Car Rolling Back on Incline in "Drive" Gear

• 

  singlemalt72 on 25/04/2015 - 13:43

  +4

  Learn some finesse on the accelerator is the first thing. Or use heel and toe method to begin applying accelerator while still braking then come off the brake.

  It could be your idle is a bit low, it's usually not hard to adjust via a barrel screw on the accelerator cable (if it is cable actuated) - fly by wire stuff is a little harder. Pop into your local library and pick up a Gregorys manual for your car.

  • 

    andyfc on 03/05/2015 - 15:23

    +1

    Most automatics (without hill hold assist) will not be able hold a hill that steep. A 6 year old FG would most likely not need its idle adjusted, and it is fly-by-wire anyway.

    The solution should have been taught to you as a learner driver. Use the handbrake! This is a simple hill start - use the accelerator with your foot, while gently releasing the handbrake with your hand. In addition, like above said - bit of finesse of the accelerator is needed (especially in a big 6 cylinder).

    Also the hill probably isn't 25 degrees - that's steep! I get OP's point though.

• 

  Findo on 25/04/2015 - 13:46

  +2

  The incline is enough to let your car roll backwards and when you floored it, too much power went to the rear wheels. Why wouldn't you just gently accelerate after letting go of the brake?

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  Mad Max on 25/04/2015 - 14:43

  I bet the transmission oil is a bit low and when the car is on an angle it does not get the oil straight away. Check that first. If it is low top it up with the right type of oil ( look at the manual) but keep an eye on it because you may have a small leak. It usually does not need topping up if all is good.

• 

  jzdhgkd on 25/04/2015 - 15:01

  +6

  You can also use the handbrake on hill starts to prevent rolling back. Might be difficult to coordinate for a new driver but I use it (manual car) for REALLY steep inclines such as westfields ramps.

  • 

    GnarlyKnuckles on 26/04/2015 - 00:32

    +1

    "You can also use the handbrake on hill starts to prevent rolling back."

    Yeah, this. In the 70s/80s doing a 'hill start' (using the hand-brake to avoid rolling back when taking off from a stand-still on an incline) was a mandatory part of a driving-test; as in, they a;lways got you to do it in the test, and I don't think they used to pass you/ give you a license unless you could actually do it (at least for a 'manual' license?). I guess now that just about no one drives 'stick' anymore, it's a lost art!

    I'm not very familiar with cars/makes etc., but if the "2009 Ford FG G6 5spd Auto" is a pretty heavy car (or back-heavy?), then I presume that would make it more prone to wheel-spin/loss-of-traction when taking off on an incline… particularly if your back tyres are not exactly ship-shape or it was in the wet etc.

    I'm with the dude above, who said you need to practice a bit (learn to 'finesse') on the accelerator. Or use the hand-brake. Or both.

    Re the mechanics of it all, I betcha Mr raccoon will provide an informative response on this.

    • 

      [Deactivated] on 28/04/2015 - 04:11

      Yeah, this. In the 70s/80s doing a 'hill start' (using the hand-brake to avoid rolling back when taking off from a stand-still on an incline) was a mandatory part of a driving-test; as in, they a;lways got you to do it in the test, and I don't think they used to pass you/ give you a license unless you could actually do it (at least for a 'manual' license?). I guess now that just about no one drives 'stick' anymore, it's a lost art!

      Bugger. I only just read this post of yours now (that'll teach me for not reading comments in order!) after I've pretty much echoed your point below.

      It appears to still be a mandatory part of the Driving Test, based on the linked RMS document (updated 2013) I've linked below. I definitely performed a hill start as part of my test which would've been.. um.. 2007? I think. This was done for an auto licence, in an auto car obviously. Rather pointless one might expect, with modern auto cars, but I've found it handy in several real life scenarios in my driving lifetime. Stop/starts on surprisingly steep inclines can crop up anywhere.

      edit - just read your other reply, I stand corrected, they do appear to select rather than include all of those manoeuvres in the test.

• 

  AlexD on 25/04/2015 - 16:17

  In my experience, some definitely roll back more than others.

  My current car has a 'hill ascent/descent' sensor, which apparently helps to hold it, I assume by increasing the idle revs/increasing torque with some sort of accelerometer - for most hills, if I don't have any contact with a pedal, it will just hold itself there.

  I drove a newish automatic RAV4 the other week in some hills, and when releasing the brake on an incline, it certainly rolls back. It did idle a little slower than my car, though, which may have meant less torque?

• 

  airzone on 25/04/2015 - 16:28

  Come onto power more gently.

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  nomoneynoproblems on 25/04/2015 - 17:26

  It's simple. The incline is too steep for the engines idle. When you're at a flat stop and let go of the brake the car should roll forward. Add an incline to this and you will get to a point where the car can't roll any further. And this is where your scenario comes in.

• 

  [Deactivated] on 25/04/2015 - 19:37

  +2

  Learn to drive properly.

  There is nothing wrong with the car, you're the problem.

• 

  geebee on 27/04/2015 - 20:24

  Pull handbrake on, apply gentle throttle as you let the handbrake off, as others have stated a lot of modern autos will roll back on steep hills.

• 

  [Deactivated] on 27/04/2015 - 23:10

  (New Driver)

  Hill starts are part of the Learner's driving test. Haven't they always been?

  • 

    GnarlyKnuckles on 28/04/2015 - 03:48

    'Hill starts are part of the Learner's driving test. Haven't they always been?'

    The 'learners driving test' (the one that gets you your 'L's) doesn't involve any actual driving waters… so no, they're not, and no, they never have been.

    • 

      [Deactivated] on 28/04/2015 - 04:00

      Apologies. I mean the one you do once on your Learner's to then move on to a Provisional licence (ie. as I've very slackly referred to it - the 'Learner's driving test'.. the driving test you do when you're already a Learner lol, my logic isn't proper logic when it comes to making up terms as I like).

      The 'Driving Test' as it's known in NSW, not sure if the same applies in other states/territories.

      On the driving test you will be asked to do a number of manoeuvres that will be selected from the following:
      - A kerb side stop.
      - A hill start.
      - A three-point turn.
      - Parking, reverse parallel, 90 degree or 45 degree, front or rear to kerb (type depending on local availability).
      During the manoeuvres you will be assessed on your ability to position your vehicle legally, safely and accurately.

      Sauce: http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/documents/roads/licence/guide-to-d…

      • 

        GnarlyKnuckles on 28/04/2015 - 04:09

        +1

        Ah OK, so you were actually just referring to the normal driving test, nothing to do with 'learners'.

        Anyways, note this bit of your post:

        "… a number of manoeuvres that will be selected from the following:"

        Most kids I've talked to tell me 'hill starts' are no longer part of their driving test… curiously, this even seems to hold true if they're getting a manual license.

• 

  doctordv8 on 02/05/2015 - 10:53

  Meerkat simples. Ask an experienced driver to test the car on that incline. I doubt the car is an issue given it is quite modern. You I would assume may be the issue. Lack of experience with such a powerful vehicle and as previously stated, control and finesse or even better, a defensive driving course. This is not an attack on you, but on the system that trained you.
  New drivers are not given that much experience in less than absolutely normal conditions.
  Did you get accredited driving training in this particular vehicle?

  I do not have full confidence in the instructors or standards either as I often see learner cars (different companies and even without students) doing blatant mistakes or lazy driving, up to and including very serious mistakes. Even the police make me wonder with no indicators changing lanes over double lines on painted traffic islands. We all need more training and upkeep of our skills with changing road/s and or conditions, changing vehicle abilities and increasing performance, the busy and never enough time lifestyle, bad road manners and lack of training and experience for the expected and particularly the unexpected with our newer drivers. Add on better roads giving drivers a misconception of extra safety….oh hell, where do we stop.

  Look, I believe you just need more training and experience for this situation, but check the car just in case. Cheers.