Oops. Alfa handbreak fails...
Discussion
Have you ever wondered what would happen if you parked an Alfa on a steep drive and the handbreak failed? Wonder no more! I just found out...
Made a hell of a bang. Fortunately doesn't seem to have caused too much damage. Although it has managed to somehow make the boiler conk out! And the tiles in the kitchen on the other side of the wall fell out! Car eventually got towed away and it's in the insurer's hands now. Time to get in to the habit of parking on steep hills in gear, me thinks.
Anyone who has found this topic educational and wishes to donate a few quid to my cause, feel free to do so (all proceeds will go toward my insurance renewal next year).
Made a hell of a bang. Fortunately doesn't seem to have caused too much damage. Although it has managed to somehow make the boiler conk out! And the tiles in the kitchen on the other side of the wall fell out! Car eventually got towed away and it's in the insurer's hands now. Time to get in to the habit of parking on steep hills in gear, me thinks.
Anyone who has found this topic educational and wishes to donate a few quid to my cause, feel free to do so (all proceeds will go toward my insurance renewal next year).
Edited by AlfaRSpider on Saturday 8th December 19:02
Humm not that it helps but I was always taught to leave a car in gear for this reason (and/or turn wheels on hill). Not sure if that's part of any driving syllabus/test now as cars are probably more reliable in that respects...
However I did the same when I used to drive a truck and got a telling off when someone started the truck without depressing the clutch or checking if it was in gear resulting in it banging into the wall...
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?
Not sure what is good practice tbh - I would guess leaving car out of gear is probably safest if it's a pool/hire car.
However I did the same when I used to drive a truck and got a telling off when someone started the truck without depressing the clutch or checking if it was in gear resulting in it banging into the wall...
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?
Not sure what is good practice tbh - I would guess leaving car out of gear is probably safest if it's a pool/hire car.
petrolveins said:
Well since my handbrake only works on one wheel at the moment, I've taken to parking in gear, always start cars with my foot on the clutch too. Annoyingly my Dad doesn't, and almost launched it through the garage door.
This is something I clearly need to get in the habit of doing! Especially seeing as the clutch has to be depressed to start the car anyway, ruling out the possibility of a jump start even if I do forget it's in gear 
Edited by AlfaRSpider on Saturday 8th December 19:57
a sibling of mine parked her car in a multi-story and put the handbrake on her Polo which failed and rolled forward through two empty spaces before clipping the rear of a parked Ford
could have been a lot worse, no damage to Polo and a tiny scratch on the Ford which the owner was decent about, could have made it into a 1000 quid replacement bumper scene
could have been a lot worse, no damage to Polo and a tiny scratch on the Ford which the owner was decent about, could have made it into a 1000 quid replacement bumper scene
Is it definitely a failed hand brake or had you driven it recently before it happened?
Some cars that have the hand brake applied while the brakes are warm can roll away once the brakes cool down and contract. I had it happen with my old Audi S2, now I always park in gear because of it
Some cars that have the hand brake applied while the brakes are warm can roll away once the brakes cool down and contract. I had it happen with my old Audi S2, now I always park in gear because of it
djdestiny said:
Is it definitely a failed hand brake or had you driven it recently before it happened?
Some cars that have the hand brake applied while the brakes are warm can roll away once the brakes cool down and contract. I had it happen with my old Audi S2, now I always park in gear because of it
This, was a well-known problem with Audi 80s and their derivatives, would be interesting to hear if this was related. Sorry to see the car damaged OP Some cars that have the hand brake applied while the brakes are warm can roll away once the brakes cool down and contract. I had it happen with my old Audi S2, now I always park in gear because of it
Never good when things like this happen.
Out of habit I always leave my car in Park + handbrake on. If I ever have a manual car, if the car is pointing up hill then handbrake + 1st gear, if pointing down hill then handbrake + reverse. I was told that this way the engine won't start if the handbrake fails.
Out of habit I always leave my car in Park + handbrake on. If I ever have a manual car, if the car is pointing up hill then handbrake + 1st gear, if pointing down hill then handbrake + reverse. I was told that this way the engine won't start if the handbrake fails.
AlfaRSpider said:
Anyone who has found this topic educational and wishes to donate a few quid to my cause, feel free to do so (all proceeds will go toward my insurance renewal next year).
Doubt you'll have the worst quote in the world, even allowing for the oops. You can pay my renewal if you want - I consider that charidee Edited by AlfaRSpider on Saturday 8th December 19:02
Chunkychucky said:
This, was a well-known problem with Audi 80s and their derivatives, would be interesting to hear if this was related. Sorry to see the car damaged OP
Is very possible as it was sitting there for about 5 mins before I heard the crash, although the handBRAKE was pulled up as high as I could get it... I assume it'll get diagnosed as part of the claim process?A lex said:
As the brake discs contract when cooling they lose friction with the pads, hence the time delay period between applying the handbrake and the car rolling off
There's no 'fault' as such, its just physics and the consequences of the design - its a problem common to all cars that don't use a separate handbrake mechanism on the rear disc.
I agree, seems likely to be the problem given the circumstances. Only thing that seems weird in my mind is that the handbrake was applied fully... I actually got it the car and checked and I could barely pull the brake up any further. I could understand if it was applied only a little and lost grip as the discs cooled.There's no 'fault' as such, its just physics and the consequences of the design - its a problem common to all cars that don't use a separate handbrake mechanism on the rear disc.
Edited by AlfaRSpider on Sunday 9th December 10:48
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
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
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