Stumble or Hill Holder?

[BlueReflex]

Sometimes when I start off, I feel a stumble. I read that the CX-5 has a hill holder feature. Does anyone think it could be the hill holder releasing or I really do have a stumble?

 

[MikeM.]

I've never heard of a CX-5 with a stumble off idle so I suspect you might be detecting the hill holder feature.

Is the engine throwing an error code? I'm not sure why you are concerned.

 

[BlueReflex]

I should have mentioned that the CUV is new, less than 700 miles. It is just annoying if it is actually stumbling. I can tell myself that is the way it is if it is actually the hill holding feature. Strange. No code, just less refinement.

 

[MikeM.]

I should have mentioned that the CUV is new, less than 700 miles. It is just annoying if it is actually stumbling. I can tell myself that is the way it is if it is actually the hill holding feature. Strange. No code, just less refinement.

If the engine was stumbling it would throw an error code.

If you detect this feeling even on level ground it is likely not the hill holder but simply a little grabbiness in the clutches that will smooth out as it wears in.

It's one of the best automatics in the industry (even if it does have "only" six speeds).

 

[deepfriedsushi]

Is the stumble kind of like a little kick or almost like a downshift type feeling when you let off the brake and transition to stepping on the throttle? If so, it could be the transmission engaging the torque converter when letting off the brake. The transmission seems to go into neutral in certain conditions when idling as a fuel saving measure.

The hill holder function should be almost invisible. The only thing you should detect, when it's working, is the fact that you don't roll back when you let off the brake and transition to the throttle. The brake hold comes off almost immediately when you start feeding in the throttle, but will stay active and hold the car for a few seconds if no throttle input is given.

 

[BlueReflex]

Instead of instant, direct response, I get a slight hesitation about 20% of the time when starting from being stopped. Since it doesn't do it all the time, I'm still experimenting and trying to find the common factor that might reliably reproduce it. That would be important if I asked the dealer to fix it. I was grasping at straws when I asked about the hill holder feature, but maybe... It reminded me of some carburetorated cars I had. Once it is moving, there is no stumble.

 

[BlueReflex]

I've decided that what I am feeling is like the torque converter disengaging when I am stopped, then, sometimes, I step on the gas and it engages. That may be what I am feeling. I guess that is the way it is.