Cars evolve year after year, and manufacturers constantly strive to bring new features to the market. This was also the case in 2007-2008 when all manufacturers began installing a new system in cars with automatic transmissions. The feature we’re talking about today is now so common, and it’s called Auto Hold.
In this article, we’ll explain what Auto Hold is, how it works, which systems can malfunction along with it, how you can deactivate it if you wish, and what the Auto Hold indicator looks like on the Volkswagen Tiguan.
Let’s Talk About Auto Hold and What It Does Exactly
Auto Hold uses the car’s braking system and the ABS speed sensors to determine when the car has come to a complete stop. It maintains braking pressure in the caliper cylinders so that when you take your foot off the brake pedal at a traffic light while the car is still in drive, the car remains stationary without you having to keep pressing the pedal.
It’s a feature that ensures increased comfort at the wheel, especially in traffic jams and very crowded intersections.
Before Auto Hold was available, you always had to keep your foot on the brake at a traffic light, which eventually became annoying. If you don’t have Auto Hold, you can put the car in neutral at the traffic light and engage the handbrake, but we guarantee that when you want to move off after standing like that for a longer period, you might forget that you’ve engaged the handbrake or that the car is in neutral.
What Exactly Does Auto Hold Do on the Volkswagen Tiguan?
It maintains braking pressure when you stop the car at a traffic light, offering you increased safety and comfort when the car is stationary. Auto Hold keeps the brake discs engaged using the car’s braking system until you press the accelerator pedal and the car moves off from the traffic light.
How Is the Auto Hold System Automatically Activated on the Volkswagen Tiguan?
For Auto Hold to function, the car must meet certain necessary conditions:
- The engine must be running.
- The car must be in drive.
- All the car’s doors must be closed.
- The driver’s seatbelt must be fastened.
Under these conditions, the car’s Start-Stop system also operates. Some cars will strongly engage the handbrake if you try to move off in drive with the driver’s door open as a safety measure.
You can deactivate the Auto Hold on the Volkswagen Tiguan simply by pressing a button. If you have a button for the handbrake, the Auto Hold button will be right next to it, and on it, you’ll see an “A” between two brackets.
I haven’t heard of owners complaining about this system, but you might need to deactivate it when you’re on snow or want to go up or down a higher curb, and it’s annoying that the car keeps braking to zero and won’t move when you want it to.
From our own experience, it will be almost impossible to load the car onto a tow truck if the Auto Hold is active. When you deactivate it, no warning light will appear on the car’s dashboard.
What Does the Auto Hold Indicator Look Like on the Volkswagen Tiguan, and When Does It Light Up?
The indicator is simply an “A” with two brackets, something like this: ( A ), only it’s yellow. When it lights up, it’s nothing serious; it just means the system will no longer function, and at the traffic light, you’ll have to keep your foot on the brake.
The problem arises if the Auto Hold indicator is accompanied by the ABS indicator or the braking system indicator. If you have the red handbrake indicator lit on the dashboard, then you have a serious problem that needs to be urgently investigated at a service center.
A thorough inspection of the braking system is always welcome and doesn’t cost much.
What Is the Solution When the Auto Hold System No Longer Works on the Volkswagen Tiguan?
As we’ve mentioned earlier in the article, the fact that the Auto Hold indicator lights up shouldn’t panic you. If the car’s battery terminals have been disconnected or if it recently ran out of battery, the indicator may appear upon restart.
If the Auto Hold has a permanent error, it’s advisable to go to a mechanic to investigate what the problem might be and to check the braking system.
