Park without Handbrake?

Author
Discussion

mickyh7

Original Poster:

2,347 posts

101 months

Tuesday 1st February 2022
quotequote all
Can a Automatic be left in Park, but with the Handbrake off?
I tend to wash my car (on my drive), on a Friday whilst enjoying a drink or two.
Obviously I don't drive the car afterwards to dry the brakes.
Occasionally, on Saturday morning the rear pads are reluctant to come off the discs.
Is there a way to leave the car in Park, but without the Handbrake on?
It usually puts the Handbrake on as I switch off the ignition.
Thanks.

langtounlad

790 posts

186 months

Tuesday 1st February 2022
quotequote all
I've driven a variety of automatic cars for +30 years and never apply the handbrake - just leave it in Park in all situations. I've never had a problem.

mickyh7

Original Poster:

2,347 posts

101 months

Tuesday 1st February 2022
quotequote all
langtounlad said:
I've driven a variety of automatic cars for +30 years and never apply the handbrake - just leave it in Park in all situations. I've never had a problem.
Mine defaults to putting the handbrake on?

Evoluzione

10,345 posts

258 months

Tuesday 1st February 2022
quotequote all
Looking at the state of mine i'm going to need several whiskies before tackling it too.

mickyh7

Original Poster:

2,347 posts

101 months

Tuesday 1st February 2022
quotequote all
Looking at the state of mine i'm going to need several whiskies before tackling it too.
[/quote]
rofl

Haltamer

2,582 posts

95 months

Tuesday 1st February 2022
quotequote all
It'll depend on the car - You should be able to disengage the handbrake with the car off and in park after shutdown.

mickyh7

Original Poster:

2,347 posts

101 months

Tuesday 1st February 2022
quotequote all
Haltamer said:
It'll depend on the car - You should be able to disengage the handbrake with the car off and in park after shutdown.
Can you advise please?
I've tried always and can't find a way to do it !
Thanks

Haltamer

2,582 posts

95 months

Tuesday 1st February 2022
quotequote all
mickyh7 said:
Can you advise please?
I've tried always and can't find a way to do it !
Thanks
What car is it?

On my Civic / Dads' Jag, With the ignition in accessory power, you can hold the service / footbrake and disengage the parking brake smile

mickyh7

Original Poster:

2,347 posts

101 months

Tuesday 1st February 2022
quotequote all
Haltamer said:
What car is it?

On my Civic / Dads' Jag, With the ignition in accessory power, you can hold the service / footbrake and disengage the parking brake smile
A7
I've been through the manual, nothing in there.
Cheers.

Smint

2,369 posts

50 months

Tuesday 1st February 2022
quotequote all
Are we to assume you drive what is usually referred to as an automated manual gearbox, where there's no specific P segment on the gearbox selector?

You could try selecting a gear, reverse or first and then turn the engine off, on some the box will stay in the gear you selected.

If it doesn't work it's usually easier to break the friction of the park brake by reversing the car instead of trying to go forward.

edit, ah see you have an Audi, don't know if the above suggestion will work then but you can try.
double edit, its the auto park brake that's the issue, ignore my post completely.

Edited by Smint on Tuesday 1st February 20:17

mickyh7

Original Poster:

2,347 posts

101 months

Tuesday 1st February 2022
quotequote all
Smint said:
Are we to assume you drive what is usually referred to as an automated manual gearbox, where there's no specific P segment on the gearbox selector?

You could try selecting a gear, reverse or first and then turn the engine off, on some the box will stay in the gear you selected.

If it doesn't work it's usually easier to break the friction of the park brake by reversing the car instead of trying to go forward.

edit, ah see you have an Audi, don't know if the above suggestion will work then but you can try.
double edit, its the auto park brake that's the issue, ignore my post completely.

Edited by Smint on Tuesday 1st February 20:17
Thank you anyway.
I guess it's a trait of this model car.

Haltamer

2,582 posts

95 months

Wednesday 2nd February 2022
quotequote all
Any options with neutral + chocks? Guessing not if it auto-parks.

For a product suggestion; You could try Bilt Hamber Korrosol liberally sprayed on the brake discs.

Smint

2,369 posts

50 months

Wednesday 2nd February 2022
quotequote all
Thinking more about this, some cars are delivered in transport mode for the multiple movements when new, before the main fuse was fitted which powered up all the faff, lots of systems including movement alarms weren't live in that mode, so keeping that in mind :

If this is becoming a problem for you, and i understand why its a blinking nuisance because one of my cars is prone to the same (thankfully manual handbrake), it might be worth having a chat with a friendly VW/Audi indy to see if its possible to map out the auto park brake default operation, so the brake reverts to manual operation only, but that might mean losing all auto functions which might not bother you but might be an issue for others who use the car and might not help any warranty or goodwill claims if applicable if discovered,

mickyh7

Original Poster:

2,347 posts

101 months

Wednesday 2nd February 2022
quotequote all
Smint said:
Thinking more about this, some cars are delivered in transport mode for the multiple movements when new, before the main fuse was fitted which powered up all the faff, lots of systems including movement alarms weren't live in that mode, so keeping that in mind :

If this is becoming a problem for you, and i understand why its a blinking nuisance because one of my cars is prone to the same (thankfully manual handbrake), it might be worth having a chat with a friendly VW/Audi indy to see if its possible to map out the auto park brake default operation, so the brake reverts to manual operation only, but that might mean losing all auto functions which might not bother you but might be an issue for others who use the car and might not help any warranty or goodwill claims if applicable if discovered,
This is probably the route I'll have to take.
Thanks for replying.

Chris32345

2,135 posts

77 months

Thursday 3rd February 2022
quotequote all
Fiat some different discs and pads
If they are siezing up that much overnight they must be a bad batch unless your absolutely soaking them

Smint

2,369 posts

50 months

Thursday 3rd February 2022
quotequote all
If the OP's anything like me when he washes the car he probably gives inside the wheels and the brakes a good soaking to wash accumulated salt and crud off this time of year, i sometimes get the same happening on my Prado if i wash it and don't move it for a couple of days, its either the rear pads or park brake shoe friction areas rusting and the pads or shoes getting lightly rusted on...probably the shoes because i don't recall it happening if i wash it on the flat part of my drive left in P with the park brake off.
It can be that stuck after several days i can drive up the road with a locked solid rear wheel, reversing the vehicle breaks the rust binding instantly but with a heck of bang.

You get just the same effect with clutch plates rusting, obviously in normal circumstances that takes a lot longer.

targarama

14,681 posts

298 months

Thursday 3rd February 2022
quotequote all
Is it an electronic handbrake? Try pushing/holding the handbrake button while turning the ignition off. That works on my McLaren, which I leave in the garage with the handbrake off for the same reason.

mickyh7

Original Poster:

2,347 posts

101 months

Thursday 3rd February 2022
quotequote all
targarama said:
Is it an electronic handbrake? Try pushing/holding the handbrake button while turning the ignition off. That works on my McLaren, which I leave in the garage with the handbrake off for the same reason.
Thanks, I tried that, but to no avail!