Electronic handbrakes why

[MG CHRIS]

So a jag s-type turned up in work wanting a service we were not busy so guy left the car parked outside the office. Half hour later went to start the service and the fking handbrake will not release. Spent most of the day trying to find a way to release it tried everything and will not release. Why the fk do manafactures put st expensive electronics on handbrakes what the fk is wrong with a lever and a cable.

Other than that i had a good day at work.

[AndyT77]

I've only ever driven a handful of cars with them, but never had a problem. It's actually quite nice having a bit less clutter in the general hand brake area, both ergonomically and cosmetically.

[edc]

Could you not just put your foot down and drive through? Could do that on an RRS.

[Big Rod]

Doing a 'parking button turn' doesn't quite have the same kudos!

[NHK244V]

Know how you feel, great when they work but st when they dont and after a few years they generaly dont !
renault seem to suffer rather bad, i get a few in sticking on or off, i send em to a mate who specialising in em cos they suck big time.

[va1o]

Why not?

[fredd1e]

they are like t1ts on a fish.... seem to have been invented for extra "sales bling" rather than being needed or useful imo.

[rossw46]

Big Rod said:

Doing a 'parking button turn' doesn't quite have the same kudos!

First thing that came to my mind,especially given the snow we had a few months ago!

[pugwash4x4]

range rovers have them

they don't like mud

oh the irony...

[MG CHRIS]

In the end i just drove it on the ramp with the handbrake on. The last time i did rear pads on a vehicle with electronic handbrakes which was on a newish passat had to plug in to rewind the motor so i could wind the calliper back in. The motor was on the calliper itself what a pile of crap. Then had to plug back in to get the handbrake to wind back on. Im sure the manafactures are doing it to stop people working on there own cars more money for them.

[va1o]

But it's been like this for years, e.g. the electronic hand brake equipped Passat has been out since 2005, ample time IMO for garages to learn how to deal with them!

[skinley]

MG CHRIS said:

Im sure the manafactures are doing it to stop people working on there own cars more money for them.

va1o said:

But it's been like this for years, e.g. the electronic hand brake equipped Passat has been out since 2005, ample time IMO for garages to learn how to deal with them!

Yes plenty of time for garages to learn how to deal with them, however, MG CHRIS said it's to stop people working on their own cars.

I just think it's an extra gimmick and completely unnecessary.

[MG CHRIS]

Also as ive only been a apprentice for 2 years the passat was the first time ive changes pads on a car with a electronic handbrake this was back during the winter. I also didn't know you had to use diagnostic equipement to rewind the calliper and as usual i already stripped the brakes down before one of the other mechanics told me what i needed to do.

Just dont see the point in them completly not needed.

Anyway you just cant do handbrake turns with a electric button can you.

[mike9009]

I dislike them as a user. Had a couple of hire car astras with them recently and just don't get on with them. Then had another new astra with a standard handbrake and it looks like an after thought. The traditional handbrake interferes with the gear lever shroud. Aaaahhhhh!!!

Mike

[bazking69]

Gimmick to satisfy technology for technologies sake.
We've had a few Scenics in now that have needed new electronic handbrake units. £450 + VAT + labour. A bill that would never of happened if it had cables...
I'm firmly in the 'whats wrong with cables' camp.

[MG CHRIS]

st are they that much ouch. I bet the prices double for the passat as the motor is on the calliper itself.

[gf15]

Drove a peugeot recently and it was rubbish. Dorve a Vauxhall Insignia and it was better, but not as good as a normal mechanical hand brake.
Prefer the old fashioned hand brake.
More complexity for no benefit.

[richolmes]

I have an electronic handbrake in my S-type and it works great. A joy to use and much easier than a conventional handbrake as long as it's an autobox as well, a small amount of added complexity at a service seems a small price to pay for the extra convenience.

Regarding the Op's situation - how did the customer get it to you if the handbrake was broken? Sounds like you just didn't know how to disengage it.

I see the point of a manual handbrake and gearbox on a sports car, but on a luxury car it makes little sense.

Just my opinion though!

[chryslerben]

skinley said:

however, MG CHRIS said it's to stop people working on their own cars.

thats sometimes not necessarily a bad thing

[skinley]

Having owned a few old sheds in my time I think I'm qualified to say that a mechanical handbrake is better because you can tell if it worn out or not and if it is you can just pull it harder.
I doubt if you get the same sort of feedback from pressing a button.