3rd Gen 2014+ Manual Transmission Anti-Roll Back feature - How does it work?

[SonicBoy]

In the 3rd generation (2014+) Mazda 3 Manual transmission cars, I noticed that it has an anti roll back feature(Hill-holder) when you're on an incline and letting off the clutch. The car does not roll back.

My question is, is it a feature in the transmission that prevents the roll back or something like a line lock with the brakes?

Any Mazda Techs care to chime in?

[Bullet]

I read somewhere its the brakes

[morganc]

It'll use the ABS pump to apply the brakes. In cars that feature an electronic parking brake, the rear calipers have an electric motor integral to them which apply the parking brake without the use of a cable.

[TheMAN]

back in the days, "hill holder" was the hand brake!

[slam525i]

Personally, I hate hill holders. My other half's Impreza has it, and when I'm feathering/nursing the clutch, the hill-hold can be late to release and cause it to stall. (I don't like to rev a lot when pulling away.)

[sarujo]

Great...another item to break and require repair. Might as well just by an automagic if you need an "automatic hill holder" on a manual transmission vehicle...

I would rather Mazda spend the effort and dollars on insulating the cars to be completely void of road noise..

[gabbygenier]

Great...another item to break and require repair. Might as well just by an automagic if you need an "automatic hill holder" on a manual transmission vehicle...

I would rather Mazda spend the effort and dollars on insulating the cars to be completely void of road noise..

Almost positive the automatics also have it.

and if you haven't driven a 3rd gen, then id say go for a ride in one. the road noise is barely anything compared to the first gen.

The hill assist took me a while to get used to. but i did help the wife to learn how to drive standard. she was always scared of hills. its very frustrating on steep hills. you're trying to take off quick but it holds you there for a bit.

[sarujo]

Almost positive the automatics also have it.

and if you haven't driven a 3rd gen, then id say go for a ride in one. the road noise is barely anything compared to the first gen.

The hill assist took me a while to get used to. but i did help the wife to learn how to drive standard. she was always scared of hills. its very frustrating on steep hills. you're trying to take off quick but it holds you there for a bit.

glad to see Mazda has started to remedy the noise issues. Alas, the Gen3 looks and feels smaller inside, and with 2 kids, my next vehicle won't be a 3. Maybe a CX-5, but the Koreans have really stepped up their game.

Out of curiosity, can you now adjust the rear camber in the Gen 3?? Or are you still forced to buy adjustable links and install?

[gabbygenier]

glad to see Mazda has started to remedy the noise issues. Alas, the Gen3 looks and feels smaller inside, and with 2 kids, my next vehicle won't be a 3. Maybe a CX-5, but the Koreans have really stepped up their game.

Out of curiosity, can you now adjust the rear camber in the Gen 3?? Or are you still forced to buy adjustable links and install?
It feels bigger to us. The car itself is definitely bigger outside. I honestly haven't sat in the back yet so not sure about it but it does seem bigger.

I'm not sire about the camber though. Probably still the same as before. You'll need camber arms if you lower it too much.

The cx-5 is awesome. We were going to wait a year and get one but the motor in my first gen blew so we got a 4 year lease on 2015 3 for now. When its time to replace the wife's car, that will be the cx-5 probably.

[CarLadyLisa]

Hill Launch Assist (HLA) is a function which assists the driver in accelerating from a stop while on a slope. When the driver releases the brake pedal and depresses the accelerator pedal while on a slope, the function prevents the vehicle from rolling. The braking force is maintained automatically after the brake pedal is released on a steep grade.
For vehicles with a manual transaxle, Hill Launch Assist (HLA) operates on a downward slope when the shift lever is in the reverse (R) position, and on an upward slope when the shift lever is in a position other than the reverse (R) position.

It operates for about 2 seconds and only on steeps grades. It is a very different feeling but a good thing when other drives are on your arse.

[SonicBoy]

Thanks for that explanation CarLadyLisa.

From what I've learned, it is controlled via the master cylinder so it is like a line lock but with more smarts.

[sp3GT]

I haven't driven the 3rd gen manual on a hill but I did drive a Focus ST that has a similar anti-roll back feature.

For people that have been driving normal manuals for years, the anti-roll feature almost makes it worst. It's definitely something you have to get use to, otherwise you'll stall.

[Squisher]

I used to have a sube with the hill holder, atleast 20 years ago. It worked fine and was easy enough to use. It only activated if you put the brake pedal down very firmly.