Member Since: 31 Jan 2008
Location: Leeds
Posts: 1943
HDC - How Long Can it be used for
I know its not Technically a D3 question, But since the Freelander 2 and the Disco3 have it I thought i would ask
One of the Freel2 members whilst on holiday in the Alps raised this point
Quote:
I am currently on holiday in the Alps (Swiss Valais and French Haute-Savoie). When you drive down a long windy road from a mountain pass, there is obviously a lot of breaking. Even when you use the gears to control speed, you need the breaks on every tight hairpin.
Of course, an option is to use HDC which I've tried.
MY QUESTION: Is this an appropriate use of HDC? That is, on descents that could last some 30 minutes or more.
The manual doesn't give enough detail on this, though it does warn that under some circumstances breaks may overheat.
Is there any time limit that you should use HDC for and what happens if the brakes do overheat
bearing in mind the FL2 does Not have the low range you guys have
Thanks in advance
please move if its in the wrong section
4th Aug 2009 10:09 am
jollybodger
Member Since: 11 Jul 2005
Location: Marlow, Bucks
Posts: 313
I've only used HDC when coming down red runs and the like in Summer. HDC normally keeps you safe but slow - plus will probably wear the pads quicker. On the many hairpins that we drive down when going down the mountains (D88 near Nord du Pres, Haute Savoie) I usually go down in sport mode on the auto plus brakes when the family get a little sick!
4th Aug 2009 10:13 am
DiscoDunc
Member Since: 08 May 2006
Location: Bristol
Posts: 16390
the pads wear out very quickly when using HDC. I got through about 3-4mm of pads in 4 days when we did the Croisiere last year. I tend to switch it off unless I "really" need to use itDuncan
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4th Aug 2009 10:21 am
ronp
Member Since: 29 Nov 2006
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 15214
I was going to mention not using HDC and using appropriate gears in Low Ratio instead.
But the FL2 doesn't have Low Ratio, does it ?
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4th Aug 2009 10:25 am
ad15
Member Since: 14 Dec 2008
Location: up that tree
Posts: 4866
another solution could be.....
get a D3 ...... one wife.......livid
4th Aug 2009 10:26 am
PaulP
Member Since: 04 May 2007
Location: Barcelona
Posts: 4317
Is HDC really marketed or intented to help you drive down mountain roads?? (although ISTR it is in the publicity for the XC90/Allroad etc).
I use it now and again when I'm not sure that I can keep the D3 in a straight line going down very steep slippy inclines (>25-30°), but I wouldn't ever use it to come down a mountain road unless it was snowed/iced over (in which case I'd probably not risk it anyway). Croisiere Blanche is a different kettle of fish as it's mainly thin icy/snowed-over tracks with big drops on the side and no other way around - in this case I reckon it's prudent/necessary to use it and just stop every now and again to cool the brakes down.
30 minutes seems very excessive. When brakes overheat they usually just stop working properly - I don't usually use it for more than 1 or 2 minutes at the most if possible.
Assuming that the road in question was a normal mountain pass road and not a gravel/snow track then I would say that it is NOT an appropriate use of HDC (but I don't know much).....as ronp says, lowest gear possible (1st gear in the FL2 is pretty short anyway) and brake carefully when needed. If you brake too much then you'll just lock the wheels all the time and the ABS will overheat the brakes anyway. 2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 SE AutoBuckingham Blue 2007 Golf GT DSG
4th Aug 2009 10:50 am
SN
Member Since: 03 Jan 2006
Location: Romiley
Posts: 13710
At Rockingham Ed Cobley said that they got through a complete set of pads in 4 weeks on every vehicle and that was mostly down to HDC - I would say only use it where you really need itSteve N | 21MY Defender | 08MY Discovery 3 (history) | 06MY Discovery 3 (ancient history)
4th Aug 2009 10:58 am
npinks
Member Since: 31 Jan 2008
Location: Leeds
Posts: 1943
Personally I think the HDC will be too slow for this type of driving and like you say will where pads down quickly
never mind the queue of traffic behind you at 5mph
HDC switches off (actually, it fails to engage) at speeds above 25-30mph. I can't imagine any (tarmac) road in the Alps where I'd want to be using HDC. Typically, it will make you run at 3-5 mph with lots of noise. Stupid idea for descending a normal road IMO.
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(although ISTR it is in the publicity for the XC90/Allroad etc).
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