Electronic handbrakes are lethal!
Discussion
joebongo said:
Haven't read the whole thread but I always leave in gear in a manual and the auto's are engaged in some way when in P.
Problem solved?
I don't see an issue either - apart from the odd failure I just see a lot of moaning about nothin'Problem solved?
It's not like sticky and slipping hand brakes only started occurring with the introduction of the electronic button
Not a fan of electronic parking brakes. I have had them on the Passats I drive, and always leave the car in gear when parking, as I don't quite trust them. Also the logic used for the autohold system does not seem to be consistent, consequently it is not possible to be sure it will do what it is supposed to do `every' time it is used. I would prefer a handbrake, but they don't fit them on Passats.
Tycho said:
The OH has a Passat with one of these and it is always a 50/50 that the handbrake has engaged like it should. The anti roll is the worst about 90% of the time it doesn't work and you start rolling back. Terrible feature and completely pointless.
We have a few Passats at work as pool cars that do this. I've no confidence in it at all.FlossyThePig said:
The procedure I was taught in the early '70s when parking on a hill always turn the front wheels towards the kerb, apply the handbrake and leave the car in second gear.
First is better than second as it's a lower ratio and thus the engine braking effect is greater. Reverse is more or less the same ratio as first, so has the same effect.Rollcage said:
jamieduff1981 said:
Rollcage said:
thatdude said:
That could explain my observations of my handbrake...put it on, it's fine, then 20 seconds later it starts to start creaking, so I have to re-apply
I trust my handbrake on level ground, and slight, slight gradients, but I leave it in gear on steeper hills. Question is, if I am facing downhill, should I leave it in a forward gear, and if I am facing up hill, should I leave it in reverse? i.e. so that depending on which was the car is likely to roll, the engine turns the correct way (i.e. not backwards)
I can't believe this gem has gone unnoticed....I trust my handbrake on level ground, and slight, slight gradients, but I leave it in gear on steeper hills. Question is, if I am facing downhill, should I leave it in a forward gear, and if I am facing up hill, should I leave it in reverse? i.e. so that depending on which was the car is likely to roll, the engine turns the correct way (i.e. not backwards)
What he's asking is, does it matter if the engine turns the wrong way should the car start to roll. It'll do this in theory if it rolls backwards whilst in first gear, and if it rolls forwards whilst in reverse.
The reality is that engine braking in first or reverse should be enough to hold the car on a moderate hill, although on steeper hills, particularly with lower compression engines like petrols, the weight of the car can overcome the engine braking and the car can roll.
Why are we using 4 stroke engines when 2 strokes have less moving parts ?
New fangled radial tyres, what was wrong with cross ply...
Disk brakes , pointless, drums works fine.
I've driven an Insignia for an extended period of time, once you get used to it the hill hold and auto release is great. You MUST though ensure you apply and see the alert appear on the dash, as you can flick the button in haste and the brake not be applied. Also if you hold the button in longer , it ramps up the braking force for when you're on an incline etc.
New fangled radial tyres, what was wrong with cross ply...
Disk brakes , pointless, drums works fine.
I've driven an Insignia for an extended period of time, once you get used to it the hill hold and auto release is great. You MUST though ensure you apply and see the alert appear on the dash, as you can flick the button in haste and the brake not be applied. Also if you hold the button in longer , it ramps up the braking force for when you're on an incline etc.
This sort of thing happens alarmingly often at the Carpark I work in. What i however find even worse is vehicles with electronic handbrakes, with a handbrake that is to worn to hold the car at all. They often give no warning, and then attempt to p
s off across the returns area. We now spare a few seconds of sitting in the car once the handbrake has been applied to make sure that it can't roll.
(Note: we park all vehicles in gear, but when customers return to pick up there car, they stall and then blame us so management decided some time ago that leaving cars immobilized by only the handbrake when in the returns area was the way forward)
s off across the returns area. We now spare a few seconds of sitting in the car once the handbrake has been applied to make sure that it can't roll.(Note: we park all vehicles in gear, but when customers return to pick up there car, they stall and then blame us so management decided some time ago that leaving cars immobilized by only the handbrake when in the returns area was the way forward)
lamboman100 said:
Engineer1 said:
Hatchoo said:
I also can't see why the lever, ratchet, cable, brake principle needed reinventing. A standard handbrake is satisfyingly haptic.
The general trend of automatification of every bloody part of the driving experience is beyond tedious.
Good use of a box of your own belongings by the way.
Packaging of the components within the car, a button on the dash only needs wires, a traditional lever and cables needs mechanical linkage and a clear run for the mechanism.The general trend of automatification of every bloody part of the driving experience is beyond tedious.
Good use of a box of your own belongings by the way.
They save vehicle makers a tidy sum in storage space, transport logistics, insurance, speed-to-market, and money.
EPBs are more profitable and will eventually be installed in nearly all European cars.
I agree that removing the handbrake provides space for additional cupholders. With the dawn of the driverless car approaching we can all look forward to the removal of the steering wheel providing additional, wonderful interior decorating opportunities.
Muzzer79 said:
I think I'm alone in really liking my electronic handbrake.
In over 2 years and 40k miles, it's never failed and the auto-hold works perfectly.
Also, if you stop and turn the engine off, I'm pretty sure that it engages automatically.
Me too. RR Evoque here, just works exactly as you say above. I always leave cars in gear as well, as there are too many stories of (traditional) handbrake failures.In over 2 years and 40k miles, it's never failed and the auto-hold works perfectly.
Also, if you stop and turn the engine off, I'm pretty sure that it engages automatically.
Drove a passatt with electric handbrake though and that was crap, it wouldn't do hillstarts. Land Rover seem to have got it right.
To be honest I am quite open to new technology as long as I can see the point in the switch, here I really can’t. You might save a kg or two on weight, but you are adding a level of complexity that simply isn’t required.
When the car is a few years old and the system fails, how much is it going to cost to replace? will a back street garage be able to do it.
Each to their own but I like traditional handbrakes, and having an electronic one would put me off buying that car.
Is pulling up the handbrake such an effort that it needs to be replaced with a button?
When the car is a few years old and the system fails, how much is it going to cost to replace? will a back street garage be able to do it.
Each to their own but I like traditional handbrakes, and having an electronic one would put me off buying that car.
Is pulling up the handbrake such an effort that it needs to be replaced with a button?
jamieduff1981 said:
I really like them. The only thing they're not any use for is handbrake turns, which nobody who isn't a 15 year old joyrider ever does.
b**ch do you even rally?dxg said:
Erm, gear ratios? Trying to get a car to roll in either direction while it's in reverse will be harder than trying to get it roll in either direction if it is in first.
Having said that, I have fallen into the habit of putting it in gear in the opposite direction to the slope of the hill. Only likely to be right half the time, I know...
Yes and if you'd read the next paragraph down from what you've quoted you'd see that I mention ratios. It isn't always the case that reverse is shorter than first and if you know you're doing it wrong, why keep doing it wrong?Having said that, I have fallen into the habit of putting it in gear in the opposite direction to the slope of the hill. Only likely to be right half the time, I know...
Anyway, my main gripe, having not experienced any actual failures, is that they just take so damn long to engage and disengage. *push button* ........ Whiiiiii....iiiiiiir... and now you can finally pull away/get out of the car. It's depressing. I've found in some cars they seem to get confused too.. or I get confused. You're never quite sure if they've automatically engaged/disengaged.
zeppelin101 said:
That's why cars have a light telling you whether the parking brake is on, electronic or not.
But still, I can't escape the feeling that I can't fully trust them.Even with the best systems (JLR), I still found annoyances. The slight jerk when it disengages as you pull away annoys me (it makes it seem as if you can't drive / are not in control).
jamieduff1981 said:
You just sound like an obtuse person. I wouldn't want to do one of our 1500 mile round trips several times per year without cup holders. It's nice to have the choice of whether we grab a quick Wild Bean or Costa at a filling station en route, or not. Having nowhere to put anything with liquid in is a PITA. I can only surmise that you just decide you object to things then try to make up the reasons later.
Not at all, I simply can't understand the fascination with bloody cup holders. They seem to be an incredibly important part of the car for some people which is just mind blowing.I seem to be able to drive long distances without needing cups of coffee sloshing around in the car. Am I unique in this ability? If I want a coffee I'll stop for one, but drinking hot beverages whilst driving just seems like an unnecessarily stupid thing to do.
Mr2Mike said:
jamieduff1981 said:
You just sound like an obtuse person. I wouldn't want to do one of our 1500 mile round trips several times per year without cup holders. It's nice to have the choice of whether we grab a quick Wild Bean or Costa at a filling station en route, or not. Having nowhere to put anything with liquid in is a PITA. I can only surmise that you just decide you object to things then try to make up the reasons later.
Not at all, I simply can't understand the fascination with bloody cup holders. They seem to be an incredibly important part of the car for some people which is just mind blowing.I seem to be able to drive long distances without needing cups of coffee sloshing around in the car. Am I unique in this ability? If I want a coffee I'll stop for one, but drinking hot beverages whilst driving just seems like an unnecessarily stupid thing to do.
I could not be bothered reading all of this thread, as the silly, stupid comments become irritating very quickly.
Treat an electronic handbrake as you would a manual one and, assuming you know how to use a manual one/gearbox, you will have no problems.
To give you an idea....
Only a fool would pull the handbrake up and leave the car in neutral, especially of course on a slope.
So why would you treat an electronic one differently?
Think old fashioned handbrake and all will be fine.
Treat an electronic handbrake as you would a manual one and, assuming you know how to use a manual one/gearbox, you will have no problems.
To give you an idea....
Only a fool would pull the handbrake up and leave the car in neutral, especially of course on a slope.
So why would you treat an electronic one differently?
Think old fashioned handbrake and all will be fine.
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