up-hill starts in stop-go traffic
 

My 370Z was delivered fault-free and perfect.....er...except that hill starts are not easy without abusing the clutch or stalling, especially in stop-go traffic up a mountain.

There's no "throttle lag" in 1st gear.

I'd like a much less sensitive initial throttle movement ..... or, not so good, an electrical switch to set the idle RPM at 1,000 (like happens when the engine's cold and the up-hill starts are then no problem at all).

Any simple solutions out there?

Thanks.

The old tried and true system of using the parking brake to hold the car until you have the revs you want and then release the brake. I still use this when some jerk pulls right up to my rearend on stop light on a hill.

Until you get accustomed to the clutch and throttle this works great. And like zcar said, I still use it when someone's on my tail.

I use the e-brake method all the time.

just ummmm learn to drive.......

my prius has a hill start assist feature, get one

Thanks a lot you guys! Flat-landers huh?

A 15% gradient is not so unusual hereabouts: 5%-9% being common. I-15 to Vegas is a "mountain pass" by name only....it's all but flat.

Try a traffic jam on, for example, the Stelvio (Italy) mountain pass? Think a 370Z hand-brake ("emerg brake") will do the job? Unlikely....many cars need two hands or a passenger assistant, where simple "heel and toe" does the job smoothly at low RPM.

Now, to be serious, any electronic gurus out there who can help me?

It amounts to the electronic equivelant of longer throttle control arm(s) at carburetters, Lucas mechanical FI, Bosch Jetronic or a 20 year old quick Nissan !

That will also makes life easier/quicker/safer/more fun... to drive in the wet and helps a lot on snow.

You just have to be quick to prevent yourself from rolling back.

Can we please stop creating threads asking how to drive?

:bowrofl:

launch at 4,000 rpms and you will be fine albeit some burning clutch smells. j/k

Just know, mastering the clutch and 1st gear (on this car) takes some practice. More so than in your CiVic. Expect burning clutch smells for a while. Then drive on hills. lol

subaru comes with a feature called 'hill holder' its designed so you have a second or two to start moving forward on a hill without rolling backwards.

Seriously, the ebrake does me just fine on all the hills at Ft Riley and we have a few that are fairly steep. Plus ive been driving for years over in Scottland and its standard to just use the Ebrake, it works. 1 hand on wheel, get the revs you want, let off ebrake, shift as needed. common now :P

Unless the guy in the car behind you is right against your bumper, a little roll is fine. It's a little scary at first, but that's why the handbrake is useful until you feel comfortable using just the pedals. I visited Ecuador a few months ago and all the taxi's were manuals. They were usu to hill starts and I doubt they would give a crap about any kind of hill assist. Just practice. The clutch is more durable than you think. If this really bothers you, I hear the Z also comes with an automatic transmission.

My driveway is 15-20% before i hit the garage, ebrake seems to work well when I wait for the stupid door to open.

i live in bc... hills everywhere. and idiot drivers always drive up so close. so everyitme before i stop at a hill or someone is driving towards me, i just roll back a bit engage clutch and roll back a bit than engage the clutch again. the driver behind wil get scared and stay away

All those driving experts! This FIA International "A" licence holder (ex) did AOK in that department, thanks.

Apparently folk can do the one-shot start anywhere (like at my garage too) but that's not the problem.

Electronics advice..throttle..was the polite request on the "Engine and Drivetrain Forum" for an "engine and drivetrain" solution. One lives in hope.

Regards to all,

Fritz

Good for you, I can pay $4000 to get my racing license too. Without doing it, I can still drive my car up a hill without rolling backwards. WOOHOO

I'd be embarassed to ask the question in the first place!! :shakes head: But it seems to me you need to get out there and do it, do it and do it again. The roll back close method usally works for people that follow too close, until you meet a guy like me that enjoys a game or two. I'll swap paint with you!!!! :tiphat:

My STI came with this feature and can't be turned off! (08) To me, someone that's driven manual transmissions for over 40 years, I absolutley hate it! My .02 RP:stirthepot:

i feel like i wouldn't mind it in san fransisco. i'm used to driving stick by now, but i have to admit, on a really steep hill, when someone pulls really close up behind me, i definitely am paying more attention to how i start.

Don't most European countries require you to do an uphill start without the parking brakes in order to pass a driving test?

In many other countries, you have to take a road test on a manual transmission.

just.....

clutch in, brake in, first gear, rotate heel over to gas, tap, let out clutch to catch point

come on dudes, nobody else does this???

Yes, in the UK certainly, the "Hill Start" is part of the driving test. The E Brake is used in this situation to hold the car while you let the clutch out, you fail if you roll back.

i guess you dont need to pass that to get a fia license haha

i do. i dont do that handbrake stuff

you fail if you roll back at all? or just if you roll back a significant amount?

Sorry should have said, you fail if you rollback a significant ammount, you have to show that you are in control of the car at all times, they could also fail you if you kept stalling the car while doing this too.
That said, I did mine 20 years ago, it may have changed now, but I doubt they made it any easier.

i was gonna say, no rollback is pretty hard. there nothing really unsafe about 1-2 inches of rollback when starting on a steep hill.

I agree with what many others have all ready said.Use the E brake and practice till you learn the car.I live in Utah and drive in the Mnts and they get up to 9000 + above sea level.Every manual I've ever owned was diff and took some time to get use to