Manual Kick Down Button

[davidstarkey11]

I've known this has been there since I've had the car (March 2018) but only just actually thought about it.

Does anyone know why I can feel a kick down button under my gas pedal even though I have a manual.

I asked the old man (mechanic) and he said it's probably to save them making 2 different parts, they just keep the same pedal for both manual and automatic but of course nothing wired up with the manual one.

 

[Damo H]

Kick down button? I’ve got the DSG and can’t say I’ve ever noticed anything different on pedal travel. Plus always found it quicker to knock it down a gear with the left paddle than wait for the car to realise full gas means I want a lower gear.

 

[Daire92]

Kick down button? I’ve got the DSG and can’t say I’ve ever noticed anything different on pedal travel. Plus always found it quicker to knock it down a gear with the left paddle than wait for the car to realise full gas means I want a lower gear.

If you press the throttle down hard you'll feel a click on the very last bit of the pedals travel. I had a manual FR and when the car was in Normal driving mode, i felt the kickdown button made a difference to the cars acceleration. When I had it in Sport I couldnt notice a difference so in the manual I think its used a an overtake button to give you full power if you have the car in Eco or Normal mode.

 

[davidstarkey11]

Kick down button? I’ve got the DSG and can’t say I’ve ever noticed anything different on pedal travel. Plus always found it quicker to knock it down a gear with the left paddle than wait for the car to realise full gas means I want a lower gear.

Yeah I've driven plenty of automatics and that's exactly how I'd explain it, a kick down button. If I put my foot to the floor, there's an extra inch of travel that feels like a click. The car has no reaction to it so I don't think it's wired up to do anything which is why I thought it was just a money saving thing for Seat by using the same pedal as a DSG?

 

[Dr.Dash]

It temporarily disengages the a/c compressor and load sheds some electrics to minimise alternator load.
Theoretically this will mean more of the engine's power is available to the drive wheels. Probably only a tiny difference?
It may also select the Sport throttle mapping if you're in another mode to minimise any lag in pedal response.

 

[Pimbers]

From my experience in some other VAG cars it's also to override the speed limiter (not warning) if you have it switched on. Had a Fabia loan car a few months ago with no cruise so just pinned the throttle before the click and set the limiter...

 

[kazand]

What Pimbers said

 

[davidstarkey11]

From my experience in some other VAG cars it's also to override the speed limiter (not warning) if you have it switched on. Had a Fabia loan car a few months ago with no cruise so just pinned the throttle before the click and set the limiter...

Ah that makes sense, cheers!

 

[Hag]

It’s also to aid your fuel consumption so you aren’t always using full load before the click


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[davidstarkey11]

Cheers for the advice guys, there’s me clicking the button as if it’s there for show haha

 

[Chrispy]

Probably helps out during homologation noise testing as well.

You do the test accelerating full throttle but without the kickdown switch.

Therefore they can use the switch to open exhaust valves and things as well as override speed limiters.

 

[motty225]

Probably helps out during homologation noise testing as well.

You do the test accelerating full throttle but without the kickdown switch.

Therefore they can use the switch to open exhaust valves and things as well as override speed limiters.

No exhaust valves on the Leon

 

[Damo H]

No exhaust valves on the Leon

Pedal will be the same as the Audi/VW units though.

 

[D2EW]

when I put my cupra in individual with engine on eco the car won't use full power unless you use the "kick down button" mines manual