Does anyone actually use HDC?

Driving around in the Freelander and realised that since i owned mine, i never used HDC once except when i first had it (i even forgot it about it ). Got me excited for 2 minutes and never used it since. I suppose it's great if your planning to drive down a very steep hill but i never felt the need to use it.

So, the question.... does anyone use it? if so when and where? does anyone here really live in Mount Everest?

Only had my Freelander 6 months so haven't used it that much myself except during the period of snowy and icy weather we had over here. Then it came in very handy for driving down the hill I live on! Also used it when driving through the Wicklow Mountains \ Sally Gap during the same period of weather! Give me a chance and I'll try it off road properly! Apart from we have no green lanes in Northern Ireland!!

mine gets used from time to time. was pretty good in all the recent snow and ice down a few icy hills.

if I go greenlaning, I use it if I think it's going to be needed.

Used it on some steep descents when it was icy, apart from that i've not really had to use it a lot. The wire broke on my switch a while ago but i fixed it again just incase.

Was incredibly effective down icy hills in the recent snow

safe drive down and around cars littering the road, very impressed

Never used it on account of it don't work. The orange light is on permanently.
I know the wires are not connected at the switch, but that shouldn't bring on the orange light surely?
The switch not connected is exactly the same as me not having activated the switch in the first place.

I don't do off roading so haven't seen the need to investigate.

Same here, used it down a steep ice packed hill during the snow. It was excellent.

I have used it several times going down steep tracks (loose stones/gravel) and indeed have activated going up as well...has been very effective on many tracks as well as a couple of steeper roads in the snow/ice.

Why activate as going up you ask?

Well, it works in reverse gear (as well as first) and if you fail your assent and stall/stop then there is a chance you could slide backwards.... if its switched on ready all you need to do is get into reverse and it will activate, stopping your slide and hopefully getting you back down safely.

Steve

Allnick said:

Never used it on account of it don't work. The orange light is on permanently.
I know the wires are not connected at the switch, but that shouldn't bring on the orange light surely?
The switch not connected is exactly the same as me not having activated the switch in the first place.

I don't do off roading so haven't seen the need to investigate.

Click to expand...

unless the switch is of the "normally closed" variety, or has an internal resistance that can be monitored by the ecu.

HDC isn't just for off road, anywhere downhill where you think control might be compromised.

I've used it a few times already. I noticed it was often a little too fast... There should be a high and low speed setting.

The speed is set at the supposed stalling speed for the engine. If it was set sower then the engine would stall.

However, you can still use a little bit of brake in extreme circumstances.

Have used HDC extensively off road in the Camel, a few times offroad in the TD4 (including towing) and on both in snow ice.

Clever little gadget. And to think that it does away with the need to haul around a low box...

Cheers

Blippie

i use it . . . . . .and it works