. While in traffic, this lessens foot fatigue.
By engaging the auto hold, your car’s brakes are automatically maintained while providing the same stopping power as the traditional manual brake lever. The auto hold will be released if you move your automobile (use the accelerator).
How Does the Auto Button Work?
The vehicle dynamics control, also referred to as the brake system by the majority of automakers, maintains the brake fluid pressure when you press the brake pedal, keeping your automobile in a stopped position.
When the accelerator pedal is pressed, the brake system gradually lowers the pressure of the brake fluid, releasing the brake force and allowing your automobile to go.
Your car’s four brake components, whether drum brakes, disc brakes, or both, are all included in the locking mechanism.
The electronic parking brake, which functions similarly to a hand brake lever, is also activated by the auto hold function.
Accordingly, your car’s modern technology can keep it stopped even in locations with slopes.
Sensors measure the amount of brake pressure you apply to stop the car, and auto hold maintains that same amount of brake pressure to keep the vehicle in place.
The ESP system will use more hydraulic braking force to apply more force if the ABS wheel speed sensors detect any movement, which will stop the automobile.
All four-wheel brakes will remain engaged even if you remove your foot from the brake pedal. The brakes are released by auto hold after you remove the clutch pedal in a manual vehicle or push the accelerator pedal.
How to use the Auto Hold Button
If you need to stop your car while you’re driving, hitting the brake pedal will bring it to a complete halt. This feature is activated by pressing the auto hold switch, at which point the driver can let go of the brake pedal. The braking force required to keep the automobile stopped will be retained by auto hold.
Once more, the auto hold system will gradually release the brake force when the driver needs to accelerate, allowing the vehicle to move forward with little effort.
The indicators on your gauge cluster allow you to verify the status of your auto-hold. Your automobile will be held automatically if the indicator is green. The indication will be white if your auto hold isn’t providing enough braking power to prevent your automobile from moving forward.
The necessity for the driver to continuously press the brake pedal is eliminated. Simply push the button on your central panel to disable the auto-hold function.
Do all Cars have an Auto Hold Button?
No, although auto hold is a feature that is increasingly seen on vehicles that have electronic parking brakes. Electronic parking brakes are replacing the conventional handbrake lever on vehicles.
Electronic parking brakes, which frequently include hill-start help and auto hold, are now standard on about 83 percent of new automobiles.
Are both manual and automatic cars equipped with auto hold?:
Both manual and automatic vehicles can have the auto hold option. On automatic vehicles, auto hold prevents the creep mechanism from working, keeping the vehicle in place.
How can I tell whether my car has an auto-hold button?
You’ll need a switch-operated electronic parking brake as opposed to a typical hand lever. Not all vehicles with electronic parking brakes, nevertheless, have auto hold.
If your vehicle has an auto hold, it will also include an auto hold on/off button, which is typically found adjacent to the electronic parking brake switch.
Auto hold and brake hold, for example, are names used by different auto manufacturers. Other symbols may also vary.
When manually turned off using the on/off button, auto hold remains inactive until the driver turns it back on. Because of this, several motorists are not aware of this feature.
Your vehicle won’t move when your foot is off the brake pedal, and your dashboard will illuminate with an “Auto Hold” light to let you know the system is on and working.
Important Reminders:
- If the automobile has been stopped for more than three minutes (some models take 10 minutes), the electric parking brake will activate.
- The electric parking brake is immediately applied if the driver’s seatbelt is let go.
- The electric parking brake is automatically applied whenever the driver’s door is opened.
Summary
By using the same sensors that are utilized for ABS/ESC, the auto hold feature may detect when the car has stopped moving before braking. The brakes of the car won’t suffer any harm because it’s stopped, so that’s good. The vehicle’s parking brakes are expanded by auto hold. To apply and release the auto hold brakes, a certain quantity of energy will be expended.
However, the gasoline consumed by the auto hold system is minuscule compared to other energy sources used by a vehicle. Regardless of how much energy is utilized by the auto-hold system, the vehicle’s charging system will have more than enough capacity to replenish it.
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