Electric handbrakes
Discussion
Ah yes... the Insignia. I found one of these had rolled into my car at the cinema a few years ago. At first I thought the owner had just been an inconsiderate t
t and parked right up against my bumper but just in case I had a few friends hold the other car back whilst I rolled forward and sure enough it went to follow!
I put a brick under the wheel and left a note telling them why!!
t and parked right up against my bumper but just in case I had a few friends hold the other car back whilst I rolled forward and sure enough it went to follow!I put a brick under the wheel and left a note telling them why!!
englisharcher said:
FoundOnRoadside said:
They're also deleting the Watt's Linkage from the rear suspension. Boooo!
What's that?It's very obvious when it's on. When you have your foot on the brake and PULL the switch up you'll feel the pressure through your foot. The light will also come on on the dash. It'll be second nature in a week, no need to leave it in gear. Just make sure you give the switch a firm pull. Flicking it won't work.
Fat-Dave said:
Our company has a set of Toyota Avensis with electric HB. I have to admit I am not a fan:
1. they put the button in a really inconvenient place - under the steering wheel on the left (opposite side from the fuel release). It is just far enough out of reach that it irritates me every time I have to use it.
2. it engages and disengages quite slowly (about 2 seconds from pressing/pulling the lever) this results in roll-back on hills or over-use of the clutch which I am sure will result in the clutch wearing out sooner than manual hand brake
3. although it will release when you try to pull away it is slow so results in juddering or if you are not careful a stalled engine (very embarrassing!)
Also counter-intuitive on an Avensis as you pull to turn off and push to turn on. Especially annoying if you've just stepped out of a Vaux! Also, unlike the most others you don't have to have your foot on the brake or the ignition on for it to work. Not good when idly demonstrating it to someone whilst on a hill...1. they put the button in a really inconvenient place - under the steering wheel on the left (opposite side from the fuel release). It is just far enough out of reach that it irritates me every time I have to use it.
2. it engages and disengages quite slowly (about 2 seconds from pressing/pulling the lever) this results in roll-back on hills or over-use of the clutch which I am sure will result in the clutch wearing out sooner than manual hand brake
3. although it will release when you try to pull away it is slow so results in juddering or if you are not careful a stalled engine (very embarrassing!)
The one on my 2005 model A6 never failed to hold the car, even on the steepest o hills. It did however fail to release plenty of times. Cue a nice expensive bill to fod the faulty wore and replace with new loom. Worked a treat after it was replaced with the newer cabling from Audi that had better seals, more suited to salty British roads.
I've got an E65 7 series with an Electronic Handbrake. It's the first car I've driven with such a thing. Took some getting used to initially, but it actually works really well in Auto Mode.
Basically you engage automatic mode with a button on the wheel, then when you come to a stop the handbrake applies itself. (Leave the automatic gearbox in gear and you can release the brake and the electronic automatic handbrake holds the car.) Then touch the gas and the handbrake releases and off you go. Stop again and it comes on again. etc. When you park up you push a button on the dash or wheel to put the handbrake into manual mode, and then put the gearbox in park and turn the car off.
The only time it's annoying is if you're crawling along on the footbrake (creep function in an auto) and you happen to stop momentarily; since the handbrake can grab on and when you release the footbrake you don't move of course, so you need to manually disengage the handbrake or touch the gas. As such, when crawling, I sometimes disengage the auto function of the handbrake to prevent this. Or just plan your gap in the queue so you don't have to come to a stop, then it won't kick in.
I think that having an electronic handbrake on an a car with an autobox makes perfect sense, so long as the handbrake operates automatically. But if there's no auto function, I can see it being a real pain. Not sure I'd want one on a manual car either.
Basically you engage automatic mode with a button on the wheel, then when you come to a stop the handbrake applies itself. (Leave the automatic gearbox in gear and you can release the brake and the electronic automatic handbrake holds the car.) Then touch the gas and the handbrake releases and off you go. Stop again and it comes on again. etc. When you park up you push a button on the dash or wheel to put the handbrake into manual mode, and then put the gearbox in park and turn the car off.
The only time it's annoying is if you're crawling along on the footbrake (creep function in an auto) and you happen to stop momentarily; since the handbrake can grab on and when you release the footbrake you don't move of course, so you need to manually disengage the handbrake or touch the gas. As such, when crawling, I sometimes disengage the auto function of the handbrake to prevent this. Or just plan your gap in the queue so you don't have to come to a stop, then it won't kick in.
I think that having an electronic handbrake on an a car with an autobox makes perfect sense, so long as the handbrake operates automatically. But if there's no auto function, I can see it being a real pain. Not sure I'd want one on a manual car either.
mrmr96 said:
I think that having an electronic handbrake on an a car with an autobox makes perfect sense, so long as the handbrake operates automatically. But if there's no auto function, I can see it being a real pain. Not sure I'd want one on a manual car either.
I think ergonomics have a lot to do with it, too - the Prius' one isn't automatic, but the button is just under my left hand on the centre console, and pressing it it automatically kicks the car into P. When I want to go I move the ickle lever, also on the console into D and away we go. There's also a foot brake, too for proper parking, as it were.
stumpage said:
We have a Passat with this. Works well the only thing that annoys me is that I need to take it to a garage to change the rear pads. I can't wind the calipers back without a PC being plugged in.
That is annoying. Why is there no piston-retract mode if the EHB off switch is held down for a minute, or something?I know someone who was dragged under the drivers door of his passat as it rolled off backwards on exiting the car.
He had pressed the button, it had engaged, then decided there was a fault (he was out the car by this time) and due to the "Handbrake Fault" it released it again.
Hate the things, too much to go wrong, too difficult to work on the rear brakes, and seems to be convenience at the expense of safe simplicity.
I have no idea how you move one with a flat battery either.
He had pressed the button, it had engaged, then decided there was a fault (he was out the car by this time) and due to the "Handbrake Fault" it released it again.
Hate the things, too much to go wrong, too difficult to work on the rear brakes, and seems to be convenience at the expense of safe simplicity.
I have no idea how you move one with a flat battery either.
Edited by eddie1980 on Thursday 23 August 12:34
Edited by eddie1980 on Thursday 23 August 12:47
Seems to work absolutely seamlessly on the auto-Jag. Comes on when in park disengages when moving and can be put on at any time when sitting which, again, automatically releases when moving.
Have heard they can got wrong and get confused every now and then though but fingers crossed it hasn't happened yet!
Have heard they can got wrong and get confused every now and then though but fingers crossed it hasn't happened yet!
I have one on my VW Passat. Works very well comes on when needed goes off when needed, also has the auto hold function so you come to a stop on the foot brake then can come straight off the brake so you don't blind the driver behind and the car wont move.
It will put the handbrake on when you remove your seatbelt or remove the key from the ignition. 150k miles in without any faults over the last 2 cars.
Cant do handbrake turns but if you switch the TCS off and remove your seatbelt the HB will stay on and you can light up the front tires
if you should so wish.
Although not in my current 1.6d nomotion
.
It will put the handbrake on when you remove your seatbelt or remove the key from the ignition. 150k miles in without any faults over the last 2 cars.
Cant do handbrake turns but if you switch the TCS off and remove your seatbelt the HB will stay on and you can light up the front tires
if you should so wish.Although not in my current 1.6d nomotion
.shambolic said:
Hill assist on my Z4 keeps the handbrake on for a few seconds to let you get biting point. Works great!
My E61 has that, works very well indeed. Not the same as an electric handbrake though.I had a long drive in a Renault Laguna with one a few years ago and can't say it was any bother at all. It's when the sodding things go wrong that I'd imagine they can be a nightmare and them going wrong in a Renault? Almost certain to happen.
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