Traffic Lights - Auto Hold or Neutral?

[Haricot]

In your position I'd do the same. In my case I've rarely ever had an AH fault, when I have it has cleared very quickly and not come back.

It seems to clear after restarting the car

 

[DixieTGS]

Give the regular "Auto hold fault" message I get, I don't trust AH & manually apply EPB every time. Going to the dealer for investigation very soon

At least if you have to (or want to) use the EPB it self releases when you pull away. Just don't pull away too quickly otherwise it can go with quite a clonk.

 

[fnegroni]

Just to muddy the waters I think there is a typo in a bit of the manual pictured earlier:

"Auto hold cannot guarantee the electronic
parking brake operation in all cases where
the power system is turned off. Please
ensure the electronic parking brake is
applied and the vehicle is stablised prior to
exiting the vehicle."

Should (I think) read:

"Auto hold cannot guarantee the brake operation in all cases where
the power system is turned off. .... "

When you apply the EPB manually you hear a small motor whir for a second, I assume doing the same thing as pulling up a regular handbrake. I can't hear this when when auto hold activates and think a small amount of 12V is required to keep the brake on for the duration of autohold. Hence their reference to the case where the power system is turned off.

I think it really refers to the EPB with AutoHold.
Look at the other sections regarding EPB engagement when opening the door, or when shutting off the car, or when being stationary for a long time (I think it’s 5 minutes or something)

 

[DixieTGS]

Yes, you are right ? . I only worked from the bits of the manual originally quoted and my memory. I should have gone back to the manual and checked more fully as it's over 6 months since I would have read that bit ? .

I also see now it's referring to the car's ability to grip the road, and not its ability to apply the EPB.

 

[Kithmo]

I use auto hold if there are no other vehicles behind me so my brake lights are showing that I am stationary to any approaching traffic. If there are vehicles behind me when I come to a stop I use the little parking brake lever/switch, this leaves the car in D with no brake lights and automatically releases when you press the accelerator, the same as auto hold does. I only use the P on the selector knob when I park up.

 

[Gordon]

I'm with you there Kithmo.

 

[JCT]

I seriously have no idea why N even exist in this car...

You need to select neutral if you need to push the car.

 

[Staffex]

I've highlighted the key word ... it's not a must so it's merely an advisory.

My driving instructor taught me to use the handbrake (or its modern equivalent, the EPB) as per the highway code and out of consideration for other road users. At night I consider the glare of stop lights, particularly LED ones, is both irritating and unnecessary.

 

[Kithmo]

My driving instructor taught me to use the handbrake (or its modern equivalent, the EPB) as per the highway code and out of consideration for other road users. At night I consider the glare of stop lights, particularly LED ones, is both irritating and unnecessary.

As a matter of interest, have you driven or owned an automatic ?

 

[damo2929]

I seriously have no idea why N even exist in this car...

Going through a car wash that drags you along. Eg an imo

 

[Staffex]

As a matter of interest, have you driven or owned an automatic ?

Yes, I bought a BMW 120d auto in 2006 and reluctantly sold it last year due to ULEZ. I'd previously owned a Passat estate and wanted an EV with similar flexibility. In spring 2023 only 2 EV estates were on the market: a Taycan (£80k+) and the MG5; I chose the latter! Why do you ask?

 

[Kithmo]

Yes, I bought a BMW 120d auto in 2006 and reluctantly sold it last year due to ULEZ. I'd previously owned a Passat estate and wanted an EV with similar flexibility. In spring 2023 only 2 EV estates were on the market: a Taycan (£80k+) and the MG5; I chose the latter! Why do you ask?

Just wondered if you put the automatic car in park or neutral every time you stopped. Although fine in an EV, leaving an ICE in D with the handbrake on puts a strain on an automatic gearbox with a torque converter.
FWIW, I used to get irritated by glare from brake lights until I visited an optician and got some new glasses, it never bothered me after that.

 

[Staffex]

Yes, I was in the habit of clicking from drive into neutral. Apart from the glare issue it reduced the static load on the engine that wasted diesel - the tickover pitch would rise when N was selected.
I don't understand why MG have opted to emulate the undesirable ICE auto creep in their EVs.
My specs have coated Zeiss lenses so lens flare isn't a problem BUT I do object to big SUVs shining what amounts to a 36W torch beam into my line of sight, spoiling my night vision.

Ian in post #15 quoted the latter part of Highway Code rule 114 which encourages considerate driving. Rule 114 begins:
You MUST NOT
• use any lights in a way which would dazzle or cause discomfort to other road users..."

 

[siteguru]

I don't understand why MG have opted to emulate the undesirable ICE auto creep in their EVs.

That's one of the things that I particularly do like about the MG4. ?‍

 

[Silver estate]

I use auto hold in my car and truck unless the sequence is long then I will use park brake in my truck but being an electric park brake I keep an eye on the lights as it takes a time to disengage.
Not good when running at full weight and you need to pull away

 

[Ethernea]

I actually like when an automatic car in front of me has brake lights in a stop or traffic light.

Cause the moment the lights dim it means the car is starting to go forward.

It advises me of their next move.

And I've never seen any brake lights bother my eyes and as an autistic person I'm sensitive to lights.

(But I do hate cops going with eye-closening bright blue/red lights unnecessarily... And dumb people with flash lights in the back of their cars. My city is weird.)

 

[pollenface]

Auto hold, every time

and don't over think it

 

[Rayz]

On common automatic transmission, and stopping at traffic red lights ive heard 2 versions...

1) change to Neutral to wait for green lights so that the transmission is not trying to push forward unnecessarily.

2) stay in Drive and step on the brake. So you keep the transmission in place and dont make changes unnecessarily.

And then i see this in the manual:

View attachment 29242

Which makes me wonder...

Whats the best practice to maintain this car on good shape?

1) change to neutral + use emergency brake in hills (that electric brake right of the shift knob - its called EPB i think? )

wait for green, shift to drive and release EPBs...
Sounds more steps to do

2) stay in drive, and step on the brake to activate Auto Hold and release pedals.

wait until green, step on pedal and go >> my favorite option and this is what im doing....

View attachment 29244

But after reading the manual... Im not sure if im doing the right thing.

What are you guys doing in red lights?

Hi, You don't quote what make or type of car you've got, but obviously you've only changed over to Automatic from Manual by asking this question. Remember that MG comes from China. Some China Manufacturers, the way they quote in English to explain instructions, can become some what confusing. On a MG EV its in D while driving. When stopped on a hill, it has an automatic hold as long as you keep put your foot on your brake all the time you've stopped , and then change over to accelerate off within a FEW seconds. If not the car WILL roll backwards.
Kind Regards

 

[fnegroni]

Hi, You don't quote what make or type of car you've got, but obviously you've only changed over to Automatic from Manual by asking this question. Remember that MG comes from China. Some China Manufacturers, the way they quote in English to explain instructions, can become some what confusing. On a MG EV its in D while driving. When stopped on a hill, it has an automatic hold as long as you keep put your foot on your brake all the time you've stopped , and then change over to accelerate off within a FEW seconds. If not the car WILL roll backwards.
Kind Regards

Example: auto hold will not operate in reverse, but Hill hold assist will, and stay on for several seconds

 

[siteguru]

What @Rayz describes is Hill Hold not Auto Hold.