Oops. Alfa handbreak fails...

[AlfaRSpider]

Ordinary_Chap said:

My old Civic Type R always rolled if not left in gear if I parked it with the brakes hot.

The first time it happened, I was very luck. My old driveway was very tight, wall on one side and house on the other.

It rolled back and very luckily the back wheel hit the step outside the house and stopped the car. The only thing it did was remove some paint from under the rear bumper as the height of the curb meant the car just had clearance. So I was lucky it hit the step rather than the house or wall and lucky the rear bumper had just enough clearance otherwise the rear bumper would of taken damage.

It happened a couple of times after until I twigged what it was doing, both times it moved a little back and hit a kerb behind the car.

Sorry to hear about your misfortune anyway.
Lee

Phew, if only I'd had a warning like that! No worries chap.. I'm quite excited on what courtesy car I'm gonna get actually (fingers crossed for a lambo)

[gforceg]

A mate of mine lived in one of the houses on the right in this image. He got a knock on the door and someone asked if the Golf was his...he looked out to see his car on the other side of the road, having rolled off the drive. Close shave.

http://goo.gl/maps/hzsbN

[RicksAlfas]

Sorry to see that OP.
We've had a couple of VWs roll at work because they haven't been left in gear, and the rear brakes cool down and off they go.
It actually mentions it in the handbook and recommends leaving them in gear.

[zedx19]

People still don't leave cars in gear? Especially on steep hills? Wheres there is potential of the car rolling into the house?? Mental!

[trashbat]

anomaly said:

Oh dear, I'm sorry. I had the opposite problem with an Alfa: the handbrake froze on in cold weather. It would drag both locked rear wheels along the road!

The 156 generation cars all do this, because the outer sheath gets damaged, lets in water, and it freezes, rendering the cable stuck. This also accelerates corrosion and the handbrake cable(s) snapping.

The next few times you park anywhere, apparently on the flat, leave the handbrake off for a moment and see what happens. You might be surprised. I'm bad at leaving it in gear but obviously on greater slopes both the work done and risk is increased.

[gareth_r]

Brother D said:

...For me, getting in and starting any vehicle, is press clutch and wiggle the gear stick to check it's not in gear, turn key. - Be interesting to know if that standard practice, or do people expect for a car to be left out of gear?

Standard practice for me... but not, apparently, for my wife.

The only consolation was that my Soarer was a lot tougher than her Ka

[The_Burg]

Many modern cars won't start if you don't put the clutch in.

Driver came in to complain about VW Caddy not starting, worked first time for me as i always start with the clutch dipped. Don't think then Mini does either.

[gareth_r]

The_Burg said:

Many modern cars won't start if you don't put the clutch in...

Used to be very much an American thing, presumably because of the preponderance of automatic over "stick shift".

Edited by gareth_r on Monday 10th December 15:24

[zedx19]

The_Burg said:

Many modern cars won't start if you don't put the clutch in.

I always start with clutch in anyway, but my Passat won't start without dipping the clutch, it also won't release the handbrake unless you've got your seatbelt on, modern cars are extremely annoying.

[stuart-b]

OP - sorry to see that. I had a similar scenario - I drove all the way to Croatia in my new E92 (new to me, but not a single scratch or stone chip).

Parked in my office, on the space that's on an incline. Walked away from the car and watched it move! F***! Ran around the car, managed to open the door, jump in while it was moving, and slam on the handbrake. Fortunately the wheels pointed the right way. Unfortunately the drivers door hit the bumper of another parked car, causing minor scratches (which won't buff out easily). I consider myself very lucky!

Real shame there aren't posts on the drive to stop you reversing in to the house!!!!