Cruise Control in ECON mode

[jarnis]

On a recent ~2000 mile trip I compared having ECON mode on and off. I was pleasantly surprised by the cruise control response when driving on rolling hills. I've always had to turn cruise off on other cars because they would lose 2 or 3 mph when starting up the hill and then accelerate on the way up, destroying gas mileage.

But the new Accord in ECON mode is the best I've experienced. It seems to do a better job of keeping the speed up as it starts up the hill but then gently adds more gas to get to the top of the hill without hard acceleration, only returning to the set speed over the crest of the hill. (I'm sure the CVT is helping out here as well.) That's a lot closer to the way I do it manually, and lets me keep it in cruise a much higher percentage of the time.

-John
2013 EX-L

[MikeySoft]

Something interesting to try:

With Cruise Control on while driving on a level road. Press and hold the cruise control Accelerate button for several seconds, say 10 seconds. Do the same thing with both the Econ button on and off and starting from the same speed.

The Cruise control Accelerates a LOT faster with the Econ Button off.

[MikeySoft]

Originally Posted by jarnis

...
(I'm sure the CVT is helping out here as well.) ...

A nice thing about the CVT is that it can downshift a little to give a little more power, while with many conventional ATs, it tries to give more power in the same gear, then down shifts when it can’t keep up the speed.

[matthewhbishop]

You're right it barely accelerates in econ on cruise. Econ off its a lot faster. I'm averaging 36.9 at the monent. 270 mile trip

[MikeySoft]

I’m just wondering:

The Accord has the "Hill Start Assist" when you take your foot off the breaks it leaves the breaks on for a short period of time so the car will not roll up/down the hill before you press on the gas.

So does it have a sensor to know when it is on an incline which can also be used to help CC during hills? It could give or reduce CC power before the car starts to slow/speed up on hills.

Or does the "Hill Start Assist" always keep the breaks on for a short time even when it is lever?

[MikeySoft]

Originally Posted by MikeySoft

I’m just wondering:

The Accord has the "Hill Start Assist" when you take your foot off the breaks it leaves the breaks on for a short period of time so the car will not roll up/down the hill before you press on the gas.

So does it have a sensor to know when it is on an incline which can also be used to help CC during hills? It could give or reduce CC power before the car starts to slow/speed up on hills.

Or does the "Hill Start Assist" always keep the breaks on for a short time even when it is lever?

Found the answer:

Grade Logic Control

The Grade Logic Control system differs from other computer-controlled shift programming because it can detect driving situations and then set appropriate shift points for the car. It helps your Accord avoid gear hunting on climbs and descents, and it downshifts for added engine braking when needed.

[draken187]

I just love the fact u can shift (at least on the mt) without it turning off the cruise

[II Kings 9:20]

Its the beauty of the CVT, I ove the way it "freewheels" downhills-it runs like Secretariat.

Yes, grade logic not hill assist. Hill assist only holds the brakes while stopped. Studebaker-Nash had that back in the '30 developed by Bendix.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V18ui3Rtjz4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V18ui3Rtjz4

[MikeySoft]

My reference to Hill Assist was it may have a sensor to know when the car is on an incline. Reading more about Hill Assist, it only occurs when on a incline, therefore it much have an sensor to know this. Reading more again, I found The Grade Logic Control. Most likely they use the same sensor.

[draken187]

Originally Posted by MikeySoft

My reference to Hill Assist was it may have a sensor to know when the car is on an incline. Reading more about Hill Assist, it only occurs when on a incline, therefore it much have an sensor to know this. Reading more again, I found The Grade Logic Control. Most likely they use the same sensor.

I'm pretty sure I spotted such a sensor in the rear wheel well

[Marsean]

Originally Posted by II Kings 9:20

Its the beauty of the CVT, I ove the way it "freewheels" downhills-it runs like Secretariat.

Yes, grade logic not hill assist. Hill assist only holds the brakes while stopped. Studebaker-Nash had that back in the '30 developed by Bendix.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V18ui3Rtjz4

Kings--I think you posted this same video a few months back on a different thread ('driving impressions' or something?). I think it's a good analogy to how effortless this car seems to cruise at speed. It holds speed very well and just glides along, even when backing off the gas.

I have to wonder, though, if the Grade Logic reduces the amount of "freewheeling" when going down a steep grade, employing engine braking to reduce dependence on actual brakes. I haven't really had any driving situations where this has come into play. Can anyone comment?

[II Kings 9:20]

Originally Posted by Marsean

Kings--I think you posted this same video a few months back on a different thread ('driving impressions' or something?). I think it's a good analogy to how effortless this car seems to cruise at speed. It holds speed very well and just glides along, even when backing off the gas.

I have to wonder, though, if the Grade Logic reduces the amount of "freewheeling" when going down a steep grade, employing engine braking to reduce dependence on actual brakes. I haven't really had any driving situations where this has come into play. Can anyone comment?

I have noticed going down my daily hill to work with no cruise, the CVT will hold 3000 RPM while my foot is off the accelerator. 95% of the time going down this mile long double slope hill, not only does it free wheel, it seems to accelerate (beyond coasting) with 0 throttle and finally slows down on the long flat at the bottom of the hill-it is the fastest car down this hill I have ever driven. It is almost as if it has no resistance just opposite of my 300SD.